Emperors 69 - 235 CE

69 CE

Nero's suicide ends the julio-claudian dynasty 4 men hold power in one year

Galba

Backed by Spanish legions & praetorian guard, he was too old, mean & cheap so assassinated by praetorians (June 68 - Jan 15,69)

Otho

Lost battle of Cremona to Vitellius & committed suicide (Jan 15-apr 17,69)

Vitellius

Didn't want the job & beaten by Vespasian's troops be headed & head paraded (Apr 16 - Dec 22 69)

Vespasian

Wins act 4 founds the Flavian dynasty

Emperor makers

Legions made emperors & over now flows from army loyalty not just bloodline or senate approval

The Flavian dynasty (69 -96 ce)

Rise of Vespasians

Vespasian 69-79 Ce

Vespasian was a blunt, honest soldier and good administrator who reformed Rome politically, socially, and economically by appointing competent men. Equestrians replaced freedmen in the civil service, increasing their status and wealth, while aristocrats accepted money instead of land as payment, creating a more liquid economy. He was extremely frugal and taxed everything, even public pay toilets, where urine was sold to launderers to bleach clothing. He extended citizenship in western provinces and conquered Judea. In 72 CE, he began construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum). His last words were “Ut puto deus fio” (“I think I’m becoming a god”), and he was deified.

Titus 79 - 81 Ce

Titus was Vespasian’s elder son, groomed as his successor and a great general. He crushed the Jewish Revolt and destroyed the Temple of Solomon in 70 CE, an event commemorated on the Arch of Titus. As emperor, he was popular and generous, rebuilding after fires and opening public baths. In 80 CE, he opened the Colosseum. He was criticized for his slow response to the 79 CE eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. Titus died of disease in 81 CE and was deified.

Domitian 81 - 96 E

Domitian was Vespasian’s younger son and lived in his family’s shadow. He was considered nasty, murderous, and very conservative, attempting to restore the old Roman gods and persecuting Christians. A revolt in 89 CE increased his paranoia and led to treason trials against Senators. In 96 CE, he was murdered by the Praetorian Guard. Unlike Vespasian and Titus, Domitian was NOT deified—he was officially damned and his memory was erased. He left no heir, bringing the Flavian line to an end.

Nerva 96-98 СЕ

Senates emergency pick after domitian's murder, elderly s childless with no military base. Cuts taxes, introduces alimenta & adopts Trajan to secure army support dies after t6 months

Alimenta

Baby bonus for poor families

Trajan 98 -117 Ce

First non-italian emperor, expands empire to its greatest territorial extent

Trajan's column

Commemorates the Dacian war

Disaster in Titus's reign

Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 Ce • burying Pompeii & Herculaneum he was criticized for slow relief response

Hadrian 117 - 138 Ce

Abandons indefensible properties' builds Hadrian wall in new England rebuilds Athens, building the pantheon. Boyfriend antinous dies 130 СЕ (deified)

2nd Jewish war 132-135 Œ

Hadrian destroyed rest of temple & begins diaspora

Hadrian adopts

Antoninus Pius who adopt Marcus Aurelius & Lucius virus, securing succession

Antoninus Pius 138 - 161 CE

Insisted on deification of Hadrian - model of good behaviour excellent admin & maintains status No

Antonine wall

Built north of Hadrian's; shorter & less & less secure

Marcus Aurelius 161- 180 Ce

Reluctant empuor, stoic philosopher not a soldier. Rules with Lucius verus German tribes swarm across the Danube. Addicted to opium for chest/stomach pain I dies in his sleep maybe murder

Commodes

Son of Marcus Aurelius I worst ruler since Nero, addicted to pleasure & ego, unstable sees himself as Hercules fights as gladiator 735 times (rigged) demands worship as living god & assassinate poisoned by mishess memory damned- stops alimenta

Danube

German tribes breaching the Danube Marks the start of the "decline & fall of Rome “

Septimius Severus

First African born emperor married Syrian royalty

Septinus severus's dying advice to sons Caracalla & geta

Get along with each other, pay the soldiers a despite all the others

Caracalla in 212 Ce

Extended Roman citizenship to nearly all free people except for slaves

Un puto dues fio

I think I'm becoming aged

Caracalla merderred

His brother geta to gain sole power

Elagabalus

15 when became emperor controlled by his mother & grandmother ( Julia women)

Elagabalus religion

Fanatic devotee of eastern sun god ut & imposed it on Rome

Last severan empire

Alexander Severus murdered by the army along with his mother Julia Mamaea in 235 СЕ

3 emperors demanding worship while alive

Caligula, Domitian, commodes