RH 4/20

Overview of Roman Emperors and Their Endings

  • Discussion of the various violent deaths of Roman emperors.
      - Notable deaths:
        - Caligula: Assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard.
        - Others like Bulba were lynched, and Natalia was assassinated.
        - Speculation about Nerva's potential death; whether he would die in bed or through violence.
      - Emphasis on the unpredictable nature of imperial power and survival.

Nerva's Background and Role as Emperor

  • Nerva’s early life and political rise:
      - Before becoming emperor, Nerva held a significant position as a senator and advisor, notably to Nero.
      - First consulship occurred in 71 CE, climbing the political ladder effectively.

  • Nerva is often referred to as "the Senate emperor" due to his extensive experience and rapport with the Senate.
      - Importance of working with the Senate:
        - A smart emperor engages the Senate to maintain the illusion of shared power.

Responsibilities and Power of Consuls

  • Explaining the role of consuls during this era:
      - Consuls had authority over military campaigns and served mainly as advisors in senatorial decrees and laws.
      - Their influence on military decisions was largely ceremonial; actual power lay with the emperor.

  • Historical changes since Augustus:
      - Decrease in the Senate's power compared to the Republican period.
      - The importance of utilizing the Senate effectively by emperors.

Historical Sources on Nerva

  • Generally positive portrayals of Nerva in historical sources; contrasting with the negative views of other emperors like Domitian.

  • Upon becoming emperor after Domitian's assassination, Nerva focused on the diverse communities within the Roman Empire:
      - Military, Italic inhabitants, urban citizens, and the senatorial elite.

  • Initiatives introduced by Nerva:
      - Social and tax reforms aimed at appeasing various groups.
      - Significant land reforms:
        - 16,000,000 denarii allocated to buy land for distribution to the landless citizens, notably those living in Rome.
      - Introduction of a welfare program:
        - Aimed to provide financial support to families with children, promote procreation, and address declining Italian population.
        - Funded by tax revenues and mortgage land proceeds.

Political Maneuvering

  • Nerva appointed general Marcus Ulpius Trajan as governor of Upper Germany to secure military loyalty.

  • Initial acceptance of Nerva’s rule by the Praetorian Guard shifted to tension, exemplified by the 97 CE incident when they demanded justice for conspirators from Nerva's reign.

  • Nerva’s intelligence in fostering relationships with the Senate contrasted with challenges from the military.

Nerva's Building Programs

  • Nerva contributed to significant infrastructure, including the imperial forum.

  • The Forum of Nerva:
      - Located in a challenging space, reinforcing his status along historical predecessors like Augustus and Caesar.
      - Symbolic of his imperial relevance and narrative.

  • Portraiture and coinage:
      - Only 17 known portraits of Nerva, mostly recut from earlier coins.
      - Representation of peace and harmony similar to Augustus’s narrative.

Trajan’s Ascension and Contributions

  • Transition from Nerva to Trajan, focusing on Trajan’s military conquests known as the Dacian Wars:
      - The wars occurred in two main campaigns:
        - 101-102 CE and 105-106 CE.
        - Dacian King Decebalus, dubbed "friend king," was pivotal in these conflicts.

  • The economic motivations for the conflicts included Dacia’s abundant resources:
      - Rich in gold, silver, and iron.

  • Trajan's military strategy included significant engineering achievements such as a bridge over the Danube River, designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, showcasing Roman engineering prowess.

The Dacian Wars in Detail

  • First Dacian War:
      - Initial Roman advances, significance of controlling Dacia for resource acquisition.
      - Stagnation due to winter halt allowing Dacian forces to regroup.

  • Second Dacian War:
      - Trajan’s unyielding strategy, decisive victories leading to the destruction of Dacian capital, Sarmizegetusa.
      - The aftermath included vast wealth flowing into the Roman treasury, supporting military expansions and infrastructure.

Impacts of the Wars and Economic Consequences

  • Dacia's conquest resulted in a wealth influx of approximately 700,000,000 denarii to the imperial treasury annually.

  • Resource wealth enabled funding for military campaigns, fortifications, and infrastructure projects throughout the empire.

  • Trajan’s monumental building projects, including the Forum of Trajan, reflected his military successes and helped control public perception.

Architectural Achievements and Memorialization

  • Comprehensive discussion of Trajan's architectural legacies:
      - The magnificent Baths of Trajan and their importance as leisure and social hubs.
      - The massive Forum of Trajan and its associated marketing complex.

  • Function of Trajan’s Column:
      - As a funerary monument, its design promoted remembrance of Trajan through narrative sculpture depicting Dacian Wars.

  • Critical discussion on the narrative and potential viewer interactions with the column, emphasizing viewer manipulation and rituals correlated with funerary practices.

Legislative and Religious Context

  • Exploration of Roman law regarding burials within the pomerium and the unique positioning of Trajan’s ashes within the column.

  • Implications of miasma and death pollution laws.

  • Trajan’s status and mythologization through impressive public works.

Conclusion

  • Reflection on the various complex layers of Roman imperial governance, military conquests, economic motivations, and public memory through architecture and sculpture.

  • Importance of political maneuvering and strategic appointments, showcasing the nuanced nature of Roman leadership during the Empire’s expansionist phase.