Emperors Behaving Badly

Emperors Behaving Badly

The Julio-Claudians

Augustus unable to produce heir Died in 14 CE "Alas for the Roman people, to be ground by jaws that crunch so slowly!" Where the Trouble Started…

Augustus’ adopted son Reigned from 14 to 37 CE Never wanted to be emperor Failed at “playing Augustus” Tiberius Claudius Nero

Treason trials Rarely left Rome Poorly managed provinces, Spain in particular Heavy Drinker- Biberius Caldius Mero Miser Neglected Public Works, Augustus’ Temple, Pompey’s Theatre Theodorus- ‘mud, kneaded with blood’ Maiestas Daily executions Nearly every crime became punishable by death Hated the games, cut back funding Established Praetorian Guard, treated them better than border soldiers Bad Behavior in Public

Private “playhouse” Pans and nymphs His ‘minnows’ Few immune from his desires Had trouble trusting people, despised his mother Afraid of thunder and fish Private Problems

Tiberius withdrawn in later years Sejanus No heir named, immediate family dead Two possible heirs, Gaius Caesar and Tiberius Gemellus Died March 16, 37 CE More Succession Problems

Son of Germanicus, a great Roman general Nickname stuck- “little soldiers’ boots” Very popular with the masses and soldiers Reigned from 37 to 41 CE “I am nursing a viper in Rome’s bosom.”- Tiberius Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula)

No Problems at First • Caligula appeals to Roman people • Recalled exiles • Held banquets and gave many gifts • Revived Public Works • However, later in the same year he was appointed, suffered a “brain fever”

Ships at Baiae Replaced heads of statues of gods with his own Wore a wig and commoners’ clothes for ‘nightly activities’ Declared himself a living god Cancelled some holidays honoring Augustus Incest- Drusilla Killed several relatives, painfully …Possibly Drove Him Insane

Hoped for natural disasters Hated the handsome Unfair taxes ‘Gather seashells!’ Stole from Alexander the Great’s tomb Created poisons in spare time Tried to make Incitatus a senator, leader of cult in his honor Palace on the water Emptied treasury Altered the games unexpectedly Secretly killed people for fun Foul language Had people tortured while he was eating Hypocrite Orgies More Exploits

41 CE, Caligula violently stabbed to death Issue of succession comes up again… Augustus took special measures to ensure that Tiberius Claudius would not become emperor Only one ‘capable’ left alive Caligula Assassinated…

Reigned from 41 to 54 CE Historians have differing opinions on his character Generally agreed that he had some forms of physical disabilities Tiberius Claudius

Erratic court behavior Paranoid Easily swayed by others Killed thirty-five senators and 300 equites Gluttony Sex addict Bribery Adopted Nero Better than the Last Two..

Claudius died in 54 CE Senate was naturally concerned with safety Claudius named his adoptive son Nero as heir (Agrippina had a strong hand in this) Not many options… Succession Once Again Disputed

Became emperor at age sixteen Influenced by Agrippina and Seneca early in reign. Ruled from 54 to 68 CE Promised to rule as Augustus had Difficult to discern fact from fiction. Nero

Forced senators to do battle in the gladiatorial games Shows he put on were dangerous at times Would ignore pleas to return to Rome Would don a disguise and attack men at night Petty crimes Forced his friends to throw him parties Opened numerous temporary brothels Raped numerous people, even a Vestal Virgin Attacked private parts of men and women bound to stakes Emptied treasury Seized assets of those ‘disloyal’ to him Matricide Fratricide Gruesomely killed aunt Killed nobility to save himself Nero’s Offenses

64 CE Strongly suspected Nero caused fire “fiddled while Rome burned” Lasted six days, seven nights Great Fire of Rome

First emperor to do so Would throw parties lit by Christians on burning crosses Blamed fire on them Suspicious due to their strange rituals and monotheism Persecution of Christians

Nero committed suicide in 68 CE No living male relatives Start of Flavian dynasty soon to follow Rome may never have truly recovered Start of Flavian dynasty under Vespasian End of Julio-Claudians

Legacy of Julio-Claudians

The End “Bear in mind that I can do anything I want to anyone I want!” - Caligula

Emperors Behaving Badly