Emperors of Ancient Rome
The emperors that ruled Rome were often very different from one another in personality. You had the generals who worked their way up the ranks and the greedy selfish adopted sons of past emperors. They all had one thing in common - a desire for power. The path to becoming Emperor often involved bloodshed, murder and money.
Some built palaces and some built aqua ducts. They built arenas to stage entertainments for the citizens The emperors were not always in favour with the citizens of Rome, especially when their projects nearly bankrupted Rome.
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Caesar - General, Politician and a Statesman
Julius Caesar is arguably the most famous Roman that ever lived. He conquered Gaul (modern France) in a brilliant campaign. He also led expeditions into what is now modern Germany and Britain, which were at that time unknown to Romans, and which would later provide the armies that would vanquish Rome and cause the fall of the Empire. When away in Egypt he fell in love with the legendary Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Julius Caesar also reformed the calendar. With only later minor changes it is his calendar that we use today. One month, July, is named in his honour.
Julius Caesar had many political enemies and they never stopped plotting against him and trying to take away his power. Julius Caesar became a dictator and sought to limit the power of the senate. The senate plotted to kill him and he was murdered in the Senate on the Ides of March (March 15).
Augustus - The first Emperor
Augustus was the first emperor of Rome ruling from 27BC to 14AD until he died of an illness. He had been adopted by Julius caesar (his mother was Julius Caesar's sister. His real name was Octavian but he was given the name 'Augustus' by the senate in honour of his great achievements. With Mark Antony he avenged the death of Julius Caesar. With the senate he created a new constitution for the empire. Augustus was considered a wise ruler and built roads, aqueducts and many buildings. Not only was Augustus the first, but he was most certainly one of the best emperors Rome ever had.
Nero - The Madman of Rome
Nero is one of the most notorious and hated Romans. It is most likely that Nero was insane. He came to power because his mother murdered his step-father, the emperor Claudius. During his rule much of Rome was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome. Helpless to stop the fire, he is supposed to have sung as he watched Rome burn. After the fire he built himself a magnificent palace on land cleared by the fire. To quell rumours that he had started the fire himself, he blamed the Christians for it and had many captured and thrown to the lions in the circus - providing entertainment for the citizens.
Trajan - The kind-hearted Soldier
Trajan is was one of Rome's most popular emperors. Under his rule the city of Rome had a population of over 1 million. Trajan was a great soldier and when not fighting, skilled in dealing with the senate. Like Augustus, Trajan's reign was a shining one, during which many public works, roads and harbours were built. He also set up an imperial fund which looked after the poor, especially the children, that needed food and drink and a place to live in the Roman streets.
Constantine the Great - Unifier of the divided Empire
Constantine the great was the first Christian emperor of the Roman empire. He defeated all the other would-be emperors and re-united the empire, which had been divided. He moved the capital of the empire from Rome to a town called Byzantium, which he renamed after himself - Constantinopolis (Greek for the city of Constantine which is now the modern city of Istanbul in Turkey). He is also famous for gathering together many Christian bishops at what became known as the Council of Nicaea. From this council came agreement on the books of the Bible and the prayer forms used by the Christian church to this day. For his many achievements he is known as 'Constantine the Great' and in the Christian church he is known as 'Saint Constantine'.
Justinian - The last 'Great' Emperor
Under the rule of Justinian the last remnant of the Roman empire, which was in the East based out of Constantinople, briefly flourished. The western empire, including Rome had fallen to the tribes from the north who had come seeking wealth and land. His generals reconquered many parts of the empire, including the city of Rome itself.
Justinian created a unified code of laws, called today the 'Justinian Code'. This code or collection of laws came to form the basis of the system of law in the western world. He also built many great buildings in his capital, the city of Constantinople. His most outstanding building is the great church Santa Sophia, which today is the famous mosque 'Aya Sophia' in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
Caesar - General, Politician and a Statesman
Julius Caesar is arguably the most famous Roman that ever lived. He conquered Gaul (modern France) in a brilliant campaign. He also led expeditions into what is now modern Germany and Britain, which were at that time unknown to Romans, and which would later provide the armies that would vanquish Rome and cause the fall of the Empire. When away in Egypt he fell in love with the legendary Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Julius Caesar also reformed the calendar. With only later minor changes it is his calendar that we use today. One month, July, is named in his honour.
Julius Caesar had many political enemies and they never stopped plotting against him and trying to take away his power. Julius Caesar became a dictator and sought to limit the power of the senate. The senate plotted to kill him and he was murdered in the Senate on the Ides of March (March 15).
Augustus - The first Emperor
Augustus was the first emperor of Rome ruling from 27BC to 14AD until he died of an illness. He had been adopted by Julius caesar (his mother was Julius Caesar's sister. His real name was Octavian but he was given the name 'Augustus' by the senate in honour of his great achievements. With Mark Antony he avenged the death of Julius Caesar. With the senate he created a new constitution for the empire. Augustus was considered a wise ruler and built roads, aqueducts and many buildings. Not only was Augustus the first, but he was most certainly one of the best emperors Rome ever had.
Nero - The Madman of Rome
Nero is one of the most notorious and hated Romans. It is most likely that Nero was insane. He came to power because his mother murdered his step-father, the emperor Claudius. During his rule much of Rome was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome. Helpless to stop the fire, he is supposed to have sung as he watched Rome burn. After the fire he built himself a magnificent palace on land cleared by the fire. To quell rumours that he had started the fire himself, he blamed the Christians for it and had many captured and thrown to the lions in the circus - providing entertainment for the citizens.
Trajan - The kind-hearted Soldier
Trajan is was one of Rome's most popular emperors. Under his rule the city of Rome had a population of over 1 million. Trajan was a great soldier and when not fighting, skilled in dealing with the senate. Like Augustus, Trajan's reign was a shining one, during which many public works, roads and harbours were built. He also set up an imperial fund which looked after the poor, especially the children, that needed food and drink and a place to live in the Roman streets.
Constantine the Great - Unifier of the divided Empire
Constantine the great was the first Christian emperor of the Roman empire. He defeated all the other would-be emperors and re-united the empire, which had been divided. He moved the capital of the empire from Rome to a town called Byzantium, which he renamed after himself - Constantinopolis (Greek for the city of Constantine which is now the modern city of Istanbul in Turkey). He is also famous for gathering together many Christian bishops at what became known as the Council of Nicaea. From this council came agreement on the books of the Bible and the prayer forms used by the Christian church to this day. For his many achievements he is known as 'Constantine the Great' and in the Christian church he is known as 'Saint Constantine'.
Justinian - The last 'Great' Emperor
Under the rule of Justinian the last remnant of the Roman empire, which was in the East based out of Constantinople, briefly flourished. The western empire, including Rome had fallen to the tribes from the north who had come seeking wealth and land. His generals reconquered many parts of the empire, including the city of Rome itself.
Justinian created a unified code of laws, called today the 'Justinian Code'. This code or collection of laws came to form the basis of the system of law in the western world. He also built many great buildings in his capital, the city of Constantinople. His most outstanding building is the great church Santa Sophia, which today is the famous mosque 'Aya Sophia' in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The Julio-claudian dynasty