Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius The Roman Empire Principal Roman Emperors The Setting When we last left our emperors the overallgood Flavian Dynasty had come to an end ID: 259335
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Slide1
The Five Good Emperors
Nerva
, Trajan, Hadrian,
Antoninus
Pius, Marcus AureliusSlide2
The Roman EmpireSlide3
Principal Roman EmperorsSlide4
The Setting…
When we last left our emperors, the overall-good
Flavian
Dynasty had come to an end…
Domitian lay murdered by his own court officials
Which family would rule Rome next?Slide5
The Five Good Emperors
Sometimes called the “
adoptive emperors
.”
Each one picked his own
successor
by adoption to ensure a
smooth transition
of government upon his death
If we could time-travel, this period would be an excellent time to see the Roman Empire at its peak:
AD 96-AD 180Slide6
Nerva
Ruled from
AD 96-98
65
years old when he became emperor
First emperor chosen by the
Senate
Supporter of the
Flavians
Stopped
executions
of senators and
treason trials
Returned property that
Domitian had confiscatedSlide7
Nerva
Passed many
tax reliefs
for poor Romans
Forced to choose an heir in
AD 97
Chose
Trajan
as heir
Died of natural causes (stroke) in AD 98 after
15
months in office
Was
deified
(made a god)Slide8Slide9
Trajan
Ruled from
AD 98-117
Born in
Spain
Became emperor at the age of
44
Famous military campaign: conquered
Dacia
(modern Romania) in AD 106
The Roman Empire was at its
greatest size
during his reignSlide10Slide11
Trajan
Famous for many
architectural works
: Trajan’s Column, Trajan’s Forum, and others
Started a
welfare
program for poor children:
alimenta
Died of illness when returning to Rome from war against
ParthiaSlide12Slide13Slide14Slide15Slide16Slide17
Hadrian
Ruled from
AD 117-138
Born in
Spain
His father was a
cousin
of Trajan
Hadrian loved
army life
He traveled to almost
every province
of the Roman Empire during his reign
He loved
Greece and
Greek ideasSlide18
Hadrian
He loved
architecture!
Remembered for building Hadrian’s Wall in
Britain
; rebuilding the
Pantheon
in Rome; and starting construction of
Hadrian’s Mausoleum
(the modern Castel
Sant’Angelo
)
Died at
Baiae
, Italy, aged 62Slide19Slide20Slide21Slide22
Antoninus
Pius
Ruled from
AD 138-161
Governed from
Rome
“Pius”: convinced Senate to
deify Hadrian
Ruled
well and justly
No major
military conflictsSlide23
Antoninus
Pius
Married Anna
Galeria
Faustina
Very happy marriage
4 children; one
daughter
outlived the parents
Faustina
did much
charity work
Puellae
Faustinianae: “
Faustina’s Girls”---
paid for education of poor girlsSlide24
Antoninus
Pius
Faustina
died in
AD 141
Antoninus
Pius grieved her death
Had her
deified
Built a
temple
to her in the Forum
After his death in
161
, the temple was rededicated to them bothSlide25Slide26
Marcus Aurelius
Ruled from
AD 161-180
Co-ruled with
Lucius
Verus
from AD 161-169 (
Verus
’ death)
Early education was overseen by
Hadrian
He and Lucius
Verus
were adopted by Antoninus Pius as as part of Hadrian’s adoption agreement with PiusSlide27
Marcus Aurelius
Fought wars with
Parthia
and
Germany
Was a
Stoic
philosopher
Stoics believed in
moderation
in everything
Be
content
with what you have
Popular philosophy with upper-class RomansMarcus Aurelius wrote the “Meditations,” a book about StoicismSlide28
Marcus Aurelius
He married
Faustina
the Younger (daughter of
Antoninus
Pius
and
Faustina
)
30-year
marriage
13
children! Only
5
outlived him.Slide29
Annia
Aurelia
Galeria
Faustina
(147–after 165
)
Gemellus
Lucillae
(died around 150), twin brother of
Lucilla
Annia
Aurelia Galeria Lucilla (148/50–182), twin sister of Gemellus, married her father's co-ruler Lucius VerusTitus Aelius Antoninus (born after 150, died before 7 March 161)Titus Aelius Aurelius (born after 150, died before 7 March 161)Hadrianus
(152–157)Domitia Faustina
(born after 150, died before 7 March 161
)
Annia
Aurelia
Fadilla
(159–after 211
)
Annia
Cornificia
Faustina
Minor
(160–after 211
)
Titus Aurelius
Fulvus
Antoninus
(161–165), twin brother of
Commodus
Lucius Aurelius Commodus
Antoninus
(
Commodus
) (161–192), twin brother of Titus Aurelius
Fulvus
Antoninus
, later
emperor
Marcus
Annius
Verus
Caesar
(162–169
)
Vibia
Aurelia Sabina
(170–died before 217
)Slide30
Marcus Aurelius
Died in
Vienna, Austria
, March 17, AD 180
Was succeeded by his son
Commodus
, who had been co-ruler since
AD 177
Was
deified
after his deathSlide31
Quotes from “Meditations”
A man should be upright, not be kept upright.
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Slide32
Quotes from “Meditations”
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.