Transcript Unit 3 Roman rulers

FIRST TRIUMVIRATE
60 BCE- Three army generals unite to rule Rome.
 Pompey
 Crassus
 Julius Caesar
Caesar becomes consul and commands the Roman
legions in Gaul.
 Conquers Gaul (France) and England.
Pompey gets support from Senate.
 Orders Caesar to return home w/out the army.
Caesar invades Rome w/ army and defeats Pompey.
 Becomes a “hero of the empire.”
SECOND TRIUMVIRATE
Mark Antony
Lepidus
Octavian
Created by Mark Antony
 Falls in love w/ Cleopatra,
queen of Egypt
Octavian crushes the
combined fleet of Antony
and Cleopatra.
OCTAVIAN
31 BCE- creates the Roman Empire
Allows Senate to keep some power, but
he would retain sole rulership.
Changes name to Augustus
“honored and majestic”
Takes title of “Caesar”
“first citizen”
TIBERIUS
14-37 AD
Augustus’ stepson
Plots and violence become
common in Roman politics.
CALIGULA
Cruel and
insane
Rules for 4
years
Assassinated
by his imperial
guard.
CLAUDIUS
41-54 AD
Restores
order to the
Roman
Empire.
NERO
Claudius’ stepson
Becomes Emperor at age 17.
Becomes bloodthirsty and violent.
 Murders own mother for criticizing his mistress.
Rome burns in 64 AD.
 Nero blames the Christians.
Army rebels against him, and he commits suicide.
VESTAVIA
The year after Nero’s death, 2 emperors
are assassinated and 1 commits
suicide.
Chosen by military as emperor of Rome.
Restores discipline in the army and the
administration of the Empire.
Puts down revolts in Judaea and Gaul.
NERVE
Vestavia's sons rule for almost 10 years.
Senate chooses Nerva as the new emperor in 96 AD.
Establishes the adoptive system.
Adopts a son and declares him the heir to
the throne.
TRAJAN
HADRIAN
98-117 AD
117-138 AD
Adopted son of
Nerva.
Devoted to protecting
the Empire, rather
than expanding it.
Spanish-born
Wise and popular
 Eases tax burden.
Empire reaches its
greatest size.
Creates Palestine out
of Jewish territory.
 Encourages non-Jews to
live there.
MARCUS AURELIUS
Last of the adopted emperors
 “Good Emperors”
Many border wars with the Germanic tribes
Abandons the adoptive system and chooses his own son as the new emperor
 Commodus – unfit to rule
 End of the Pax Romana