| Character | Date |
Short Biography |
|---|
Julio-Claudian Emperors |
|---|
| Tiberius | 42–37 |
Second emperor. Stepson of Augustus. Retired to Capri. |
| Drusus | 38–9 BC |
Son of Livia, father of Germanicus. Died on campaign in Germany. |
| Sejanus | d. 31 |
Leader of Praetorians. Conspired to seize the throne from Tiberius. |
| Germanicus | 15–19 |
Roman military hero and heir to the throne. Probably murdered. |
| Agrippina the Elder | 14–33 |
Granddaughter of Augustus Caesar; accused Tiberius of killing her husband Germanicus. |
| Caligula | 12–41 |
Third emperor. Sadistic and probably insane. |
| Claudius | 10–54 |
Fourth emperor. Manipulated by wicked wives, Messalina and Agrippina. |
| Messalina | 17–48 |
Wicked, profligate, and promiscuous wife of Claudius. |
| Agrippina the Younger | 16–59 |
Mother of Nero. Murdered Claudius to make way for his rise to the throne. |
| Nero | 37–68 |
Fifth emperor. Murdered mother, wife, and brother. Fiddled while Rome burned. |
| Seneca | 3–65 |
Tutor and minister to Nero. Forced to commit suicide after falling from grace. |
| Poppaea | d. 65 |
Wicked mistress of Nero. Urged him to kill his mother and first wife. |
| Boadicea | d. 61 |
Queen of the Iceni. Led the largest revolt of Celtic Britons against the Romans. |
Flavian Emperors |
|---|
| Galba | 3–69 |
Declared emperor after Nero was deposed. Served less than a year. |
| Otho | 32–69 |
Emperor for three months in 69 A.D. Committed suicide rather than continue civil war. |
| Vitellius | d. 69 |
Emperor for nine months in 69 A.D. Known as an incompetent glutton. |
| Vespasian | 9–79 |
First emperor of humble origins. Founder of Flavian dynasty. |
| Titus | 40–81 |
Second Flavian emperor. Conquered Jerusalem. Reigned with father Vespasian. |
| Domitian | 51–96 |
Third Flavian emperor. Known for purges and persecutions near end of reign. |
| Pliny ( the Elder) | 23–79 |
Scholar, author of encyclopedias, naturalist. Wrote Natural Histories. Died at the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. |
| Josephus | 37–100 |
Jewish historian. Captured by Romans at Jotapata. Wrote the Jewish War. |
| Agricola | 40–93 |
Roman general and statesman. Governor of Britain. Pacified Wales. |
| Martial | 40–102 |
Poet and satirist. Wrote twelve books of Epigrams. |
| Plutarch | 46–122 |
Most outstanding moralist and biographer of ancient times. Wrote Lives of Greeks and Romans. |
| Tacitus | 55–120 |
Historian. Related to Agricola. Wrote Germania, Histories, and Annals. |
Five Good Emperors |
|---|
| Nerva | 30–98 |
First of the "Five Good Emperors." Ruled briefly between Domitian and Trajan. |
| Trajan | 53–117 |
Second of "Five Good Emperors." Ruled with justice and integrity. Conquered Dacia. |
| Pliny the Younger | 63–113 |
Roman statesman and and orator. His letters are important historical sources. |
| Hadrian | 76–138 |
Third of "Five Good Emperors." Talented artist and architect, good administrator. |
| Antoninus Pius | 86–161 |
Fourth of "Five Good Emperors." Continued policy of consolidation. Ruled justly. |
| Marcus Aurelius | 121–180 |
Fifth of "Five Good Emperors." Stoic philosopher. Improved condition of poor. |
| Commodus | 161–192 |
Corrupt son of Aurelius, misruled for twelve years and was murdered. |
Severan Emperors |
|---|
| Septimus Severus | 146–211 |
Seized Imperial throne after the death of Commodus. Put down many rebellions. |
| Caracalla | 188–217 |
Brutal and iron-fisted emperor. Murdered brother Geta. Built "Baths of Caracalla." |
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