The Roman Empire First Roman Emperor The First

The Roman Empire

First Roman Emperor • The First Roman Emperor was Octavian Caesar • Became Emperor in 27 BCE • Ruled until 14 CE

Rise of Augustus • Was adopted by Julius Caesar from a distant branch of his family known as the Octavii – Chosen for his intelligence and charisma – Became Pontifex Maximus at Caesar’s insistence at a young age

Post-Assassination • Octavian unites with Marc Antony and Marcus Lepidus, two of Caesar’s generals – Muster his legions against the Senate – Succeed in hounding Brutus and the coconspirators to their deaths

The Second Triumvirate • Changed Roman constitution to abolish title of Dictator – Officially created a second Triumvirate with himself, Lepidus and Antony in charge – Vastly reduced the power of the Senate • In essence, replaced one dictator with three

Octavian gains power • The Triumvirates restored their personal wealth and the wealth of Rome through proscriptions – Definition: Declaring someone an enemy of the state, allowing the state to seize them and their personal wealth • The Triumvirates used proscription to remove their enemies and get wealthy from the spoils

Collapse of the Triumvirate • Antony detested Octavian – Spent most of his time away from Rome campaigning • Octavian manipulates Lepidus – Lepidus is jealous of his more powerful peers – Octavian convinces him to join him against Antony, gives him command of some legions • On cue, Lepidus attempts to betray Octavian and lead his legions against him • Octavian strips him of his power

Collapse of the Triumvirate • Octavian moves the full force of Rome against Antony after proscribing him – Antony vastly underestimates Octavian’s skill as a general – Attempts to form an alliance with Egyptian Queen Cleopatra • Octavian destroys his navy at the Battle of Actium, forces Cleopatra and Antony to kill themselves

Augustus the Emperor • Took as his official title: Princeps, which meant First Citizen • Why choose that instead of Imperator (Emperor), Rex Maximus (Greatest King) or something along those lines? • Senate bestowed Octavian with the title Augustus meaning “majestic” which Octavian took as his new name

Pax Romana • re-organized empire into 40 Provinces • Each Province had its own governor or Rector, chosen from the Senate – These Rectors were paid personally by Augustus

Pax Romana 27 BCE-180 CE • Pax Romana means Roman Peace • Definition: A continuous period of growth, and unity for the Empire that marked the height of Roman power

Great Buildings • Augustus began several building projects around the Empire to make it stronger • ROADS: to move goods, and more importantly, armies – Maintained by a professional builders • Many of these roads are still usable today

Why are Roman Roads so good?

Great Buildings • AQUEDUCTS: For channeling water to croplands and cities. – Augustus vastly expanded the aqueduct network – Made water freely available to all citizens

Great Buildings • FORUMS: For governing and trade – Each provincial capital got its own forum – Roman forum was rebuilt and expanded

Great Buildings • Colosseums: For entertainment, sports and culture – The Colosseum was built with money from Augustus’ personal fortune • Featured gladiatorial combat, typically free to citizens

Famous Quote • Augustus famously said – “I found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble. ”

Military Campaign • Augustus began a campaign to expand the Empire • Took a new first name Imperator – Meaning “victorious” – This would later become the official title of all Roman leaders to follow – Base of the word Emperor

Military campaign • Forcefully converted all client kingdoms into provinces, removing their leaders – Including the son of Herod the Great • Successfully negotiated for the return of all battle standards lost by Crassus at Parthia – Restored the old legions

Limits of the Empire • Augustus forced to stop expansion into Germany because of the Battle of Teutoberg Forest – Augustus’ forces under Publius Varo was massacred by German tribes led by Arminius – First time an entire Roman legion was destroyed – Roman Empire would never expand into Northern Germany

The Battle

Making the Empire Last • Augustus chose his stepson Tiberius to be his successor. Making him his assistant so he could learn how to be a good ruler. • Known as a brilliant general but a gloomy man in person • Made little effort to protect his legacy

Caligula • Took over after Tiberius • Spent 27 million pounds of gold on parties and riches for himself, bankrupted Rome • Conquered all of Egypt • Went insane after a famine, tried to make his horse a Senator • Assassinated by the Praetorian Guard – Elite troops that guarded the Empire – Last of the Caesar line, replaced by Claudius

Caligula

Claudius • Led Praetorian guard that killed former Emperor • Ruled after Caligula, had a short reign – Finished conquest of Britain – Expanded transportation with a series of canals – Known for his humility • Sat with the Senate, waited his turn to speak • Assassinated: Claudius died of poison, likely by his wife to make way for her son Nero

Nero • Took throne as young man, initially controlled by mother and advisors, before he had them assassinated. • Great Fire of Rome – Roman historian Seutonius claims Nero started Fire – Used fire to consolidate power, spending money to aid poor and building a massive new palace – Blamed fire on Christians and Jews, used it as an excuse to persecute

The Great Fire and Nero

Nero’s Death • Nero commits suicide after governor’s rebel against his harsh taxes – Kills himself before the Praetorian Guard can arrest him on the Senate’s orders

Emperor Titus • Military commander, took control after Nero – Most famous for brutally putting down Jewish rebellion – Delighted in torturing prisoners according to Josephus

The Kanaim/Zealot Rebellion 66 -70 • Under Caligula, Roman Emperor declared a God, required a statue of Emperor displayed in all temples • War averted with Caligula’s death • Under Nero, persecution of Jews and Christians common – Refused to include worship of Caesars in religion

The Kanaim/Zealot Rebellion 66 -70 BCE • Uprising began when a Roman official stole silver from the Temple • Jewish residents attacked and burned a nearby Roman garrison • Rome responded by sending 60, 000 troops to besiege Jerusalem – Tens of thousands killed – Temple burned – 100, 000 Jews sold into slavery

Death of Titus • Titus is assassinated by his brother Domitian while travelling the country-side – Assassination sets off a brief civil war followed by the interregnum

The 5 Good Emperors 96 -180 • Titus’ death followed by an interregnum – A period without a King or Emperor – Rome ruled by the Praetorian Guard • 96 BCE saw rise of the first of 5 Good Emperors – Nerva – Trajan – Hadrian – Antoninus Pius – Marcus Aurelius

Nerva • Made peace with Senate, highly popular with Roman People • Gave land to the poor, established fair tax system – Unlike previous emperors, Nerva maintained a balanced budget

Trajan • Conquered Eastern Europe and Arabia • Created welfare program for widows and orphans • Created standard weight for money – Why is this important – Created the office of Curator to safeguard the money supply

Hadrian • Recognized the Empire was growing too large to maintain • Retreated back to defensible positions and built massive walls in Britain, Germany and Eastern Europe • Built massive art projects for people of Rome • Created law code forbidding torture and protecting slaves

Hadrian’s Wall in Britain

Religious persecution • Jews of Palestine rebelled after Hadrian attempted to make Roman religion supreme – Forbade circumcision, and worship on the Sabbath • Jewish revolt violently put down, estimated slaughter: 50, 000 men, women and children • Erected a temple to Jupiter on the remains of the Temple

Antoninus Pius • Spread Roman law throughout Empire • Strengthened system of governors • Brought in philosophers from around world to teach in Rome – Open Roman Academy

Antoninus and the Jews • Jewish people sent an emissary including a Rabbi to negotiate for improved conditions with Pius – Emperor met and befriended Rabbi, Pius’ reign saw a renewal of Jewish culture and scholarship – Learned from Rabbi and debated Jewish law – Allowed the erection of a Jewish altar, though he never reportedly converted

Marcus Aurelius • Protected Rome from invasion from Germany and Western Russia • Worked as a philosopher, wrote several books on logic and morality • Murdered by his son Commodus • Death marks the end of Good Emperors, beginning of the Fall of Rome

Emperor Commodus

The Disastrous rule of Commodus • Spent lavishly on himself – Devalued Roman Currency in order to spend more money • Believed himself to be an incarnation of Heracles – Dressed in lion-skins and carried a club – Often participated in battles in the Colosseum – Attempted to rename Rome and the months of the calendar after himself

Commodus’ Assasination • The Senate and the Praetorian guard form a conspiracy to remove Commodus – He is strangled in his bathtub by his own wrestling coach • After his death, Senate declares him an enemy of the state • Damage is done

After Commodus • The Roman Empire now begins a slow period of decline, which will eventually end in its splitting apart and eventual collapse