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The Roman Empire Mr The roman empire Mr. Cline History Marshall High School Marshall High School Mr. Cline Western Civilization I: Ancient Foundations Unit Four EA * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • In this lesson, we're going to tackle the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, the first imperial dynasty of the Roman Empire. • In power from 27 BC to 68 AD, the dynasty included the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. • Although many of its members seemed a bit nuts, the Julio-Claudian Dynasty is arguably the most famous dynasty of the Empire. • As we go through the details of this dynasty, it may just seem like a really violent soap opera. Men came to power through forced marriage, divorce, assassination, and murder. • While discussing the twists and turns that make this dynasty infamous, there are three main points I'd like us to grasp. • First, the Julio-Claudian Dynasty was the first dynasty to rule the Roman Empire. • Second, Augustus was its first emperor and the only Julio-Claudian not to face a violent death. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Last, none of the emperors of the dynasty were succeeded by their biological sons, or in other words, their direct male heir. • Keeping these three things in mind, let's get to our Julio-Claudian emperors. • Augustus • As previously stated, Augustus kicked off the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. • From the Roman family group, Julia, he gives us the Julio part of the Julio- Claudian name. Although he is remembered by history as Augustus, his actual name was Octavian. • Furthermore, he was the adopted son and actual great nephew of the famous Julius Caesar. • After the assassination of Julius Caesar, and after winning an infamous battle with the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the Roman senate declared Octavian the guy in charge, giving him the name Augustus, meaning great, venerable, or revered. This occurred in the year 27 BC. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Augustus • As previously stated, Augustus kicked off the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. • Ironically, Augustus never declared himself emperor, but instead called himself the First Citizen (Princeps). • However, due to the power and control he wielded, history and tradition have awarded him the title of the first Roman emperor. • During his reign, he definitely lived up to this title, having complete authority over every Roman colony. • This power enabled him to restore peace within the Empire, beginning the famous Pax Romana, or Roman Peace. • Under this peace, the agricultural production, economy, and arts of the Empire boomed, and in 2 BC Augustus was declared Pater Patriae, the father of his country. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Tiberius • Augustus illustrious reign came to an end with his natural, non-violent death in the year 14 AD. • Upon his death, Tiberius, from the Roman family group, Claudia, took the throne. Hence the name, Julio-Claudian Dynasty. • Now, let's remember none of the Julio-Claudian emperors were succeeded by their biological sons. In fact, Tiberius was the son of Augustus' wife from her first marriage. • He was, what we would call, Augustus' step-son. • In order to make the family connection even stronger, and in perfect soap opera style, Augustus forced Tiberius to divorce his wife, and then take the hand of his, Augustus', daughter in marriage. • Unlike his predecessor, Tiberius was a soldier who never really wanted to be an emperor. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Tiberius • Not one for enjoying the pomp and circumstance of Rome, he spent a large part of his reign on the island of Capri. • While there, he abandoned most of his imperial duties to his advisor, Sejanus. • Unfortunately, Sejanus decided to have an affair with the wife of Tiberius' son. • This didn't go over to well with Tiberius, and after a series of very dramatic events, Sejanus was brutally executed. • History tells us Tiberius became more and more paranoid as he aged. • His later years were filled with the trial and executions of those he even suspected of treason. • As his paranoia grew, he remained on the island of Capri. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Tiberius • Having reached their fill of his paranoia and murderous reign, Tiberius was assassinated by a member of his praetorian guard, or body guards, in the year 37 AD. • With this violent death of the second Julio-Claudian emperor, Caligula took the throne. • Caligula and Claudius • Caligula was the adopted, not biological, son of Tiberius. In actuality, he was his nephew, the son of his deceased brother Germanicus. • Germaincus had been a great general, beloved by his troops, and he had taken his young son on campaign with him, and even provided him with a miniature military uniform, right down to some “little boots,” which is what Caligula means in Latin, little boots. • Although they weren't truly father and son, it could be said Caligula was a chip off the old Tiberius block. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Caligula and Claudius • Like his adopted dad, Caligula executed many of his subjects for treason. • Taking things a step further, he murdered his own adopted son, pillaged the treasuries of Rome, and is generally remembered as being a madman. • Whether all the stories of his violent reign are true, his unpopularity did lead to his assassination in the year 41 AD, making him the second Julio-Claudian emperor to die a violent death. • This brings us to Claudius, the next guy to claim the throne. • Turning things a bit up-side down, Claudius was actually the uncle of his predecessor, Caligula. • Making him stand out from his fellow Julio-Claudians, Claudius was chosen by the army, not a ruling emperor or the senate. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Caligula and Claudius • Although the army actually chose him because they thought he would be weak and easy to control, as he was lame in one leg, and never considered intelligent, nor athletic or warrior like by the other members of his family, including his mother and step father, Claudius ended up being rather competent. • He waged several military campaigns and is credited for increasing the territory of the Roman Empire. • He is most famous for his conquering of Britain in the year 43 AD. • Although Claudius may have been an excellent military leader, he was a very poor judge of character. • In 54 AD he was murdered by his wife, who also happened to be his niece, and her son Nero, a son from another man, we might add, took the throne. • Thus, we have another Julio-Claudian dying a violent death and someone not his son taking the throne. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Introduction to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty • Nero • Unfortunately for the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, Nero takes the cake as one of the most infamous emperors of Rome. • Although it has never been proven, he is accused of starting the 64 AD Great Fire of Rome. • Making him even more notorious, history tells us he blamed the Christians for the fire and began persecuting them en masse. • Add to this, he is credited with the murder of his mom (yes, the same woman who poisoned her husband so he could have the throne), his first wife, and his stepbrother, and you can see why Rome reached their fill of him by 68 AD. • Facing a sentence of death from the Roman senate, Nero committed suicide. • Dying with no heir in place, his suicide brought the final violent death to the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. English Spelling of Greek Word Translation Letter Iota Iesous Jesus Chi Christos Christ Theta Theou God's Ypsilon Uios Son Sigma Soter Savior * Year of the Four Emperors • Other than Caesar Augustus, the most famous emperors of Rome are arguably the Flavian Emperors. • These famous Flavians, Vespasian and his two sons, Titus and Domitian, reigned during some of Rome's greatest triumphs and tragedies. • Before we get to the details of these famous Flavians, let's see how they came to power in the year known to history as the Year of the Four Emperors. • When Emperor Nero was deposed without an heir in the year 68 AD, the position of emperor was up for grabs. • What ensued was a bloody year in which four men claimed, then tried to hold, the crown. • The first man to begin the Year of the Four Emperors was Galba. • As a respected general, Galba seemed to have what it took to be emperor. • Unfortunately, he was old, and when he chose his heir, a man named Otho challenged this decision.
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