Emperors Behaving Badly

The Julio-Claudians

Where the Trouble Started… Augustus unable to produce heir Augustus unable to produce heir Died in 14 CE Died in 14 CE "Alas for the Roman people, to be ground by jaws that crunch so slowly!" "Alas for the Roman people, to be ground by jaws that crunch so slowly!"

Tiberius Claudius Nero Augustus’ adopted son Reigned from 14 to 37 CE Never wanted to be emperor Failed at “playing Augustus”

Bad Behavior in Public Treason trials Treason trials Rarely left Rome Rarely left Rome Poorly managed provinces, Spain in particular Poorly managed provinces, Spain in particular Heavy Drinker- Biberius Caldius Mero Heavy Drinker- Biberius Caldius Mero Miser Miser Neglected Public Works, Augustus’ Temple, Pompey’s Theatre Neglected Public Works, Augustus’ Temple, Pompey’s Theatre Theodorus- ‘mud, kneaded with blood’ Maiestas Daily executions Nearly every crime became punishable by death Hated the games, cut back funding Established Praetorian Guard, treated them better than border soldiers

Private Problems Private “playhouse” Pans and nymphs His ‘minnows’ Few immune from his desires Had trouble trusting people, despised his mother Afraid of thunder and fish

More Succession Problems Tiberius withdrawn in later years Tiberius withdrawn in later years Sejanus Sejanus No heir named, immediate family dead No heir named, immediate family dead Two possible heirs, Gaius Caesar and Tiberius Gemellus Two possible heirs, Gaius Caesar and Tiberius Gemellus Died March 16, 37 CE Died March 16, 37 CE

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula) Son of Germanicus, a great Roman general Nickname stuck- “little soldiers’ boots” Very popular with the masses and soldiers Reigned from 37 to 41 CE “I am nursing a viper in Rome’s bosom.”- Tiberius

No Problems at First Caligula appeals to Roman people Caligula appeals to Roman people Recalled exiles Recalled exiles Held banquets and gave many gifts Held banquets and gave many gifts Revived Public Works Revived Public Works However, later in the same year he was appointed, suffered a “brain fever” However, later in the same year he was appointed, suffered a “brain fever”

…Possibly Drove Him Insane Ships at Baiae Ships at Baiae Replaced heads of statues of gods with his own Replaced heads of statues of gods with his own Wore a wig and commoners’ clothes for ‘nightly activities’ Wore a wig and commoners’ clothes for ‘nightly activities’ Declared himself a living god Declared himself a living god Cancelled some holidays honoring Augustus Cancelled some holidays honoring Augustus Incest- Drusilla Incest- Drusilla Killed several relatives, painfully Killed several relatives, painfully

More Exploits Hoped for natural disasters Hoped for natural disasters Hated the handsome Hated the handsome Unfair taxes Unfair taxes ‘Gather seashells!’ ‘Gather seashells!’ Stole from Alexander the Great’s tomb Stole from Alexander the Great’s tomb Created poisons in spare time Created poisons in spare time Tried to make Incitatus a senator, leader of cult in his honor Tried to make Incitatus a senator, leader of cult in his honor Palace on the water Emptied treasury Altered the games unexpectedly Secretly killed people for fun Foul language Had people tortured while he was eating Hypocrite Orgies

Caligula Assassinated… 41 CE, Caligula violently stabbed to death 41 CE, Caligula violently stabbed to death Issue of succession comes up again… Issue of succession comes up again… Augustus took special measures to ensure that Tiberius Claudius would not become emperor Augustus took special measures to ensure that Tiberius Claudius would not become emperor Only one ‘capable’ left alive Only one ‘capable’ left alive

Tiberius Claudius Reigned from 41 to 54 CE Reigned from 41 to 54 CE Historians have differing opinions on his character Historians have differing opinions on his character Generally agreed that he had some forms of physical disabilities Generally agreed that he had some forms of physical disabilities

Better than the Last Two.. Erratic court behavior Paranoid Easily swayed by others Killed thirty-five senators and 300 equites Gluttony Sex addict Bribery Adopted Nero

Succession Once Again Disputed Claudius died in 54 CE Senate was naturally concerned with safety Claudius named his adoptive son Nero as heir (Agrippina had a strong hand in this) Not many options…

Nero Became emperor at age sixteen Influenced by Agrippina and Seneca early in reign. Ruled from 54 to 68 CE Promised to rule as Augustus had Difficult to discern fact from fiction.

Nero’s Offenses Forced senators to do battle in the gladiatorial games Forced senators to do battle in the gladiatorial games Shows he put on were dangerous at times Shows he put on were dangerous at times Would ignore pleas to return to Rome Would ignore pleas to return to Rome Would don a disguise and attack men at night Would don a disguise and attack men at night Petty crimes Petty crimes Forced his friends to throw him parties Forced his friends to throw him parties Opened numerous temporary brothels Opened numerous temporary brothels Raped numerous people, even a Vestal Virgin Attacked private parts of men and women bound to stakes Emptied treasury Seized assets of those ‘disloyal’ to him Matricide Fratricide Gruesomely killed aunt Killed nobility to save himself

Great Fire of Rome 64 CE Strongly suspected Nero caused fire “fiddled while Rome burned” Lasted six days, seven nights

Persecution of Christians First emperor to do so First emperor to do so Would throw parties lit by Christians on burning crosses Would throw parties lit by Christians on burning crosses Blamed fire on them Blamed fire on them Suspicious due to their strange rituals and monotheism Suspicious due to their strange rituals and monotheism

End of Julio-Claudians Nero committed suicide in 68 CE Nero committed suicide in 68 CE No living male relatives No living male relatives Start of Flavian dynasty soon to follow Start of Flavian dynasty soon to follow Rome may never have truly recovered Rome may never have truly recovered Start of Flavian dynasty under Vespasian Start of Flavian dynasty under Vespasian

Legacy of Julio-Claudians

The End “Bear in mind that I can do anything I want to anyone I want!” - Caligula