1. Emperors Behaving Badly

2. The Julio-Claudians

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

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

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

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Tiberius withdrawn in later years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

7. 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

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

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

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

11. 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

12. 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…

13. 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.

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

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

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

17. Legacy of Julio-Claudians

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