Emperors Behaving Badly 43491spring08rome皇帝捣乱43491spring08rome.pptVIP

Emperors Behaving Badly The Julio-Claudians 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! 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 Rarely left Rome Poorly managed provinces, Spain in particular Heavy Drinker- Biberius Caldius Mero Miser 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desires Had trouble trusting people, despised his mother Afraid of thunder and fish More Succession Problems Tiberius withdrawn in later years Sejanus No heir named, immediate family dead Two possible heirs, Gaius Caesar and Tiberius Gemellus Died March 16, 37 CE Gaius Julius Caesar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 Recalled exiles Held banquets and gave many gifts Revived Public Works However, later in the same year he was appointed, suffered a “brain fever” …Possibly Drove Him Insane Ships at Baiae Replaced heads of statues of gods with his own Wore a wig and commoners’ clothes for ‘nightly activities’ Declared himself a living god Cancelled some holidays honoring Augustus Incest- Drusilla Killed several relatives, painfully More Exploits Hoped for natural disasters Hated the handsome Unfair taxes ‘Gather seashells!’ Stole from Alexander the Great’s tomb Created poisons in spare time Tried to make Incitatus a