The Julio Claudian Emperors
Can pride destroy a life?
Tiberius
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Augustus’ 3rd choice for successor was
Tiberius after Marcellus and Agrippa
died unexpectedly
Forced by Augustus to divorce his wife
and marry, Augustus’ daughter Julia,
Agrippa’s sons died early forcing
Augustus to choose Tiberius whom he
adopted at age 50, forced Tiberius to
adopt Germanicus who was Augustus’
grandson in law
Tiberius did what was asked of him,
took control at 56, well trained general
and administrator
Firmed up frontier, sent Germanicus to
help secure borders
Built roads and public works,
appointed qualified governors, left
Rome 20X’s better financially
Smothered in bed by rival, who
supported Caligua, Germanicus’ son
also known as little boots
Caligula
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Started out as emperor as courteous
and generous
Restarted expansion by invading
Parthia whom Tiberius had made a
treaty and Britannia , became very ill
almost died
Came back some what insane,
wanting to prove he was immortal,
Called himself a god, made his favorite
horse a senator and consul, forced
senators to bring their wives so he
could sleep with them or serve him as
slaves, drowned his mother
Spent most of the surplus Tiberius had
built up of money for lavish dinners
with orchestras and his own games,
had to sue for personal property to
continue to pay for it all
Fell in love with his sister
Had Gemillus his coruler killed
Killed by his own guards in a secret
passage
Claudius
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When guards killed Caligula ran
through the palace, found Claudius
hiding behind a curtain, 50 yr old
stuttering buffoon, made him emperor
instead of killing him like they did
Caligula’s sister and daughter
Considered an idiot who became well
educated, became an effective
manager of the empire, streamlined
administration, started a cabinet of
advisors
Weaknesses of gambling, drinking and
his wives, divorced 1st 2 wives for
adultery, then married a 15 yr old, had
a son Britannicus, married a consul
while Claudius was away, Cludius
married Agrippina, her son Nero was
adopted, Seneca made his tutor
Poisoned by Agrippina so Nero could
take the throne
Nero
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Became emperor at 16,craved recognition
and importance
Self indulgent, creative, hated by senators
1st 8 yrs great poisoned Brittanicus at
dinnermanged empire gained victories
Feared his mother and killed her
Appeared in public for music competitions,
acting and chariot races
Persecuted enemies, confiscated large
estates, mishandled provinces and ignored
the legions
Divorced and exiled 1st wife, married
mistress and had 1st wife’s head brought to
him, kicked 2nd wife to death while she was
pregnant, married a boy,
Burned Rome for a new palace and as the
city burned played the fiddle, to make room
for a new palace, blamed new religion
Christianity
Murdered by own guards