by Thomas West

Created on: August 04, 2009   Last Updated: October 19, 2009

Even those with little or no knowledge of the history of the Roman Empires knows at least a few emperors by name. Augustus, Claudius, Nero, Commodus (if only because of the film Gladiator,) and perhaps one or two others. What most people do not realize, however, is that the Roman Empire produced many men who were capable of both cruelty and civility, madness and painstaking sanity. This article will provide a brief sketch of some of the most important luminaries in this world of murder, deception, and the highest ideals of civilization as it has come to be known.

As the first official emperor, Augustus was the start of the line of rulers who would continue to rule, in some form or another, until well into the 15th Century. Although he produced no male children of his own, his descendents through his daughter, as well as those of his sister Octavia, would nevertheless govern the empire for several decades after his death. After bringing stability to a faltering republic, he was succeeded by his stepson Tiberius. Tiberius' reign began well enough, but he soon descended into debauchery and cruelty, and when he died Rome rejoiced. He was succeeded by Augustus' great-grandson Caligula (a nickname he earned from his father's troops meaning little boots.) He proved to be mentally unstable and more brutal than his successor and was assassinated by his guards, who elevated his uncle Claudius to the throne. After a reign marked by stability, Claudius was (possibly) poisoned by his niece and wife Agrippina; he was succeeded by her son Nero. He would in turn prove to be worse than any of his predecessors, allowing his desires to run unchecked. He was eventually overthrown by a plot constituted of Senators and guards, the last of Augustus' line to rule the empire.

Political chaos followed the death of Nero, with four emperors seizing the throne in quick succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Vespasian would prove to be an able administrator, though his sons, Titus and Domitian, would prove to be less so. Domitian, in fact, was overthrown and replaced by the aged Nerva. His reign was brief, but it ushered in a period of stability that featured the capable emperors, including Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. All of these emperors were noted for their wisdom and their military prowess, though Hadrian preferred to consolidate the empires boundaries rather than expand them. Marcus Aurelius, the last of the best emperors

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