crime.
He refused to wear the traditional Roman toga and instead wore flowing women’s robes made of silk. He had a very close relationship with his horse, and it is believed that he even had him appointed to the Senate.
7. Gloomiest of Men
Tiberius was described so by the historian Pliny the Elder. He never wanted to become king and is best remembered for his solemn and gloomy demeanor. He was, however, a great general: bright and intelligent but in no way interested in ruling the kingdom. During his military career, he conquered many regions such Pannonia and Raetia.
He married Julia the Elder, Augustus’ daughter, thus uniting the bloodlines of two great dynasties. The death of his son led him to depression, and he abdicated and left the city. He was also mentioned in the Bible as it was under his reign that Jesus was put on trial and sentenced to death by crucifixion.
Domitian was a tyrant king, also mentioned in the Bible, and was the last emperor of the Flavian dynasty. He was continuously at war and was feared by the people and his own senators. He sentenced to death all those who disagreed with him and killed Jews without mercy. It is no surprise then that he was eventually assassinated.
Constantine the Great was also mentioned in the Bible. He established Christianity as the official religion in Rome, building churches and preaching Christianity all over Europe. His conversion to Christianity is thought to have been down to his mother, Queen Helena, who was deeply religious herself. Constantine was the first-ever Christian Roman emperor.
Trajan reigned until 117 AD, and during his time on the throne, he conquered many new lands for the empire. Inevitably, the great geographical size of the empire brought problems in terms of administration, and Trajan found that the empire could not be ruled as a whole. It was maybe his great desire to conquer new lands that ultimately led to his downfall.
Vespasian was the fourth emperor of Rome, and the first of the Flavian dynasty. Throughout his reign, he tried to maintain peace and harmony in the city and did all he could to restore law and order after the civil war. He proved himself a worthy ruler of the Roman Empire, and was greatly loved by the people.
12. Good Ruler
Titus Aurelius was a good and capable king. He took his duties seriously and made sure the whole kingdom was happy and at peace. He was nicknamed “cumin splitter” because of his frugality; he would always double-check his officials to make sure they were not wasting anything. He managed tax and business well, and his reign was calm and peaceful. He built many roads and bridges, and improved the empire’s infrastructure. Rome prospered under his rule.
Roman emperors came and went. Some were good; some were bad; all of them were fascinating. They are what made the Roman Empire what it was, and without them Rome would not have flourished. Each emperor had his own way of ruling the kingdom. Those who were brave, mighty, fearless, and intelligent served the people well. Those who were skilled on the battlefield led Rome to countless military victories and ensured the many conquests that marked the glory of the Roman Empire.