Do you know the Twelve Caesars? Were they men who brought the Roman Empire to its heyday? Do you want to know who they were and what the did?
Gaius Julius Caesar, better known as Julius Caesar, was a patrician, military leader and Roman politician. He played an important role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is considered by many academics to be one of the greatest military commanders in history. He initiated a series of social and political reforms, including the creation of the Julian calendar. And he was stabbed to death in front of the Pompeii Theater.
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian Augustus, also known as Augustus, was the first emperor to be proclaimed “Augustus” by the Roman Senate, that is, a god. He divided the imperial capital into 14 provincial ones to make it easier to collect taxes and covered Roman buildings in marble to attract more attention. He developed road networks and created official police and fire services for Rome.
Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, or just Tiberius. During his reign, Jesus Christ was crucified. He regularized the economy with severe measures, reduced public spending and ordered an end to gladiatorial duels. He became known as an obscure, reclusive and shadowy ruler. After the death of his son, the quality of his rule declined and his reign ended in terror, and him exiling himself from Rome.
Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, also known as Caligula. During his reign, he organized great circus shows. He considered himself a deity, and had his statues placed in several temples, including the one in Jerusalem. He also took the Obelisk to Rome, which is now located in Vatican Square. He made a series of mistakes that led to an economic crisis and famine. Caligula was one of the cruelest, most controversial and extravagant emperors of Rome.
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, known as Claudius. Despite his lack of political experience and being considered a fool, he was a brilliant student, ruler and military strategist. He built canals, aqueducts, paved roads to improve communications. As the last survivor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he reduced the power of the Senate, passed humane laws that protected the popular classes, and handed decisive political office into the hands of freed slaves he trusted.
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or just Nero. Acclaimed as the new Roman Emperor at the age of 17. During his reign, he focused mainly on diplomacy and trade, tried to increase the cultural capital of the empire, ordered the construction of several theaters and promoted games and athletic competitions. Under his rule, Rome would have known the climax of moral and political debauchery. He also started the great persecutions of the followers of Christianity. After the burning of Rome, Emperor Nero began a major Project to rebuild the city, as well as his extravagant palace, Domus Aurea (Golden House). Nero commits suicide to avoid being arrested by the Praetorian Guard, ending the Julius-Claudian dynasty. He is buried in what is now the Villa Borghese park in Rome.
Servius Sulpicius Galba became known as a severe military commander of the traditionalist school, unpopular above all for the use of cruelty and humiliation. Galba, with only 8 months of government, was assassinated in the Forum.
Marcus Salvius Otho, or just Otto, spent less than 1 year as emperor, and did little during his reign. He had to face the rebellion of Vitellius’ army, which defeated his troops in the First Battle of Bedriacus. For this reason, Otto commited suicide.
Aulus Vitellius had his government marked by a great lack of control based on parties that led the Roman coffers to bankruptcy. Best known for his cruelty, he was defeated by Vespasian’s armies at the Second Battle of Bedriaco, being captured, stripped, cruelly whipped and thrown into the Tiber River.
Titus Flavius Vespasianus started the Flavian Dynasty and remained in power for 10 years. Under his rule, he restored peace to the empire, promoted political stability, and revitalized the imperial economy through rigorous tax reform. It had a vast program of public works, which included the restoration of the Capital and the beginning of the construction of the Coliseum.
Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, before being proclaimed emperor, renowned as a military commander during the first Jewish-Roman war, was resposible for destroying Jerusalem, and the Arch of Titus was built in commemoration of the victory. The most important feat of his reign was the program of construction of public buildings in Rome. Its popularity was also due to his generosity with the victims of disasters that the empire suffered: the eruption of Vesuvius 79 AD and the fire of Rome in 80 AD. Due to this popularity, Titus was considered worthy of honor by the Senate and became a deity of the Roman state.
Titus Flavius Domitianus, known only as Domitiano, youngest son of Vespasianus. After the death of his brother, Titus, he was proclaimed Emperor by the Praetorian Guard, his reign lasting 15 years, the longest since Tiberius. He became known as a cruel and paronoid tyrant, a ruthless but efficient autocrat whose peaceful, cultural and economic programs pioneered the prosperous second century. His death marks the end of the Flavian Dynasty, and the beginning of the Antonine Dynasty.
And these were the 12 Caesars that mark the history of Rome and its evolution.
Today my grandfather would have been 94 years old! For as long as I can remember, he loved reciting the 12 Caesars for anyone who would listen and for anyone who wouldn’t! And this post is my tribute to him!
I hope you enjoyed getting to know a little about these great men!! Stay tuned here for another post soon!!
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