AUGUSTUS
Emperor Augustus ruled from 27 BCE to 14 CE. Augustus took power though a civil war that occurred after the death of Julius Caesar. Like Caesar before him, Augustus recognized that only a strong monarchy (single-ruler, or king) could rescue Rome from civil war and anarchy. The reign of Augustus signified the end of the Roman republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire, a time when all of Rome’s power would be given to one man - the emperor.
He began the Pax Romana (“peaceful Rome”) which was a 200 year period of peace in the Empire that allowed for cultural advancements in art, architecture, and philosophy. Augustus instituted reforms and improvements throughout the empire. He reformed the army to guard against powerful generals and their private armies. He had aqueducts built to bring water into most Roman homes. He organized one of the world’s first fire departments, and organized a Roman police force in order to keep the city safe and contain violence. In Italy, Augustus had roads repaired, ended abusive tax codes, and worked to drive out corruption in the Empire’s government. He eventually grew to be so loved by his people that the month of August was named after him.
Caligula
Caligula ruled from 37-41 CE after inheriting the position from his uncle. Caligula accepted the powers of Emperor and was said to have been eagerly loved and accepted by Romans, mostly because his uncle was a vicious and hated emperor. The Roman historian Suetonius says that over 160,000 animals were sacrificed in honor of Caligula during the first three months of his reign. Caligula himself financed gladiator competitions to please the public and he even held lotteries at the events for property or money. He also granted bonuses to the military and cut taxes in order to ensure the support of the people.
Unfortunately, Caligula’s extravagant spending caused a financial crisis and famine in Rome. The Roman treasury was quickly emptied and Caligula had to figure out a way to refill it. He did so by fining, imprisoning, or killing his opponents for the purpose of seizing their property. This lead to a feud between Caligula and the Senate, and Caligula ordered the execution of several Senators and appointed his horse to one of the vacant seats as a sign of disrespect. These actions led several senators to ambush Caligula, stabbing him repeatedly and assassinating him in a manner similar to the way that Julius Caesar died.
Nero
Emperor Nero took power in 54 CE when he was just 17 years old. When Nero first game to power, he promised to give the Senate powers equivalent to those under Republican rule. During his reign, Nero focused much of his attention on diplomacy, trade, and increasing the cultural capital of the empire. He ordered the building of theaters and promoted athletic games. His reign included asuccessful war and negotiated peace with the Parthian Empire, the suppression of arevolt in Britain, and the start of the First Roman–Jewish War.
Nero was also notoriously paranoid, and ordered the execution of several prominent Romans, including his own mother and stepbrother, for fear that they were plotting to overthrow him. In 64 CE, a large portion of Rome was destroyed by a great fire that burned for 5 days. The exact causes of the fire are unknown, but the Roman historian Suetonius believed that Nero started the fire in order to clear land for a new building project that he had planned. There are even tales of Nero looking out over his burning city while playing a lyre (a stringed instrument similar to tiny harp), demonstrating his lack of caring about his people. However, accidental fires were not uncommon and after the fire, Nero opened his palaces to provide shelter for the homeless, and arranged for food supplies to be delivered in order to prevent starvation among the survivors.
Still, some of his governors rebelled against Nero’s tax policies and the Senate announced a plan to assassinate him by beating him to death. Rather than face his assassins, Nero chose to take his own life, and committed suicide by stabbing himself in the throat on June 9, 68 CE.
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius is considered by most historians to be much more than just an Emperor - he was also a philosopher! Ruling between 161 and 180 CE, he was known for taking on “co-Emperors” to share the duties and act as advisors to one another. This was very similar to the early consulships under the Roman Republic. He is considered the wisest Roman Emperor despite the numerous military conflicts that occurred during his reign. His dark view of the nature of existence was philosophically groundbreaking at the time, writing the words “Everything existing is already disintegrating and changing… Everything in nature is made but to die."
The borders of his empire to the north and east were in a constant state of conflict with local tribes. Aurelius made several trips to the front lines of the battles against Germanic tribes in the north in order to personally oversee their surrender. These numerous wars led to disruptions in trade and taxation in the empire, which was also a cause for some economic troubles during his reign. His death signifies the end of the Pax Romana. The rule of his son, Commodus, signals the beginning of the end for Rome.