EMPERORS OF ROME

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EMPERORS OF ROME

• ADRIAN WONG
• KAMIL KHAN

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Hadrian
(117-138 A.D.)

• Ah fleeting Spirit! wand'ring Fire, That long
  hast warm'd my tender Breast, Must thou no more
  this Frame inspire?
• - Hadrian

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Hadrian

• BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• Was born in Italica, Baetica (modern day Seville,
  Spain) on January 24, 76 to a well- established
  settler family originating from Italy.
• Schooled in various subjects that were studied by
  young aristocrats and was also very fond of
  learning Hellenic culture, thus earning himself
  the nickname the Greekling.
• Enlisted in the army, and soon joined Trajans
  expedition against Parthia as a legate on
  Trajans staff.
• Appointed to the Governor of Syria as a
  replacement and then became the successor of
  Trajan as he died of illness.

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How Hadrian became Emperor

• After his father had passed away in 85 A.D., he
  was left to the care of his fathers dear friend
  Acilius Attianus and his fathers cousin, Trajan
  who became Emperor in 98 A.D.
• When Trajan became seriously ill and died,
  Hadrian was officially adopted by Trajan to be
  the heir.
• However, no official papers were produced and
  brought to Rome until two days before the
  Emperors death and these documents were long
  speculated that Plotina, Empress and wife of
  Trajan, had forged them to aide her protégé.
• His supremacy as Roman Emperor lasted 22 years
  from 117- 138 A.D.

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Military Relations

• Associated with the army at a very young age when
  he joined as a teenager and went to train in
  Italica.
• His excellence as a military commander was
  overshadowed by the lack of major battles during
  his reign as Emperor.
• He surrendered Trajans conquests in Mesopotamia,
  averted a war with Parthia in 121 by negotiating
  a peace, and defeated the Jewish uprising and
  continued to persecute them.
• His main policy was to achieve peace through
  force and even threat.

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Architectural Pursuits

• The most obvious construction by Hadrian was
  Hadrians Wall which was built in 122 to defend
  Britannia from the Caledonians in the North.
• Although, it was mostly made of wood and did not
  last long, it proved to be very useful in
  protecting Rome.
• Also, the Pantheon built by Agrippa was enriched
  and recreated under Hadrian to look as it does
  today.

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Hadrians Impact on Rome

• During much of Hadrians reign was spent
  traveling with the Roman army and it was a
  fundamental part of his governing.
• On his visits, he would hand out instructions on
  how to build new public structures, projects, and
  settlements.
• He was able to strengthen Rome from within
  through improved infrastructure (i.e. new roads,
  aqueducts, temples, theatres, circuses, and other
  city improvements), as opposed to conquering or
  taking over enemies.
• He was a well- received and respected Emperor as
  he met many of his supporters during his tours
  and he got a closer feel for the provinces and
  its people.

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Augustus

• I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city
  of marble.
• -Augustus

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Octavian The Early Life

• Augustus, the first emperor of Rome was born on
  September 23, 63 BCE under the name Gaius
  Octavius.
• His father who had named Octavius for himself,
  was a respected member of the Equestrian Order.
  His mother, Atia Balba Caesonia, was the niece of
  Julius Caesar.
• At the age of 11, Octavian delivered the eulogy
  at his grandmother Julias funeral, the elder
  sister of Caesar.
• At the tender age of 17, Octavian led a group of
  companions through hostile territory to get to
  his great-uncle Caesars home front, which
  impressed Caesar very much.

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Octavian The Rise to Power

• When Caesar was assassinated, it was found in his
  will, that due to having no legitimate children,
  Caesar had adopted Octavian and named him his
  heir.
• Octavian formed an army and allied with Marc
  Anthony to defeat Brutus and Cassius (plotters
  against Caesar).
• Together with Lepidus, the three men formed the
  Second Triumvirate.

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The First Settlement

• The Western half of the Roman Republic had sworn
  to follow Octavian in 31 BCE, and after defeating
  Marc Antony, the Eastern half followed.
• In 27 BCE, Octavian returned the power to the
  Senate, the Senate in turn gave him the titles
  Augustus and Princeps.
• Augustus was more of a religious title than
  authoritative.

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The Second Settlement

• In 23 BCE, Augustus gave up him consulship but
  retained consular imperium or Imperial Council.
  The council gave him power of tribune, which led
  to a deal called The Second Settlement.
• This allowed Augustus to lay issues in front of
  the council and stop actions that would be done
  otherwise.

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Developments under Augustus

• Augustus created a position of supreme authority
  and complete rule over the military called The
  Emperor of Rome.
• Vast expansion of the borders, these borders
  stayed under the Empire for another 400 years.
• Augustus helped develop trade links with regions
  such as India and China.
• Augustus created the law lex Papia Poppaea
  which rewarded having children and penalized not
  having children, this was a key measure to have
  Romes population flourish.

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Augustus The Legacy

• Soon after Augustuss death, he was deified
  meaning revered as a god.
• Both his last name Caesar and title Augustus
  became titles of Roman Emperors for 400 years to
  come.
• Augustuss actions stopped the civil wars after
  Julius Caesars death and brought peace to the
  land that lasted for 100 years.
• The month of August is named after Augustus just
  like July is named after Julius. August was
  called Sextilis until Augustuss time.

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Historical Significance

• Augustus had a large affect on Rome as a whole,
  he was the first person to be honoured with the
  title, Augustus which was a religious name. It
  means majestic or the increaser.
• He managed to stop the civil wars that were
  avenging Caesars death and brought Rome back
  from the edge of destruction.
• August was auctoritas which means authority in
  English over most of Rome. Auctoritas played a
  key role in the formation of fascism and nazism.

• Since Augustus was the first emperor of Rome, he
  is credited with the creation of monarchy, the
  rule by a king or a queen, or in this case,
  Emperor.
• Augustus helped rebuild 82 temples in Rome alone.
• Caesar Augustus also encouraged literature with
  the writings of Horace and Virgil applauded.
  Virgils legend apparently makes all of Julius
  Caesars family and adoptive son, Augustus,
  direct blood of Aeneas, a great warrior.

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Adrian Wong Kamil Khan
THE END