7.3: Caesar and The Emperors

Julius Caesar*Nephew of Gaius Marius*Becoming a very popular Roman general

*Powerful public speaker*Spent great amounts of money on the poor of Rome

First Triumvirate60 B.C.

Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

Triumvirate – “rule of three”

Caesar last to become a consul in 59 B.C.

First TriumvirateCaesar needs a loyal armyObtains special command in Gaul – Present day FranceGaul now under Roman control – Romans impressedCaesar builds army and makes $$$

First TriumvirateCrassus killed in battle

Pompey made sole consul in 52 B.C.

Ordered Caesar home without his army

Jealous of Caesar’s fame

First TriumvirateCaesar refused and returned to Rome with his armyDeclared war on the republicPompey fled to GreeceCaesar defeated Pompey and followed him to Egypt

First TriumviratePompey’s head given to CaesarPlaced Cleopatra on the Egyptian throne46 B.C. returned home a heroNamed “Dictator for Life” 2 years later by the senate

Pompey Caesar Crassus

Caesar’s March on Rome

Caesar’s Military Campaigns

The Rule of Caesar*Gave the poor food and his soldiers land.

*Caesar increased size of Senate to 900-Reduced the power of the senate

-Wanted to be elected dictator for life.

-Upset many Senators

Conspiracy to kill Caesar

*Many senators formed a conspiracy to kill Caesar-Feared Caesar’s ambition and popularity

-Felt he must be stopped

The Assassins *Gaius Cassius and Marcus Brutus

-2 members of the conspiracy-Senators and friends of Caesar

*March 15, 44 B.C. – -Caesar stabbed to death in the Senate-Ides of March

Rome in Chaos*Octavian: Caesar’s grandnephew -Chosen to be his heir

*Creates a struggle for power

The Second Triumvirate*Octavian:

*Marc Antony:-general and ally of Caesar

*Lepidus

Power Struggle

*Antony took part of the army-moved to Egypt to join with Cleopatra

*Octavian forced out Lepidus and

ruled Italy

The Division of Rome*Marc Antony – took eastern

Rome

*Octavian – took western Rome

The Power Struggle Ends

*Octavian convinced Roman senate to declare war on Antony

*Octavian captured Alexandria

*Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide

Octavian: The First Augustus

“First Citizen” – avoid Julius’ fateTook the name Augustus

“The Sacred One”Caesar Augustus

First Roman emperor: Never called himself emperor

Octavian: First Augustus

Won over the poor through food, fresh water and games.Greatly expanded empireWest: Spain, East: Syria, South: Egypt, North: Rhine/Danube rivers

Octavian: First Augustus

Pax Romana – Roman peace Began with the Reign of AugustusOffered the people peace and stability Price for peace: Reduction of senate power

Age of Pax Romana Emperors

Julio-Claudian EmperorsRelatives of Julius Caesar

Tiberius: 14 – 37 ADGood ruler but unpopular with the people

Caligula:37 – 41 AD Brutal and insane, literally Eventually murdered

Julio-Claudian Emperors

Claudius: 41 – 54 ADintelligent gimp

Inexperienced at firstGood administerConquered Britain

Poisoned by wife - Agrippina

Put her Son Nero in power

Julio-Claudian Emperors

Nero : 54 – 68 A.D.Also insane and brutal

Blamed for Great Fire of RomeHad his mother Agrippina murderedKilled himself instead of being murdered by the Senate.Last Julio-Claudian Emperor

Five Good EmperorsHadrian: 117 – 138 A.D.

Romanized Provinces

Built forts and boundaries along frontier

Ex: Hadrian’s Wall in Britain

Marcus Aurelius: 161 – 180 A.D. last of 5 Good Emperors

Preferred to Study Stoic philosophy over war

Forced to Defend empire against invaders