First Roman emperor. Augustus Caesar was born as Gaius Octavius in 63 BCE. His father had been governor of Macedonia; his mother was Julius Caesar’s niece. The young Gaius became Caesar’s protégé, adopted son and heir, and his eventual successor. Upon adoption, named Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian); Augustus was a title of honor granted (27 BCE) by the senate.
From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(A.D. 12-41) Caligula, the third emperor, who reigned from AD 37–41, was the youngest son of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.
Full name Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus. Roman emperor (AD 41-54); invaded Britain (43); son of Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus and thus nephew of Tiberius; poisoned by his fourth wife, Agrippina.
Full name Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus; original name Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. 37-68 AD, Roman emperor (54-68). Fifth Roman emperor and the last representative of Rome's first imperial dynasty, the Julio-Claudians. He became notorious for his despotism and cruelty, and was alleged to have started the fire (64) that destroyed a large part of Rome.
From Chambers Dictionary
Roman emperor. Formerly a close friend of Emperor Nero and ex-husband of Nero's consort, the Empress Poppaea Sabina, from AD 58 until Nero's downfall (AD 68), he governed in Spain, virtually as an exile from court.
From Chambers Biographical Dictionary
Roman emperor. He became consul (AD33), and administered Aquitania, Germany, Africa and Hispania Tarraconensis with competence and integrity.
Latin name: Titus Flavius Vespasianus, A.D. 9-A.D. 79, Roman emperor (A.D. 69-A.D. 79), founder of the Flavian dynasty. Consolidated Roman rule, especially in Britain and Germany. He began the building of the Colosseum.
From The Columbia Encyclopedia
Marcus Cocceius Nerva, c.A.D. 30-A.D. 98, Roman emperor (A.D. 96-A.D. 98). He had an honorable career as a statesman at Rome, and his reputation was blameless.
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia
Roman emperor from AD 98. He conquered Dacia (Romania) in 101–07 and much of Parthia in 113–17, bringing the empire to its greatest extent.
From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
(AD 86 - 161) Antoninus was a Roman emperor, born at Lanuvium near Rome, the son of a consular, Aurelius Fulvus, who originated from Nîmes.
Roman emperor who ruled between March 7, 161 and March 17, 180 CE. Marcus's benevolent rule and interest in philosophy has garnered him almost universal praise among ancient and modern writers.
In Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
(161 - 192 AD) Commodus, the emperor, was born at Lanuvium, the elder surviving son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina (2).
From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(A.D. 188-217) Roman emperor (211-17); son of Septimius Severus. His real name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and he received his nickname from the caracalla, a Gallic tunic he regularly wore
From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Roman emperor (218-222) notable for his eccentric behaviour. Passed off as Caracalla's illegitimate son, he became emperor with the support of the army.
In Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (Prehistoric to 600 CE) From World History: A Comprehensive Reference Set
The reign of Commodus led to infighting in the imperial court, with subsequent emperors becoming worried that regional commanders were becoming too powerful. In response they only gave them as many troops as were necessary. This in turn led to troop shortages in some areas and worry of invasion.
From Chambers Biographical Dictionary
Roman emperor. He was born of humble parentage near Salona, Dalmatia. He served under Probus, Aurelian and Carus, and was proclaimed emperor by the army (AD284).
The son of the Western Empire’s ruler, Constantius Chlorus (reigned 305–306 CE), Constantine was acclaimed emperor by the legions in Eboracum (modern York, England) after his father’s sudden death. A series of civil wars ensued, ending with Constantine in sole control of the empire by 324 CE.
(Flavius Claudius Julianus), 331-363, Roman emperor (361-63), nephew of Constantine I; successor of Constantius II. He was given an education that combined Christian and Neoplatonic ideas.
From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
First barbarian king of Italy (476-493). He was proclaimed king by his troops in 476, the date that traditionally marks the end of the Western Roman Empire.
The Eastern Roman Empire 395–1453, with its capital at Constantinople (formerly Byzantium, modern Istanbul). It was the direct continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, and inherited many of its traditions and institutions.