EMPERORS OF ROME

ADRIAN WONGKAMIL KHAN

Hadrian

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

- Hadrian

(117-138 A.D.)

HadriHadriananBACKGROUND INFORMATIONBACKGROUND INFORMATION Was born in Italica, Baetica (modern day Seville, Was born in Italica, Baetica (modern day Seville,

Spain) on January 24, 76 to a well- established Spain) on January 24, 76 to a well- established settler family originating from Italy.settler family originating from Italy.

Schooled in various subjects that were studied Schooled in various subjects that were studied by young aristocrats and was also very fond of by young aristocrats and was also very fond of learning learning Hellenic culture, thus earning himself Hellenic culture, thus earning himself the nickname “the Greekling”.the nickname “the Greekling”.

Enlisted in the army, and soon joined Trajan’s Enlisted in the army, and soon joined Trajan’s expedition against Parthia as a legate on expedition against Parthia as a legate on Trajan’s staff.Trajan’s staff.

Appointed to the Governor of Syria as a Appointed to the Governor of Syria as a replacement and then became the successor of replacement and then became the successor of Trajan as he died of illness.Trajan as he died of illness.

How Hadrian How Hadrian became Emperorbecame Emperor

After his father had passed away in 85 A.D., After his father had passed away in 85 A.D., he was left to the care of his father’s dear he was left to the care of his father’s dear friend Acilius Attianus and his father’s cousin, friend Acilius Attianus and his father’s cousin, Trajan who became Emperor in 98 A.D.Trajan who became Emperor in 98 A.D.

When Trajan became seriously ill and died, When Trajan became seriously ill and died, Hadrian was officially adopted by Trajan to be Hadrian was officially adopted by Trajan to be the heir.the heir.

However, no official papers were produced However, no official papers were produced and brought to Rome until two days before and brought to Rome until two days before the Emperor’s death and these documents the Emperor’s death and these documents were long speculated that Plotina, Empress were long speculated that Plotina, Empress and wife of Trajan, had forged them to aide and wife of Trajan, had forged them to aide her protégé.her protégé.

His supremacy as Roman Emperor lasted 22 His supremacy as Roman Emperor lasted 22 years from 117- 138 A.D.years from 117- 138 A.D.

Military RelationsMilitary Relations Associated with the army at Associated with the army at

a very young age when he a very young age when he joined as a teenager and joined as a teenager and went to train in Italica.went to train in Italica.

His excellence as a military His excellence as a military commander was commander was overshadowed by the lack of overshadowed by the lack of major battles during his major battles during his reign as Emperor.reign as Emperor.

He surrendered Trajan’s He surrendered Trajan’s conquests in Mesopotamia, conquests in Mesopotamia, averted a war with Parthia in averted a war with Parthia in 121 by negotiating a peace, 121 by negotiating a peace, and defeated the Jewish and defeated the Jewish uprising and continued to uprising and continued to persecute them.persecute them.

His main policy was to His main policy was to achieve peace through force achieve peace through force and even threat.and even threat.

Architectural Architectural PursuitsPursuits The most obvious The most obvious

construction by Hadrian construction by Hadrian was Hadrian’s Wall which was Hadrian’s Wall which was built in 122 to defend was built in 122 to defend Britannia from the Britannia from the Caledonians in the North.Caledonians in the North.

Although, it was mostly Although, it was mostly made of wood and did not made of wood and did not last long, it proved to be last long, it proved to be very useful in protecting very useful in protecting Rome.Rome.

Also, the Pantheon built Also, the Pantheon built by Agrippa was enriched by Agrippa was enriched and recreated under and recreated under Hadrian to look as it does Hadrian to look as it does today.today.

Hadrian’s Impact on Hadrian’s Impact on RomeRome During much of Hadrian’s reign During much of Hadrian’s reign

was spent traveling with the was spent traveling with the Roman army and it was a Roman army and it was a fundamental part of his fundamental part of his governing.governing.

On his visits, he would hand On his visits, he would hand out instructions on how to out instructions on how to build new public structures, build new public structures, projects, and settlements.projects, and settlements.

He was able to strengthen He was able to strengthen Rome from within through Rome from within through improved infrastructure (i.e. improved infrastructure (i.e. new roads, aqueducts, new roads, aqueducts, temples, theatres, circuses, temples, theatres, circuses, and other city improvements), and other city improvements), as opposed to conquering or as opposed to conquering or taking over enemies.taking over enemies.

He was a well- received and He was a well- received and respected Emperor as he met respected Emperor as he met many of his supporters during many of his supporters during his tours and he got a closer his tours and he got a closer feel for the provinces and its feel for the provinces and its people. people.

Augustus

“I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.”

-Augustus

Octavian – The Early LifeOctavian – The Early Life Augustus, the first emperor of Rome was Augustus, the first emperor of Rome was

born on September 23, 63 BCE under the born on September 23, 63 BCE under the name Gaius Octavius.name Gaius Octavius.

His father who had named Octavius for His father who had named Octavius for himself, was a respected member of the himself, was a respected member of the Equestrian Order. His mother, Atia Balba Equestrian Order. His mother, Atia Balba Caesonia, was the niece of Julius Caesar.Caesonia, was the niece of Julius Caesar.

At the age of 11, Octavian delivered the At the age of 11, Octavian delivered the eulogy at his grandmother Julia’s funeral, eulogy at his grandmother Julia’s funeral, the elder sister of Caesar.the elder sister of Caesar.

At the tender age of 17, Octavian led a At the tender age of 17, Octavian led a group of companions through hostile group of companions through hostile territory to get to his great-uncle territory to get to his great-uncle Caesar’s home front, which impressed Caesar’s home front, which impressed Caesar very much.Caesar very much.

Octavian – The Rise to Octavian – The Rise to PowerPower When Caesar was When Caesar was

assassinated, it was assassinated, it was found in his will, that found in his will, that due to having no due to having no legitimate children, legitimate children, Caesar had adopted Caesar had adopted Octavian and named Octavian and named him his heir.him his heir.

Octavian formed an Octavian formed an army and allied with army and allied with Marc Anthony to defeat Marc Anthony to defeat Brutus and Cassius Brutus and Cassius (plotters against (plotters against Caesar).Caesar).

Together with Lepidus, Together with Lepidus, the three men formed the three men formed the Second Triumvirate.the Second Triumvirate.

The First SettlementThe First Settlement The Western half of the The Western half of the

Roman Republic had Roman Republic had sworn to follow Octavian sworn to follow Octavian in 31 BCE, and after in 31 BCE, and after defeating Marc Antony, defeating Marc Antony, the Eastern half followed.the Eastern half followed.

In 27 BCE, Octavian In 27 BCE, Octavian returned the power to the returned the power to the Senate, the Senate in turn Senate, the Senate in turn gave him the titles gave him the titles Augustus Augustus and and PrincepsPrinceps..

AugustusAugustus was more of a was more of a religious title than religious title than authoritative. authoritative.

The Second SettlementThe Second Settlement In 23 BCE, Augustus In 23 BCE, Augustus

gave up him consulship gave up him consulship but retained “but retained “consular consular imperium” imperium” or Imperial or Imperial Council. The council Council. The council gave him power of gave him power of tribune, which led to a tribune, which led to a deal called “The Second deal called “The Second Settlement”.Settlement”.

This allowed Augustus This allowed Augustus to lay issues in front of to lay issues in front of the council and stop the council and stop actions that would be actions that would be done otherwise.done otherwise.

Developments under Developments under AugustusAugustus

Augustus created a position of Augustus created a position of supreme authority and supreme authority and complete rule over the military complete rule over the military called “The Emperor of Rome”.called “The Emperor of Rome”.

Vast expansion of the borders, Vast expansion of the borders, these borders stayed under the these borders stayed under the Empire for another 400 years.Empire for another 400 years.

Augustus helped develop trade Augustus helped develop trade links with regions such as India links with regions such as India and China.and China.

Augustus created the law “Augustus created the law “lex lex Papia Poppaea” Papia Poppaea” which which rewarded having children and rewarded having children and penalized not having children, penalized not having children, this was a key measure to this was a key measure to have Rome’s population have Rome’s population flourish.flourish.

Augustus – The LegacyAugustus – The Legacy Soon after Augustus’s death, Soon after Augustus’s death,

he was deified meaning he was deified meaning revered as a god.revered as a god.

Both his last name Caesar Both his last name Caesar and title Augustus became and title Augustus became titles of Roman Emperors for titles of Roman Emperors for 400 years to come.400 years to come.

Augustus’s actions stopped Augustus’s actions stopped the civil wars after Julius the civil wars after Julius Caesar’s death and brought Caesar’s death and brought peace to the land that lasted peace to the land that lasted for 100 years.for 100 years.

The month of August is The month of August is named after Augustus just named after Augustus just like July is named after Julius. like July is named after Julius. August was called Sextilis August was called Sextilis until Augustus’s time.until Augustus’s time.

Historical SignificanceHistorical Significance Augustus had a large affect Augustus had a large affect

on Rome as a whole, he was on Rome as a whole, he was the first person to be the first person to be honoured with the title, honoured with the title, AugustusAugustus which was a which was a religious name. It means religious name. It means “majestic” or “the increaser”.“majestic” or “the increaser”.

He managed to stop the civil He managed to stop the civil wars that were avenging wars that were avenging Caesar’s death and brought Caesar’s death and brought Rome back from the edge of Rome back from the edge of destruction.destruction.

August was “August was “auctoritas”auctoritas” which means authority in which means authority in English over most of Rome. English over most of Rome. Auctoritas played a key role in Auctoritas played a key role in the formation of fascism and the formation of fascism and nazism.nazism.

Since Augustus was the first Since Augustus was the first emperor of Rome, he is emperor of Rome, he is credited with the creation of credited with the creation of “monarchy”, the rule by a “monarchy”, the rule by a king or a queen, or in this king or a queen, or in this case, Emperor.case, Emperor.

Augustus helped rebuild 82 Augustus helped rebuild 82 temples in Rome alone.temples in Rome alone.

Caesar Augustus also Caesar Augustus also encouraged literature with encouraged literature with the writings of Horace and the writings of Horace and Virgil applauded. Virgil’s Virgil applauded. Virgil’s legend apparently makes all legend apparently makes all of Julius Caesar’s family and of Julius Caesar’s family and adoptive son, Augustus, adoptive son, Augustus, direct blood of Aeneas, a direct blood of Aeneas, a great warrior.great warrior.

THE ENDTHE END

Adrian Adrian WongWong

Kamil KhanKamil Khan