Essay on The First Emperors of Rome is published for informational purposes only. The free papers are not written by our writers, they are contributed by users, so we are not responsible for the content of this free sample paper. If you want to buy a quality Essay on Essay on The First Emperors of Rome at affordable prices please use our essay writing services offered by EssayEmpire.

Augustus's successors, the Julio-Claudian emperors, continued his administrative policies, though none of them was his equal as statesmen. His adopted son, Tiberius, succeeded him by inheritance; Tiberius ruled A.D. 14-37. Caligula, Claudius, and Nero abandoned republican formalities, expanded the imperial bureaucracy, and sometimes treated the Senate with open contempt. Caligula so scorned the republican tradition that he designated his horse, Incitatus, as his coconsul. Augustus's successors institutionalized the powers that had been granted personally to Augustus and gradually appropriated semidivine status. The Roman Empire became a hereditary monarchy, though as always, real power rested with the army. Claudius, thought wrongly by the Senate to be an incompetent figurehead, was placed on the throne by the Praetorian guard, an elite unit established by Augustus for the protection of the princeps. In spite of a speech defect and physical disabilities, Claudius astonished everyone by ruling capably and conscientiously. He took the first steps toward establishing a regular imperial civil service staffed by members of the equestrian order.

Nero, whose tutor and chief adviser at the beginning of his reign was the Stoic philosopher Seneca, showed early promise. He neither was responsible for the great fire that consumed much of Rome in A.D. 64, nor did he fiddle while it burned, but his behavior grew increasingly more erratic with the passage of time. In A.D. 68, the legions began a series of revolts that ended with the emperor's suicide. The next year saw no fewer than four separate emperors, each a commander supported by his troops in the hope of securing their retirements by seizing the imperium. The last of them, Vespasian (ruled A.D. 69-79), established the Flavian dynasty, which lasted until A.D. 96, and formally adopted the title imperator or emperor. When his descendant, Domitian, left no successor, the Senate revived sufficiently to appoint another general in his place named Nerva, who ushered in the age of the five good emperors. Neither Nerva nor the three emperors who followed him (Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius) had sons, and each appointed a successor who was acceptable to both the Senate and the legions. (The fifth emperor of the period was Marcus Aurelius.)

The age of the five good emperors (A.D. 96-180) was later remembered as one of exceptional happiness. The pax romana or Roman Peace described by Plutarch seemed to be a permanent condition, and trade flourished. Trajan and Hadrian sponsored lavish building programs, and Trajan introduced the alimenta, a subsidy to help poor parents in raising their children. All five emperors refined and strengthened imperial administration, but the possibility of military intervention remained. The Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius (ruled A.D. 161-180) broke the tradition of appointment by merit, not only by having a son, but also by having the poor judgment to leave him the throne. The reign of Commodus, from A.D. 180 to 192, was a disaster that ended in yet another military revolt. But by this time the empire was experiencing difficulties that had little to do with the personality of its rulers. . .

Free essays are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can order a term paper, research paper or custom TOPIC at our site which offers professional essay writing services. Get your high quality custom paper at relatively cheap prices. EssayEmpire is the best solution for those who seek help in essay writing related to TOPIC and other relevant topics.