Wichita
Collegiate School
The
Five Good Emperors
A
Paper Submitted to
Mrs.
Diana Nixon
Eighth
Grade Ancient History
By:
Phelps
May
2018
The
Five Good Emperors
The
five good emperors started with Nerva who started his rule as the first good
emperor after Domitian. After Nerva was Trajan who as an Emperor based his rule
more on the military and expanding the empire’s borders. Hadrian was next and
he built many structures in the roman provinces, he also left the biggest mark
on Rome in an architectural standpoint. Antoninus Pius was the fourth good
emperor, but he did not change much of Rome. Antoninus just left Rome how it
was for the most part. The final emperor was Marcus Aurelius and he was one of
the most influential emperors of Rome. Marcus Aurelius was the best and last of
the five good emperors, but after his death came the slow decline of the Roman Empire.
Nerva
was the first of the five good emperors who in his early years held positions
of trust for Vespasian and Titus. In 90 A.D., Nerva was sharing consulship with
the emperor of Rome at the time who was Domitian.1 In 96 A.D.,
Domitian was murdered, and Nerva took the place of emperor. As emperor, Nerva
attempted to end periodic hostility between emperor and senate. He also wanted
the senate to rule Rome instead of an emperor. That would have most likely
happened if Nerva had reigned for a longer time. As emperor Nerva practiced
strict economy, he recalled political exiles, organized a state controlled
postal service, set up charitable institutions for the care of needy children,
and showed himself to be humane and kind.2 After Domitian’s death
the Praetorian Guard was disappointed after the death of Domitian, so they
demanded the death of the chief conspirator and of their own leader. Nerva had
to face the fate of Galba even though he did not lose his life he was badly
humiliated. Nerva had no children so he chose to Trajan as an adoptive son.
Nerva only ruled for 3 months until he died because of a stroke.3
Trajan
was the next emperor even though he was born in a Spanish town called Baetica.
Trajan was the first emperor to be born outside Rome. As a boy, his father
worked at a military outpost, so Trajan spent much of his time there. In 75 A.D.,
Trajan held the post of military tribune. As he grew up, he also moved up the
political ladder to hold the offices of Quaestor, Aedile, and Praetor. In 89 A.D.,
Trajan took command of his first legion with orders to crush Satruninus’
attempt to overthrow Domitian. In 91 A.D., Domitian gave Trajan the position of
consul where he probably met Nerva.4 Trajan did not actually start
as emperor until he finished inspecting the Rhine-Danube angle in Germany for a
year. After Trajan became emperor He removed the Praetorian Guard as one of his
first moves as emperor.5 He also consulted senators and held
informal group meetings, he also called for secret ballots in the senate.
Trajan believed these things would grant the senators’ freedom to act as they
felt was right. While Trajan was on his Journey to expand the borders, he left
the provincials into the senate to focus on the empire and less on Rome. To
help the people of Rome Trajan gave away cash donations and revamped the
welfare system. To curtail corruption and abuses in provinces Trajan
carefully chose who he promoted to the rank of governor. Just like any emperor,
Trajan made sure to keep everything under control during his reign.6 Before
Trajan died, he appointed Hadrian as Emperor.7
When
Hadrian was 9 years old, his father died, and his distant relatives adopted him.
Trajan and Attianus were to be Hadrian’s guardians and advisors. Through his
younger years, Hadrian got great education and got to fight with Trajan while
leading a legion.8 In 108 A.D. at 32 Hadrian gained the prestigious
office of consul which the emperors before him where a part of. After Trajan’s
journey to expand the borders of Rome, as Emperor Hadrian moved the military
back to the Euphrates River. His reign was one of the most peaceful of the five
emperors. Hadrian “adopted” Antoninus Pius so he could become
emperor one day. 9
Antoninus
Pius was born in 89 A.D. in a town called Lanuvium (20 miles south of Rome) and
ruled as emperor from 138-161 A.D. Antoninus’ grandfather was on the consul
twice and his father was on the consul once in 89 A.D. When Antoninus’ was young,
his father died, so he was raised by his paternal grandfather and maternal
grandfather. He moved on to become governor of Asia Minor in 135 A.D. after
being a Senator, Quaestor, and Praetor.10 He was said to be a very
tall man and in his older years, he had to have a splint made of lime wood for
him to walk upright. Antoninus was a man of even temper, but lacking strong
ambitions and somewhat self-effacing, he was dedicated to duty and general
rectitude. He ruled for almost a quarter of a century yet left less of a mark
than any of his predecessors. Antoninus provided a firm government without the ostentatious
displays of power often associated with imperial rule.11 All his
sons died, but he had a daughter and a 16-year-old nephew who ruled after
antoninus. His daughter married the nephew who was Marcus Aurelius. Antoninus
Pius died at 74 years old which was old at the time and still is old now.12
Marcus
Aurelius was emperor from 161-180 A.D. and was arguably one of the best
emperors to rule Rome. When he was twelve years old, Marcus joined the stoics
who followed Zeno’s teachings to act according to reason and virtue, keeping an
even temper, and a brave heart under all circumstances.13 In 140 A.D.,
Marcus married Faustina and they had many children, but the best known are
their daughter Lucilla and their son Commodus.14 As soon as Marcus
got the empire, he invited his brother Verus to rule with him. Marcus surprised
the Romans with a co-ruler for the first time ever.15 As emperor of
Rome Marcus encouraged people to talk to him about their troubles. He also gave
much of his money to the poor and to educating kids. Instead of taking away
money for taxes, he gave back to the people of Rome and instead of wasting time
Marcus established schools and hospitals in Rome and Roman provinces. He also
gave great encouragement to art and literature, so he established libraries,
halls of paintings, and statuaries.16 Marcus had many troubles while
emperor of Rome, including when the Tiber River overflowed its banks and wiped
out most of Rome, as well as earthquakes and destructive fires. Another problem
was when Marcus was a part of the Parthian war where the Parthians destroyed a
Roman army and then invaded Syria, but eventually were stopped by the Romans.
Marcus also had troubles with the Quadi tribe when they had to fight each
other. The Romans Fought the Quadi tribe, during the battle the Romans were
very thirst and started drinking rain water out of their helmets and the Quadi
attacked, but a hail and thunderstorm stopped them and the Romans ended up
winning the battle.17 In the late 160’s and early 170’s the Romans
had to fight off German tribes and Verus died during the time they were
fighting in 175 A.D. Avidius Cassius heard that Marcus was sick and Avidius
tried to kill Marcus, but was killed by his own soldiers instead. In 177 A.D.
while battling the German tribes, Marcus made Commodus a co-ruler. Marcus died
in what is now Vienna Austria in 180 A.D., after expanding the empire’s
borders. His son soon ended the military efforts in the north once he was in
full command. Marcus is best remembered for his contemplative nature and his
rule driven by reason. 18
 |
Nerva, Ancient Rome, http://ancientrome.ru/art/artworken/img.htm?id=5421, 14 May 2018
|
 |
Marcus Aurelius, History, https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/marcus-aurelius, 14 May 2018
|
Tying
back to the thesis statement, all the good emperors did well, but Marcus
trekked through adversity the most and cared the most for his people. Even
though all the emperors contributed to bettering Rome in their own way, Marcus
Aurelius made Rome the center of the world until he died and that started the
slow decline of the Roman Empire.
Five Good Emperors Outline
I. Introduction
a.
5 good emperors
1.
Nerva starts rule of good
emperors after Domitian
2.
Next comes Trajan who works
on expanding borders
3.
Hadrian built lots of
structures in the roman provinces
4.
Antoninus Pius didn’t
change the empire very much
5.
Marcus Aurelius was one
of most influential emperors of Rome
b.
Thesis statement
1.
Marcus Aurelius was the
best and last of the 5 good emperors, but after his death came the slow decline
of the roman empire
II.
Nerva(first of the 5 good
emperors)
a.
Historical facts about
Nerva’s reign
1.
Nerva was a senator, held
positions of trust for Vespasian and Titus
2.
In 90 A.D. shared
consulship with Domitian
3.
Attempted to end periodic
hostility between emperor and senate, wanted senate to rule Rome instead of
emperor
4.
Nerva practiced strict
economy, recalled political exiles, organized a state controlled postal
service, set up charitable institutions for care of needy children, and showed
himself to be humane and kind
5.
Praetorian guard was
disappointed after death of Domitian so they demanded the death of the chief
conspirator and of their own leader
6.
Nerva faced fate of Galba,
but didn’t lose his life, except he was badly humiliated
7.
Had no children to lean on
so he chose Trajan
8.
Only ruled for 3 months
III.
Trajan(second of good
emperors)
a.
Historical facts about
Trajan’s reign
1.
Born in 53 A.D. in Spanish
town called Baetica
2.
Father worked at military
outpost, so Trajan spent much time there
3.
In 75 A.D. Trajan held the
post of military tribune
4.
First emperor born outside
Rome
5.
Moved up political ladder
to hold offices of quaestor, aedile, and praetor
6.
In 89 A.D. Trajan took
command of a legion with orders to crush saturninus attempt to overthrow
Domitian
7.
In 91 A.D. Domitian gave
Trajan position of consul
8.
Trajan took control of
empire 3 months after death of Domitian and after death of nerva
9.
Trajan consulted senators
and held informal group meetings, also called for secret ballots in the senate
10.
Believed these things would
grant the setators freedom to act as they felt was right
11.
Trajan left provincials
into senate to focus on empire and less on rome
12.
To help people Trajan gave
away cash donations and revamped the welfare system
13.
To curtail corruption and
abuses in provinces Trajan carefully chose who he promoted to the rank of
governor
14.
Made sure to keep
everything under control
15.
Before Trajan’s death he
appointed Hadrian as emperor
IV.
Hadrian(third of good
emperors)
a.
Historical facts about
Hadrian’s reign
When Hadrian was 9 his father died and he was adopted by his distant
relatives
1.
Trajan and Attianus were to
be Hadrian’s guardians and advisors
2.
Through his younger years
Hadrian got great education and got to fight with Trajan while leading a legion
3.
In 108 A.D. at 32 hadrian
gained the prestigious office of consul
4.
After Trajan’s journey to
expand borders Hadrian moved military back to the Euphrates river
5.
Hadrian reconstructed or
built losts of buildings in the Roman provinces and Rome
6.
His reign was the most
peaceful of the five emperors
7.
Hadrian “adopted Antoninus
so he could become emperor one day
V.
Antoninus Pius(forth of the
good emperors)
a.
Historical facts about
Antoninus Pius’ reign
1.
Antoninus was born in 89
A.D.
2.
He lived in Lanuvium(20
miles south of Rome)
3.
His grandfather was on the
consul twice and his dad was on the consul one in 89 A.D.
4.
His father died when he was
young so he was raised by his paternal grandfather, then his maternal
grandfather
5.
He moved on to be governor
of Asia minor in 135 A.D. after being a senator, quaestor, and praetor
6.
Antoninus pius ruled from
138-161 A.D.
7.
He was said to be very tall
and in his older years he had to have a splint made of lime wood for him to
walk upright
8.
Antoninus was a man of even
temper, but lacking strong ambitions and somewhat self-effacing, he was
dedicated to duty and general rectitude
9.
He ruled for almost a
quarter of a century yet left less of a mark than any of his predecessors
10.
Antoninus provided firm
government without the ostentatious displays of power often associated with
imperial rule
11.
Antoninus’ sons all died ,
but he had a daughter and a 16 year old nephew who ruled after antoninus
12.
His daughter married the
nephew who was Marcus Aurelius
13.
Antoninus Pius died at 74
years old which was old at the time and still is old now
VI.
Marcus Aurelius(last of the
good emperors)
a.
Historical facts about
Marcus Aurelius’ reign
1.
Marcus reigned from 161-180
A.D.
2.
As soon as he got the
empire he invited versus to rule with him
3.
Marcus surprised the Romans
with a co-ruler for the first time ever
4.
As a boy he got the best
education from the best teachers in the empire
5.
when he was 12 he joined
the stoics who followed Zeno’s teachings to act according to reason and virtue,
keeping an even temper, and a brave heart under all circumstances
6.
in 140 A.D. Marcus married
Faustina(Antoninus’ daughter) and they had many children, but the best known
are their daughter Lucilla and their son Commodus
7.
Marcus had many troubles
while emperor of Rome
8.
One day the Tiber
overflowed its banks and wiped out most of Rome as well as earthquakes and
destructive fires
9.
There was also a Parthian
war where the Parthians destroyed a Roman army and then invaded Syria
10.
The romans also fought the
Quadi tribe on a rocky terrain, during the battle the Romans were very thirst
and started drinking rain water out of their helmets and the Quadi attacked,
but a hail and thunderstorm stopped them and the Romans ended up winning the
battle
11.
In the late 160’s and early
170’s the romans had to fight off German tribes and verus died during the time
they were fighting in 175 A.D
12.
Avidius Cassius heard
Marcus was sick and he tried to kill Marcus, but was killed by his own soldiers
instead
13.
In 177 A.D. while battling
the german tribes, Marcus made Commodus a co-ruler
14.
Marcus gave much of his
money to the poor and gave to educating kids
15.
He encouraged people to
talk to him about their troubles
16.
Instead of taking away he
gave back to the people of Rome
17.
Instead of wasting time
Marcus established schools and hospitals in Rome and Roman provinces
18.
Marcus gave great
encouragement to art and literature, so he established libraries, halls of paintings, statuaries
19.
Marcus died in what is now
Vienna Austria in 180 A.D. after expanding the empire’s borders
20.
His son soon ended the
military efforts in the north
21.
Marcus is best remembered
for his contemplative nature and his rule driven by reason
VII.
Conclusion
a.
Tying back to thesis
statement all good emperors did well, but Marcus trekked through adversity and
cared the most for his people
b.
All the emperors
contributed to bettering Rome, but Marcus Aurelius made Rome the center of the
world until he died and that started the slow decline of the Roman empire
Bibliography
Asimov,
Isaac. The Roman Empire. Boston: Houghton Mifflin company, 1967.
Baker,
Rosalie F., and Charles F. Baker III. Ancient Romans, New York: Oxford
University Press Inc., 1998.
Haaren,
John, and Addison Poland. Famous Men Of Rome. China: Memoria Press,
2006.
No
Author. “Marcus Aurelius.” History, https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/marcus-aurelius,
5 May 2018.
Scarre,
Chris. Chronicle of the Roman Emperors. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.,
1995
Endnotes
Isaac Asimov, The Roman Empire(Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company, 1967), 85.
Isaac Asimov, The Roman Empire(Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company, 1967), 86.
Isaac Asimov, The Roman Empire(Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company,1967), 87.
Rosalie F. Baker and Charles F. Baker III, Ancient
Romans(New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 210.
Isaac Asimov, The Roman Empire(Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Company,1967), 95.
Rosalie F. Baker and Charles F. Baker III, Ancient
Romans(New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 211.
Rosalie F. Baker and Charles F. Baker III, Ancient
Romans(New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 216.
Rosalie F. Baker and Charles F. Baker III, Ancient
Romans(New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 215.
Chris Scarre, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors(London:
Thames and Hudson Ltd.,1995),107.
Chris Scarre, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors(London:
Thames and Hudson Ltd.,1995),106.
Chris Scarre, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors(London:
Thames and Hudson Ltd.,1995),107.
John Haaren and Addison Poland, Famous men of Rome(China:
Memoria Press, 2006),133.
“Marcus Aurelius”History, https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/marcus-aurelius,
Accessed 5 May 2018.
John Haaren and Addison Poland, Famous men of Rome(China:
Memoria Press, 2006),133.
John Haaren and Addison Poland, Famous men of Rome(China:
Memoria Press, 2006),135.
John Haaren and Addison Poland, Famous men of Rome(China:
Memoria Press, 2006),136.
“Marcus Aurelius”History, https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/marcus-aurelius,
Accessed 5 May 2018.
