Emperors Courtyard

Didius Julianus

2007-09-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Marcus Didius Salvius Julianus Severus (133 or 137–193) was Roman Emperor (28 March 193-1 June 193). He ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax. Didius Julianus offered every soldier 25,000 sestertii, outbidding City Prefect Titus Flavius Sulpicianus (the father of Pertinax's wife) who offered only 20,000. Threatened by the military, the Senate declared him emperor. This incited the Roman Civil War of 193–197. Julianus was ousted and sentenced to death by his successor, Septimius Severus.

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Pertinax

2007-09-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Publius Helvius Pertinax (August 1, 126 - March 28, 193) was Roman emperor for a short period (86 days) in 193. When Commodus was assassinated by his own household on December 31, 192, Pertinax was proclaimed Roman Emperor the morning after. After short rule Pertinax was assesinated by Praetorian Guard, who according to ancient sources had received only half their promised pay and revolted.

More about Pertinax here.

Commodus

2007-09-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus (August 31, 161 – December 31, 192) was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192. The name given here was his official name at his accession; see 'Changes of Name' for earlier and later forms. He was the son of Marcus Aurelius; it was the first time a son had succeeded his father as Emperor since Titus exactly a century before, and he was the first Emperor 'born to the purple', i.e. born while his father was already reigning as Emperor.

Emperor Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix) confronts a chained Maximus in movie Gladiator:

More about Commodus here.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

2007-09-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (Rome, April 26, 121 – Vindobona or Sirmium, March 17, 180) was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180 . He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the most important stoic philosophers.

His tenure was marked by wars in Asia against a revitalized Parthian Empire, and with Germanic tribes along the Limes Germanicus into Gaul and across the Danube. A revolt in the East, led by Avidius Cassius, failed.

Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written on campaign between 170–180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."

More information about Marcus Aurelius here.

Antoninus Pius

2007-09-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus Pius (September 19, 86–March 7, 161) was Roman emperor from 138 to 161. He was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors and a member of the Aurelii. He did not possess the sobriquet "Pius" until after his accession to the throne. Almost certainly, he earned the name "Pius" because he compelled the Senate to deify Hadrian.

More information here.

Emperor Hadrian (Herdian)

2007-09-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76 –– July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English, was emperor of Rome from 117 A.D. to 138 A.D., as well as a Stoic and Epicurean philosopher. A member of the gens Aelia, Hadrian was the third of the "Five Good Emperors." His reign had a faltering beginning, a glorious middle, and a tragic conclusion.

More information here.