Nerva: The First Good Emperor of Rome

1474 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: great roman leaders

On the 8 of November, [A.D. 35], I was born into this glorious world (Henderson 169). My noble family raised me in fairest Narnia in Umbria (Birley 30). Although I was born into a Senatorial family, I pursued neither a military career nor a public speaking one (Wend). From as far back as my ancestors can be traced, somehow they have always been involved in the political realm (Birley 30). My dearest great-grandfather, M. Cocceius Nerva, was consul [36 B.C.]; his grandfather, a man with the same name, was a fine jurist who accompanied Tiberius to Capri in [26 A.D.] (Wend). I was a son of a Roman lawyer in an aristocratic family (Woolf 364). On my maternal side, my darling mother’s Aunt Rubellia Bassa, was the great-granddaughter of Tiberius himself, and my great-uncle, L. Cocceius Nerva, played a part in the negotiations that secured a treaty in 40 B.C. between Octavian and Antony (Wend). I held various priesthoods, being augur, sodalis Augustalis, and a Palatine salius (Birley 30). With the title of praetor designate in 65, I was instrumental in revealing the conspiracy of Piso against the emperor Nero (Wend). Because of this glorious accomplishment, I received triumphal ornaments and my statue placed in his fine palace (Wend).When I served as an urban quaestor, the lowest ranking regular magistrate whose responsibility was the treasury, I began to work my way up in the political realm (Birley 30). [A.D. 71], I was Consul for the first time under Vespasian’s rule (Henderson 170). [71 A.D.] My loyalty was rewarded with a joint consulship with the Vespasian, the only time he ever held the office without his son Titus (Wend). I was Consul a second time under Domitian [A.D. 92] (Henderson 170). This honor was perhaps the resu... ... middle of paper ... ...nt, Michael. "The Rulers and the Empire." The World of Rome: Michael Grant,... London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1960. Mills, Dorothy. "Rome in the Age of Trajan and Under the Antonines." The Book of the Ancient Romans. New York: G.P. Putnams Sons, 1997. 391. Morey, William C. "THE FIVE GOOD EMPERORS,—NERVA TO MARCUS AURELIUS." Outlines of Roman History. New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: American Book Company, 1901. Forum Romanum. 01 Apr. 2011 . Wend, David. "Roman Emperors - DIR Nerva." RomanEmperors - DIR--De Imperatoribus Romanis Roman History Roman RomanEmpire Imperator Basileus De Imperatoribus Romanis EncyclopediaByzantine. 08 Sept. 1998. 01 Apr. 2011 . Woolf, Greg. "Who's Who." The Cambridge illustrated history of the Roman world. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003.

Show More
Related

  • Ancient History Research Task – Augustan Reforms

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    From ages past, the actions of conquerors, kings and tyrants had brought the Roman Republic to a stance that opposed any idea of a singular leader, of a single man that held total power over the entirety of the state. Their rejection of the various ruthless Etruscan rulers that had previously dictated them brought the Republic to existence in 509 BC , and as a republic their prominence throughout the provinces of the world exponentially expanded. Throughout these years, the traditions of the Romans changed to varying degrees, most noticeably as a result of the cultural influence that its subject nations had upon the republic, as well as the ever-changing nature of Roman society in relation to then-current events. However, it was not until the rise of Augustus, the first of a long line of succeeding emperors, that many core aspects of the Republic were greatly changed. These were collectively known as the “Augustan Reforms”, and consisted of largely a variety of revisions to the social, religious, political, legal and administrative aspects of the republic’s infrastructure. Through Augustus, who revelled in the old traditional ways of the past, the immoral, unrestraint society that Rome was gradually falling to being was converted to a society where infidelities and corruption was harshly looked upon and judged. The Roman historian Suetonius states, “He corrected many ill practices, which, to the detriment of the public, had either survived the licentious habits of the late civil wars, or else originated in the long peace” . Through Augustus and his reforms, the Republic was transformed into an Empire, and through this transformation, Rome experienced one of its greatest and stabl...

    Read More

  • The Heroics of Women: Founding the Traditional Values of Rome

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    Livius, Titus. The Early History of Rome. Trans. Aubrey De Sélincourt. London: Penguin Group, 2002. N. pag. Print.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Roman Empire and the United States of America

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    3. Tom Holland, Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic, Abacus Publishing, 2004. (Pg. 50)

    Read More

  • Livy’s The Rise of Rome

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    Livy’s The Rise of Rome serves as the ultimate catalogue of Roman history, elaborating on the accomplishments of each king and set of consuls through the ages of its vast empire. In the first five books, Livy lays the groundwork for the history of Rome and sets forth a model for all of Rome to follow. For him, the “special and salutary benefit of the study of history is to behold evidence of every sort of behaviour set forth as on a splendid memorial; from it you may select for yourself and for your country what to emulate, from it what to avoid, whether basely begun or basely concluded.” (Livy 4). Livy, however, denies the general populace the right to make the same sort of conclusions that he made in constructing his histories. His biased representation of Romulus and Tarquin Superbus, two icons of Roman history, give the readers a definite model of what a Roman should be, instead of allowing them to come to their own conclusion.

    Read More

  • Augustus

    457 Words  | 1 Pages

    1. In my nineteenth year, on my own initiative and at my own expense, I raised an army with which I set free the state, which was oppressed by the domination of a faction. For that reason, the senate enrolled me in its order by laudatory resolutions, when Gaius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius were consuls (43 B.C.E.), assigning me the place of a consul in the giving of opinions, and gave me the imperium. With me as propraetor, it ordered me, together with the consuls, to take care lest any detriment befall the state. But the people made me consul in the same year, when the consuls each perished in battle, and they made me a triumvir for the settling of the state.

    Read More

  • The Rape of Lucretia

    1982 Words  | 4 Pages

    3)Gwynn, David M. The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012. Print.

    Read More

  • The Gracchi Brothers

    1806 Words  | 4 Pages

    Morey, William C. "Outlines of Roman History, Chapter 19." Forum Romanum. 1901. Web. 24 Apr. 2011. .

    Read More

  • The Rise Of The Roman Republic

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the span of five-hundred years, the Roman Republic grew to be the most dominant force in the early Western world. As the Republic continued to grow around the year 47 B.C it began to go through some changes with the rise of Julius Caesar and the degeneration of the first triumvirate. Caesar sought to bring Rome to an even greater glory but many in the Senate believed that he had abused his power, viewing his rule more as a dictatorship. The Senate desired that Rome continued to run as a republic. Though Rome continued to be glorified, the rule of Caesar Octavian Augustus finally converted Rome to an Empire after many years of civil war. Examining a few selections from a few ancient authors, insight is provided as to how the republic fell and what the result was because of this.

    Read More

  • Rome in The Age of Augustus

    2200 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...” (Res Gestae Divi Augusti). The title Pater Patriae, was the last factor that contributed to the rise of Octavian.

    Read More

  • Titus Livius: The Early History of Rome

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Titus Livius’, The Early History of Rome, Livy takes on the task of documenting Rome’s early history and some of the famous individuals who help contribute to the ‘greatness’ of Rome. Livy dedicates an entire portion of his writing to describe the reigns of the first seven kings of Rome; all who influence the formation and governance of Rome in some way. However, of the seven kings in early Roman history, King Romulus and King Numa Pompilius achieved godlike worship and high esteem from their fellow Romans. While both highly important and respected figures in Rome’s history, the personalities and achievements of King Romulus and King Numa Pompilius are complete opposites of one another. Despite the differences found in each king and of their rule over Rome, both Romulus and Numa Pompilius have a tremendous influence in the prosperity and expansion of Rome in its early days.

    Read More

  • The Roman Emperor Tiberius

    1977 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the early first century AD, the Roman Empire was subject to autocratic rule and the old Republic was long dead. Augustus had been ruling for forty years and most of that time he was loved and praised by the Senate and the people of Rome. Throughout his reign, Augustus had the one lingering problem of finding a successor to take over the role of Emperor. He had chosen 3 different heirs in his time of rule; however, they all passed before they had the chance to inherit Augustus’ esteemed power. His fourth choice, Tiberius, was the one to succeed Augustus. He was often referred to, by Augustus, as an outstanding general and the only one capable of defending Rome against her enemies. The statement, ‘Tiberius is condemned by many ancient historians (including Tacitus), and his reign is often portrayed as being detrimental to the welfare of the Roman Empire’ is invalid as he treated the senate fairly, created strong economics and security in the state and boosted the empire into an unprecedented state of prosperity. This hypothesis will be proven through this essay by analyzing factors such as Tiberius’ administration of the Empire, his relationship with the senate, his financial control, the effect of Sejanus over his rule and why were his last years as Emperor referred to as a ‘reign of terror’ by Tacitus.

    Read More

  • The Life of Emperor Nero

    1750 Words  | 4 Pages

    Emperor Nero, infamously known as one of the most malevolent, oppressive, and tyrannical leader throughout history, was the last ruler of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He was born outside Rome in Antium and his mother married his great uncle, Emperor Claudius, in order for her son to be the next Emperor of Rome. It wasn’t apparent that her son was to become one of the most feared and cruel leaders in Roman history from 54 CE to 68 CE. By examining his achievements and failures as an emperor, his influences and changes over the entire economic, political and social spectrum are revealed.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Actium

    1843 Words  | 4 Pages

    Dio, Cassius. "Roman History - Book 50." 17 June 2011. University of Chicago. 31 October 2011 .

    Read More

  • Prostitution in Pompeii

    2765 Words  | 6 Pages

    Shelton, J.A. (1998). As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History. (2nd ed.) New York: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

  • The Roman Army

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    Heichelheim, Fritz, Cedric A. Yeo, and Allen M. Ward. A History Of The Roman People. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1984.

    Read More

More about Nerva: The First Good Emperor of Rome

Open Document