Emperors Don't Die in Bed

by Meijer,Fik

• ISBN13: 9780415312011
• ISBN10: 0415312019
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-06-18
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Very few of the Roman emperors died a natural death. The insane Caligula was murdered after leaving the theatre; Caracalla while he was relieving himself. Caesar was stabbed twenty-three times and Otho was dragged into the Tiber with a flesh-hook. However great an emperor's power, danger was ever present. This fresh and engaging book looks at each of the Roman emperors from Julius Caesar in 44BC to Romulus Augustulus in AD 476, illuminating not only the manner of their deaths but what their final days tell us about their lives. We also hear how the most powerful position in the history of the Western world held a permanent appeal, despite its perils, with eager candidates constantly coming forward to seize the throne.Emperors Don't Die in Bedsprovides a clear history of the imperial succession as well as a compelling depiction of the intrigue and drama of Roman imperial politics.

Author Biography

File Maier is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Amsterdam.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(10)
The Julio-Claudian emperors	11	(23)
Caesar: 44 BC	11	(3)
Augustus 27 BC--AD 14	14	(6)
Tiberius: 14--37	20	(3)
Gaius (Caligula): 37--41	23	(4)
Claudius: 41--54	27	(3)
Nero: 54--68	30	(4)
The year of the four emperors	34	(8)
Galba: 68--69	34	(3)
Otho: 69	37	(2)
Vitellius: 69	39	(3)
The Flavian emperors	42	(8)
Vespasian: 69--79	42	(2)
Titus: 79--81	44	(2)
Domitian: 81--96	46	(4)
The Antonine emperors	50	(16)
Nerva: 96--98	50	(2)
Trajan: 98--117	52	(2)
Hadrian: 117--138	54	(3)
Antoninus Pius: 138--161	57	(2)
Lucius Verus: 161--169	59	(1)
Marcus Aurelius: 161--180	60	(3)
Commodus: 180--192	63	(3)
The African and Syrian emperors	66	(17)
Pertinax: 192--193	66	(2)
Didius Julianus: 193	68	(2)
Septimius Severus: 193--211	70	(3)
Geta: 211	73	(1)
Caracalla: 211--217	74	(2)
Macrinus: 217--218	76	(2)
Heliogabalus: 218--222	78	(2)
Severus Alexander: 222--235	80	(3)
The soldier emperors	83	(26)
Gordian I and II: 238	85	(1)
Maximinus the Thracian: 235--238	86	(1)
Pupienus and Balbinus: 238	87	(1)
Gordian III: 238--244	88	(2)
Philip the Arab: 244--249	90	(2)
Decius: 249--251	92	(1)
Trebonianus Gallus: 251--253	93	(1)
Aemilian: 253	94	(1)
Valerian: 253--260, died after 260	95	(1)
Gallienus: 253--268	96	(2)
Claudius Gothicus: 268--270	98	(1)
Quintillus: 270	99	(1)
Aurelian: 270--275	100	(2)
Tacitus: 275--276	102	(1)
Florianus: 276	103	(1)
Probus: 276--282	104	(1)
Carus: 282--283	105	(1)
Numerian: 283--284	106	(1)
Carinus: 283--285	107	(2)
Diocletian and the tetrarchy	109	(8)
Constantius I: 293--306	111	(1)
Severus: 305--307	112	(1)
Maximian: 285--305, died in 310	113	(1)
Galerius: 293--311	114	(1)
Diocletian: 284--305, died in or after 311	115	(2)
Constantine and the struggle for power	117	(8)
Maxentius: 306--312	117	(2)
Maximinus Daia: 305--313	119	(1)
Licinius: 308--324, died in 325	120	(2)
Constantine I: 306--337	122	(3)
The dynasty of Constantine	125	(9)
Constantine II: 337--340	125	(1)
Constans: 337--350	126	(1)
Vetranio: 350, died in 356, and Magnentius: 350--353	127	(2)
Constantius II: 337--361	129	(2)
Julian: 360--363	131	(3)
The late fourth century	134	(11)
Jovian: 363--364	134	(1)
Valentinian I: 364--375	135	(2)
Valens: 364--378	137	(2)
Gratian: 367--383	139	(1)
Maximus: 383--388	140	(1)
Valentinian II: 375--392	141	(1)
Eugenius: 392--394	142	(1)
Theodosius I: 379--395	143	(2)
The divided empire	145	(17)
Arcadius: 395--408	145	(1)
Honorius: 395--423	146	(2)
Theodosius II: 408--450	148	(2)
Valentinian III: 425--455	150	(1)
Maximus: 455	151	(1)
Avitus: 455--456, died later?	152	(1)
Marcian: 450--457	153	(1)
Majorian: 457--461	154	(2)
Libius Severus: 461--465	156	(1)
Anthemius: 467--472	156	(1)
Olybrius: 472	157	(1)
Leo I: 457--474 and Leo II: 474	158	(1)
Glycerius: 473--474, died later	159	(1)
Nepos: 474--475, died in 480?	160	(1)
Romulus Augustulus: 475--476, died later	161	(1)
The end of antiquity	162	(2)
Family trees	164	(4)
Maps	168	(4)
Bibliography	172	(3)
Index	175