Nerva: The First Good Emperor of Rome

Julius Caesar consolidated all power with himself as dictator, with the Roman senate acting as a powerless shell to please the people. He went to such extremes to gain power that Roman historian, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, wrote that Caesar said, “Nam si violandum est jus, regnandi gratia violandum est: aliis rebus pietatem colas” (Tranquillius; I,30). Translated to English literally this means “Be just, unless a kingdom tempts to break the laws: for sovereign power alone can justify the cause.” and in laypeople's terms, “If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it.” He took his absolute power and used it to increase his popularity with the populace.

Rome started to become overrun with crime and people were so scared, they stayed off the streets. People started to become unemployed and taxes started to increase. The Roman people became angry with the government. They demanded that the government do something. Caesar heard the pleads of the people and convinced them he knew what to do. The Roman people began to trust and rely on him to fix Rome’s problems. (Julius Caesar for kids, May 1st 2014)

power was quick and it was believed by many on his senate that concerning the good of Rome,

But the safety of the commonwealth must not be too often allowed to be risked on one man. As long as you, O Catiline, plotted against me while I was the consul elect, I defended myself not with a public guard, but by my own private diligence. When, in the next consular comitia, you wished to slay me when I was actually consul, and your competitors also, in the Campus Martius, (Cicero, Catilinarian I, V)

The Roman Republic conquered and overcame a lot of other cities but to do that they had to Provide Public Services, Promote Rule of Law, Prepare a common defense, Support the economic system and Protect rights, So were they meeting the common good.

Tiberius Gracchus and Cicero were two men who were both concerned with wellness of the citizens of Rome; however, they had different opinions on the best way to achieve political advancements. Throughout the different generations of the two men, the same issues plagued Rome, and throughout their lifetimes the separate factions of the senate became more polarized as they continued to disagree about the fate of Rome. Cicero wrote letters to his friends and family which today offer great primary information about what it was like in Rome during the late republic. In our virtual reality game, Saeculum, I get firsthand insight into the issues that plagued Rome when my clients come to me with the issues of land, food, and water. I am tasked with

Julius Caesar was a very influential figure in Roman history. Many features of the Roman Empire came from his reign as dictator. But what, specifically, were some of those great achievements? In this research paper, I will explain Julius Caesar’s youth, the Roman Republic before Caesar came to power, the Roman government before Caesar became dictator-for-life, the effects of Julius Caesar, the reasons for his assassination, and what affects there were when the public learned about his assassination.

However, this influence that the Senate had on the magistrates and popular assemblies was meant to protect the Republic from “popular whims” or the stupidity of the commoner (Gwynn, 24) . Although one could argue this made Rome an aristocracy, this in no way downgrades the justice of the government. The system of checks and balances ensured that the Senate could never be in complete control. More importantly, “the People, who by their votes, bestow honors on those who deserve them” (Tingay and Badcock, 45). The Populus had the right to reject or pass laws or choose war or peace.

Two of the more memorable emperors to the Romans were Augustus Caesar (27 BC to 14 AD), and Caligula (37 AD to 41 AD). Although only having ruled the empire by a separation of 23 years and belonging to the same family (through marriage and adoption), their empires couldn’t have been more different. It is possible to determine the impact of an emperor’s rule based on their many vices and virtues, as well as the choices that they make in relation to them. The author Suetonius expressed in his writings the many vices and virtues that put into perspective the kind of leaders that these emperors appeared as to their polis. As we explore the concept of vices and virtues, as well as what kind of ideals these two rulers represented, we will begin to be presented with a clearer picture of what an ideal emperor would have looked like. A vice can be described as an immoral or wicked behavior; while a virtue can be described as a behavior showing high moral standards. Suetonius and the Roman people had a high interpretation of the concept of virtue and vice, as well as their role in the ruler’s life.

upon the Roman Empire there is a distinction between the concepts of power and authority; with an emphasis on the authority. He comments, “[Nor] are satraps fighting against one another, as if they had no king; nor do some cities side with these and others with those” (Strayer 149). The local authorities, as well as the people of the cities, appear to be in agreement with the conditions within the empire, for they are at peace. It is the glory days of the civilization, there is a sense of equalness among all and therefore, the ruler has no need to apply his power. Aristides says, “Your government is like a mixture of all the constitutions [democracy, aristocracy, monarchy] without the inferior side of each” (Strayer 150). This depicts the ideal government, the people have the power, yet there is a Senate in charge, and in entirety, there is a central figure in control of it all. Due to it being a time of harmony throughout the empire, the leader does not feel compelled to exercise his

Julius Caesar is a prominent figure in the history of the world. Julius was a man known primarily for his political stature and military accomplishments. Throughout Caesar’s life many controversial events took place around him and he was often left with a label that he did not always deserve. Many have speculated whether Julius Caesar was a respectable and good man. In order to determine whether Julius Caesar was a good man or not it is necessary to not only look at his actions, but also what were the conditions during his lifetime that awarded a man with the title of “good,” or in other words, what made a man respectable.

Roman values and their importance to the state play a central role in Julius Caesar. These values are portrayed as integral to the success of Rome, because the majority of these virtues act in favour of the state. Each person in Roman society has their own role which is part of a more important collective whole. Characters in the play seem to identify more with being a citizen or “soul of Rome” rather than a unique individual (Shakespeare, 2.1.323). The play emphasizes Rome as “an alien society” and analyses the relationship “between Rome and the Romans, who see themselves as ‘citizens,’ rather than ‘men’” (Miles, 2). Shakespeare emphasizes the importance of the state over personal thoughts or feelings: “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (Shakespeare, 3.2.21-22). Each of the Roman virtues arises out of a sense of duty to put the state over the self. Following this duty evokes a necessary recognition of

Power is a natural desire for humans. It is what structures society, makes the world turn, and to get more of it, people will do almost anything. Yet society often follows whoever is in power without a second thought. Because the Romans follow whoever is in power without considering that person’s morals and ideals, they are responsible for the anarchy that ensues after Caesar’s death.

Julius Caesar is perhaps the most well known in the history of Roman Emperors, yet there is no denying that his reign was filled with controversy, no reason more so than his devious rise to power and his mischievous ways of suppressing the senate. There is no doubt that in ruling as a Dictator; Caesar lost the support of the Roman people, who had fought for freedom against an Etruscan King, a role in which Caesar was playing. His death in 44BC coincided with what many believe to be the year in which the Republic completely its eventual ‘fall’ that it had been plummeting to since 133BC, and it is only by looking at the differences in the end of his reign to that of Augustus’ in 27BC that

The romans allowed this because it was roman citizenship, you had the right to know what is right and wrong. Rome also formed a republic with patricians and plebeians to control the city. Rome also had an official language which was latin, it was spoken throughout the empire and is used in most other languages. Rome excelled at architecture and engineering new innovative inventions, from temples to aqueducts, they designed and created it all. Overall, the quote “All Roads Lead to Rome” means that paths always lead to the center of things