preview

The Bad Emperors of Rome Essay

Better Essays

Caring, respectable, valued and honoured are all traits desirable of an emperor. Augustus encompassed all of these and went as far as restoring the Republican government from its once fallen state, but this was all forgotten when Tiberius became emperor. Tiberius was corrupt by power and Rome began to live in an era of destruction. As well, the subsequent emperors, Caligula and Nero followed in the same path, portraying violence and negatively impacting the city of Rome. Their reign caused them to be unpopular as each marginalized pietas, the duty towards the Gods, family, homeland, and followers, which is highly valued by the romans. This can be seen through the actions and behaviours throughout their time as they were destructive …show more content…

His accessibility to the people became nonexistent as he declared he would no longer assist anyone. A hatred for his brother Drusus formed and he treated his wife poorly, depriving her of the dowry left to her by her father and forbidding her to go outside of the house or talk to any men. As well, when his mother became very ill, Tiberius showed no priority to visit her. When she died, he refused to attend her funeral establishing a lack of respect and honour for her. Also outlining the betrayal of his family is the starvation of his three grandsons. He destroyed every bit of family he had, thus destroying the support of his followers as well, as Romans did not respect those who could harm their family in such a way. While in Capri, Tiberius was alone enjoying his privacy when a fisherman approached him. Tiberius, being irritated by this disturbance, ordered his face to be mutilated with the claws of the crab from which the fisherman made an offering. The people of Rome were fearful of Tiberius, such that when they were called to trial, they stabbed themselves in their homes. One day, both women and boys were strangled to death by Tiberius’ executioner, but according to ancient customs, it is unlawful to kill a virgin in such a manner. So the executioner raped the young girls not long before strangling them. He came up with multiple ways of torturing people, such as hanging men by their genitals and stopping

Get Access