The death of Marcus Aurelius marked the end of an era in Roman history. For over a century, the empire had been ruled by a succession of wise and just emperors, known as the “Five Good Emperors.”
But with the passing of Marcus Aurelius, this golden age came to a close. What followed was a period of chaos and decline, marked by a string of inept and corrupt rulers. Among them was a man whose name has become synonymous with madness and tyranny.
But who were these emperors who ruled after Marcus Aurelius? What were their legacies, and how did they shape the course of Roman history?
In this article, we will explore the tumultuous period that followed the death of one of Rome’s greatest leaders. Join us as we delve into the world of ancient Rome and uncover the stories of those who came after Marcus Aurelius.
Who Ruled After Marcus Aurelius
After the death of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Empire was left in the hands of a series of rulers who were unable to live up to the standards set by their predecessors. The “Five Good Emperors” had brought stability and prosperity to the empire, but their legacy was soon undone by a string of corrupt and inept rulers.
One of the most infamous of these rulers was a man who believed himself to be a god and whose reign was marked by cruelty and capriciousness. But he was not alone in his failings. Many of the emperors who followed Marcus Aurelius were similarly flawed, and their reigns were marked by political instability, economic decline, and social unrest.
Despite their shortcomings, these emperors played a significant role in shaping the course of Roman history. Some attempted to restore order and stability to the empire, while others pursued their own selfish interests at the expense of their subjects.
The End Of The Five Good Emperors
With the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE, the reign of the “Five Good Emperors” came to an end. The succession that followed was marked by a period of turbulence and decline. The new rulers lacked the wisdom and leadership skills of their predecessors, and their reigns were characterized by corruption, political instability, and economic decline.
The first emperor to follow Marcus Aurelius was his son Commodus, who proved to be an unfortunate choice as heir. Commodus was known for his extravagance and cruelty, and his reign was marked by corruption and mismanagement. He was eventually assassinated in 192 CE, bringing an end to the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.
Following Commodus’ death, the Roman Empire entered a period of chaos known as the Year of the Five Emperors. During this time, five different men claimed the title of emperor, each with the support of different factions within the military and political establishment.
The first of these emperors was Pertinax, who attempted to restore order to the empire but was assassinated after only three months in power. He was succeeded by Didius Julianus, who had purchased the throne from the Praetorian Guard but was quickly overthrown by Septimius Severus.
Severus was a capable military leader who managed to reunite the empire and restore some degree of stability. However, his reign was marked by harsh authoritarianism and a disregard for civil liberties. He also initiated a series of costly military campaigns that drained the empire’s resources.
After Severus’ death in 211 CE, his sons Caracalla and Geta became co-emperors but quickly turned on each other. Caracalla had his brother assassinated and ruled as a tyrant until his own assassination in 217 CE.
The period that followed Caracalla’s death was marked by a series of weak and ineffective rulers who were unable to restore stability to the empire. The decline of the Roman Empire had begun, and it would continue for centuries to come.
The Rise Of Commodus And His Reign Of Terror
Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius, was the first of these inept emperors. He ascended to the throne in 180 CE after the death of his father and the end of the Pax Romana. According to most historians, Commodus was a megalomaniac who believed himself to be the reincarnation of the Greek god Hercules. He was also known for being debauched and corrupt.
During his reign, Commodus held Plebeian Games in which he killed hundreds of animals with arrows and javelins every morning and fought as a gladiator every afternoon, winning all the fights. He also announced his intention to inaugurate the year 193 as both consul and gladiator on 1 January. His reign was marked by cruelty and capriciousness, with many of his subjects living in fear of his wrath.
Commodus’ reign came to an end in December of 192 CE when he was assassinated by a group of conspirators led by his prefect Laetus. The Senate declared him a public enemy and restored the original name of the city of Rome and its institutions. Statues of Commodus were demolished, and his body was buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian.
Despite his short and tumultuous reign, Commodus’ legacy lived on. His death marked the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, and he was succeeded by Pertinax, who would become the first claimant to be usurped during the Year of the Five Emperors. In 195 CE, Commodus was posthumously deified by Emperor Septimius Severus in an attempt to gain favor with the family of Marcus Aurelius.
The Year Of The Five Emperors
One particularly tumultuous period in Roman history was the Year of the Five Emperors, which occurred in AD 193. During this year, five men claimed the title of Roman Emperor: Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimius Severus. This period of civil war began with the murder of Emperor Commodus on New Year’s Eve in 192, and it led to a power struggle between multiple rulers who vied for the chance to become emperor.
Pertinax was named emperor after Commodus’ assassination, but his attempts to initiate reforms quickly aroused opposition in the Praetorian Guard. They plotted his assassination, and Pertinax was killed while trying to reason with the mutineers. Didius Julianus succeeded Pertinax by purchasing the title from the Praetorian Guard, but he was soon ousted by Septimius Severus and executed on June 1.
Severus was declared Caesar by the Senate, but Pescennius Niger declared himself emperor and was hostile towards Severus. This sparked a civil war between Niger and Severus, with both gathering troops and fighting throughout the territory of the empire. To avoid preoccupying himself with imperial governance, Severus allowed Clodius Albinus to be co-Caesar, even though he suspected him of being a threat. Though they ruled simultaneously, most historians count Severus and Albinus as two emperors.
The Year of the Five Emperors was a time of great political unrest and instability in the Roman Empire. However, from the ashes of this civil war emerged a new and powerful imperial dynasty: the Severan dynasty. This period also witnessed considerable expansion of the empire, from northern Britain to Dacia and to Arabia and Mesopotamia. Despite this expansion, there were signs of weakness in the empire during this period, including growing depopulation, financial difficulties, and a deterioration in character of the local governments in the provincial communities. Nonetheless, the legacy of the Year of the Five Emperors was significant, as it marked the beginning of a new era in Roman history.
The Severan Dynasty And The Military Emperors
The Severan dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire from 193 to 235 AD, was founded by Septimius Severus and his wife Julia Domna. Their reign was marked by unstable family relationships and constant political turmoil, which foreshadowed the imminent Crisis of the Third Century. The dynasty comprised the relatively short reigns of Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus, and Alexander Severus.
Septimius Severus restored peace following the upheaval of the late 2nd century and cultivated the army with substantial remuneration for total loyalty to the emperor. He successfully broadened the power of the imperial administration throughout the empire and abolished the regular standing jury courts of Republican times to transfer power to the executive branch of the government. His son Caracalla was responsible for extending Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire and erecting the famous baths in Rome that bear his name.
The imperial court during this period was dominated by formidable women who arranged the succession of Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. In the last phase of the Severan principate, the power of the Senate was finally revived, and a number of fiscal reforms were enacted. However, the fatal flaw of its last emperor, Alexander Severus, was his failure to control the army, eventually leading to mutiny and his assassination.
After the fall of the Severan dynasty, a series of military emperors took control of Rome. These emperors were chosen by their troops rather than by any legitimate claim to power or hereditary right. The period of military rule was marked by frequent civil wars, political instability, and economic decline.
Some of these military emperors attempted to restore order and stability to Rome. For example, Aurelian successfully defended Rome against foreign invaders and reunited much of the empire after a period of fragmentation. Others pursued their own selfish interests at the expense of their subjects, such as the infamous Commodus, who was known for his cruelty and extravagance.
Despite the challenges faced by the military emperors, some of them left a lasting legacy. Diocletian, for example, introduced a series of reforms that helped to stabilize the empire and laid the groundwork for the Byzantine Empire. However, the period of military rule ultimately contributed to the decline and eventual fall of the Roman Empire.
The Crisis Of The Third Century And The Decline Of Rome
The Crisis of the Third Century was a period of political and economic instability that lasted from 235 to 284 AD. The empire was plagued by a series of civil wars, invasions by barbarian tribes, and economic crises that led to hyperinflation and the devaluation of the currency. These factors, along with a series of weak and incompetent rulers, contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire.
During this period, the empire was ruled by a succession of emperors who were often short-lived and unable to assert their authority over the vast territories they governed. The military became increasingly powerful, and many emperors were chosen by the army rather than through legitimate succession. This led to a breakdown in the traditional system of government and a loss of faith in the imperial system.
The crisis also had a significant impact on the economy of the empire. The devaluation of the currency led to inflation and a decline in trade, which in turn led to a decline in agricultural production. This had a devastating effect on the population, as food shortages became more common and prices skyrocketed.
The Crisis of the Third Century marked a turning point in Roman history, as it led to the decline of the empire and paved the way for its eventual collapse. The empire never fully recovered from this period of instability, and its decline continued for centuries until it was finally conquered by barbarian tribes in the 5th century AD.
In conclusion, the Crisis of the Third Century was a critical period in Roman history that contributed significantly to the decline of the empire. Its impact on politics, economics, and society was profound, and it set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately lead to the fall of Rome.
