Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius
Tacitus (ca.
AD 56 – ca.
117) was a
senator and an
historian of the
Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the
Annals and the
Histories—examine the reigns of the
Roman Emperors Tiberius,
Claudius,
Nero and those that reigned in the
Year of the Four Emperors. These two works span the history of the
Roman Empire from the death of
Augustus in
AD 14 to (presumably) the death of emperor
Domitian in
AD 96. There are significant
lacunae in the surviving texts.
Other works by Tacitus discuss oratory (in dialogue format, see Dialogus de oratoribus), Germania (in De origine et situ Germanorum), and biographical notes about his father-in-law Agricola, primarily during his campaign in Britannia (see De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae).
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68), born
Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called
Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last
Roman Emperor of the
Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his grand-uncle
Claudius to become heir to the throne. As Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus, he succeeded to the throne on October 13, 54, following Claudius' death.
Nero ruled from 54 CE to 68 CE. During his rule, Nero focused much of his attention on diplomacy, trade, and increasing the cultural capital of the empire. He ordered the building of theatres and promoted athletic games. His reign included a successful war and negotiated peace with the Parthian Empire (58–63), the suppression of the British revolt (60–61) and improving diplomatic ties with Greece.
Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16, 42 BC –
March 16,
AD 37), was the second
Roman Emperor, from the death of
Augustus in
AD 14 until his own death in 37. Tiberius was by birth a
Claudian, son of
Tiberius Claudius Nero and
Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced his father and was remarried to Octavian
Augustus in
39 BC. Tiberius would later marry Augustus' daughter
Julia the Elder (from an earlier marriage) and even later be adopted by Augustus and by this act he became a
Julian. The subsequent emperors after Tiberius would continue this blended dynasty of both families for the next forty years; historians have named it the
Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Tiberius Claudius Nero is recognized as one of Rome's greatest generals, whose campaigns in Pannonia, Illyricum, Rhaetia and Germania laid the foundations for the northern frontier.
Lucius Aelius Seianus(or
Sejanus) (
20 BC –
October 18,
31 AD) was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the
Roman Emperor Tiberius. He served as
Prefect of the
Praetorian Guard from
14 AD until his death in 31. For a time he was the most influential and feared citizen of
Rome and nearly succeeded in deposing Tiberius as Emperor. In 31, his intrigues were uncovered and Sejanus was executed along with his followers.
Sejanus was born at Volsinii, in Etruria, to the family of Cosconia Lentuli Maluginensis and Lucius Seius Strabo, an equestrian who became Praetorian Prefect under Augustus. By Roman custom he was known as Aelius Sejanus after his adoption into the more prestigious Aelian gens.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (April 26, 121, – March 17, 180) was
Roman Emperor from
161 to his death in
180. He was the last of the "
Five Good Emperors" who governed the Roman Empire from 96 to 180, and is also considered one of the most important
stoic philosophers.
His tenure was marked by wars in Asia against a strong Parthian Empire, and with Germanic tribes along the limes Germanicus into Gaul and across the Danube. A revolt in the East, led by Avidius Cassius, failed.
Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written on campaign between 170–180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."
Annia Galeria Faustina Minor (
Minor Latin for
the younger), Faustina Minor or
Faustina the Younger (
February 16 between
AD 125 and
130-
175) was a daughter of
Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and Roman Empress
Faustina the Elder. She was a Roman Empress and wife to her maternal cousin Roman Emperor
Marcus Aurelius. She was the namesake of her mother. Faustina from her parents' marriage was the youngest and the fourth child, second daughter and the only one who survived to adulthood from her siblings. She was born and raised in
Rome.
Her great uncle Roman Emperor Hadrian had arranged with her father for Faustina to marry Lucius Verus. On February 25 138, she was engaged to Lucius Verus. Verus’ father was Hadrian’s first adopted son and intended successor for the emperor’s throne. However when Verus’ father died, Hadrian adopted Faustina’s father as his second adopted son and eventually, he became Hadrian’s successor.
