Roman Emperor Deaths

Deaths of Julio-Claudian Emperors

Omens figured big in the deaths.  And deification was a big part of the aftermath.

==Julius Caesar==
First emperor, breaking up the breaking democracy

Assassinated
*Seutonius is the source

===Digression===
*Bush was speaking a few years ago and a bird shat on him
**"Birds give thheir opion on Bush"
*Historically an auspicious sign from the Gods.  Sneezing too. 
**Because it can't be controlled

===Back to assassination===
*Ideal way to die
**in Battle
**queitly after long reign

*The way he died: dignified
**They all crowded around him

==Augustus Caesar==
===Politics===
*He was v. popular with the people
*probably died old

==Death==
*Foreseen by a bird landing on a letter 'A'
*Lightning struck it and prophets gave him 100 days
*Basically everything he said after that was seen in retrospect as prophetic of the specific circumstances of his death.


==Tiberius==
*way bad.  Lots of controlled starvation and manipulation of markets
*Everyone wanted him dead, no one did it.  He lived until 80
*Terrified of Rome, stayed on the coast, convinced that it would be his death.

===Dying===
*Twisted his side, played healthy by overdoing it.
**"Basically, this guy refused to die"
*Many think he was given a slow wasting poison, possibly by Caligula
*Others think old age.
*Took of ring of power, put it back on, and died.

==Caligula (Gaius)==
*After Tiberius, everyone wspsyched
*He was horrible, dumb and decadent
*Assassinated:
**People rushed in with knives
**He died cowardlyly

==Claudius==
*Has his first wife killed
*Second, Agrippana, poisoned him with mushrooms to get Nero on the throne

==Nero==
*End of Julio Claudian dynasty
*Worst death of all, no honor at all.
*Dancing while rome burned didn't go too well
*Instead of honorably killing himself, fled and hid in a closet
**Had to be assisted in stabbing himself to death.

==Others==
*Lots of less dramatic deaths, small pox etc,