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,