Augustus
As the first emperor of Rome, Augustus established the Julio-Claudian dynasty that ruled Rome from the end of the first century BCE until 68 CE. Augustus, originally known as Octavian, was Julius Caesar's great nephew and was adopted by Caesar as his son and heir. Following Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE, Octavian was thrust into a civil war with competing generals and Senators for power over the large but unstable Roman empire. In 31 BCE, Octavian defeated his final rivals, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, during a naval battle at Actium. In 27 BCE, Octavian took the name Augustus and the title Princeps, which marked the beginning of his reign over Rome.
Following the defeat of his rivals, Augustus stabilized the empire, weak from nearly a century of civil war. Because the idea of a single ruler or monarch was so despised by the Romans, Augustus had to carefully consolidate power under his control. He succeeded in expanding the empire and establishing an imperial rule that lasted for centuries. Augustus notably negotiated peace with the Parthians and enacted civic and moral legislation to promote a return to Republican morals and ideals of Roman virtue. During this time the arts flourished, and Augustus actively patronized poets and artists.
Augustus and his wife, Livia, never produced a son, so Augustus initially named his grandsons by his daughter Julia as his heirs and adopted them as his own sons. Augustus's adoption by Caesar established the method succession used by the emperors throughout Imperial Rome. The living emperor chose his successor through adoption of a son and heir. In many cases the heirs chosen were not sons, but relatives or close comrades who were groomed for the position. This method was supposed to secure peaceful succession, although that was not always case. Unfortunately for Augustus, his chosen heirs, Gaius and Lucius, died young and he was forced to accept his step-son, Tiberius Claudius, by Livia's first husband as his adopted son and heir.
The Julian-Claudian Dynasty
Augustus' adoption of Tiberius incorporated the Claudian family into the dynastic line. The succession of emperors from Tiberius through Nero occurred as planned through the chosen adopted heir (typically a great-nephew), although each of these emperors died by assassination or forced suicide. Tiberius reigned after Augustus, followed by Caligula , Claudius , and finally Nero . Augustus's successors are remembered more for their immoral personalities and scheming families than for their artistic achievements or social-political contributions.
Head of Nero
Portrait bust of Nero
Claudius
Portrait of Claudius (r. 41-52 CE). Marble, 41-54 CE.
Caligula
Bust of Caligula (r. 37--41 CE)
Nero, the last of the Julian-Claudian line, was one of the most notorious emperors in Roman history. He is remembered for his obsession with his own popularity among the masses, public performances on the lyre, reciting poetry, acting, or participating in sporting events—all activities considered scandalous behavior for an emperor . Nero chose suicide instead of facing a public execution during an rebellion that sought to establish the general Galba as emperor. The Senate declared Galba emperor following Nero's death in 68 CE; however, the event sparked a civil war the following year as generals from around the empire vied for power.
Nero, dressed as Apollo with a Lyre
1st century CE
The Domus Aurea
In 64 CE, a fire erupted in Rome and burned ten out of fourteen districts in the city. Nero appropriated some of the newly cleared land for his own use. This land, located on the hills east of the Forum Romanum, became home to his new palatial structure known as the Domus Aurea, or the Golden House. Nero's complex included a private lake, landscaped gardens and porticos, a colossal golden statue of himself, and rooms for entertaining that were lavishly decorated with mosaics, frescos, and gold leaf. The surviving frescos provide excellent examples of Pompeiian fourth-style painting, a fantastical style that inspired Renaissance grottesche when portions of the palace were discovered at the end of the 1400s .
Wall painting from the Domus Aurea
Wall painting from the Domus Aurea, 63-68 CE
Nero's architects and engineers, Severus and Celer, designed the Domus Aurea and demonstrated some of the unique architectural shapes made possible through concrete construction. An octagonal hall testifies to the architects' ingenuity. The octagonal room stands between multiple rooms, possibly for dining, and is delineated by eight piers that support a domed roof with an oculus that lit not only the hall but also the surrounding rooms. The octagonal hall emphasizes the role of concrete in shaping interior space, and the use of natural light to create drama.