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Feb 3, 2023 · Out of all the Roman emperors, Caligula probably stands out as the most infamous, due not only to the bizarre anecdotes about his behavior but also because of the string of assassinations and executions he ordered. According to most modern and ancient accounts, he seems to have actually been insane.
- Daniel Kershaw
- Tiberius (ruled AD 14–37) Tiberius was the successor to Augustus, though Augustus did not particularly want Tiberius to succeed him, and it was only the untimely death of the emperor's grandsons Gaius and Lucius, and Augustus's decision to exile their younger brother, Agrippa Postumus, that put Tiberius in line for the imperial throne.
- Gaius (Caligula) (ruled AD 37–41) Gaius (‘Caligula, or ‘little bootee’ – a childhood nickname given him by his father's troops) is best known for a series of eccentric actions, such as declaring war on the sea and proclaiming himself a god.
- Nero (ruled AD 54–68) Nero is the Roman Emperor we all love to hate, and not without reason. He was actually a competent administrator, and he was aided by some very able men, including his tutor – the writer Seneca.
- Domitian (ruled AD 81–96) Domitian was the younger son of Vespasian, the general who had emerged from the chaos after Nero's fall and restored a certain element of stability and normality to Roman public life.
- Nero (reigned 54 to 68 AD): Nero's reign is synonymous with extravagance, debauchery, and tyranny. He infamously indulged in lavish parties while Rome burned in the Great Fire of 64 AD, allegedly playing the lyre and singing.
- Caligula (reigned 37 to 41 AD): Madness and cruelty were the marks of Caligula’s rule, plunging the Roman Empire into a period of terror and instability.
- Commodus (reigned 177 to 192 AD): Commodus, the son of the revered Marcus Aurelius, inherited a stable and prosperous empire upon his ascension to the throne.
- Domitian (reigned 81 to 96 AD): Domitian was a ruler who was characterized by paranoia, repression, and cruelty. He executed perceived rivals and imposed heavy taxes to fund his lavish building projects and military campaigns.
- Nero (54-68 AD) Nero's reign is infamous for its brutality and paranoia. He is remembered for the Great Fire of Rome, which he allegedly started to clear land for his palatial complex, the Domus Aurea.
- Caligula (37-41 AD) Caligula, whose real name was Gaius Caesar, ruled with a sadistic and erratic demeanor. He was known for his extravagant spending, sexual depravity, and his desire to be worshiped as a living god.
- Commodus (180-192 AD) The son of the respected Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was a disappointment to both his father and the empire. He was more interested in gladiatorial combat and self-glorification than ruling, often dressing as Hercules and fighting in the arena.
- Elagabalus (218-222 AD) Elagabalus was a teenage emperor known for his religious fanaticism and eccentricity. He attempted to replace Jupiter with the sun god Elagabal as Rome's chief deity and forced high-ranking Romans to participate in his religious ceremonies.
- Caligula (Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) (12–41 CE) Caligula, who was also formally known as Gaius, was the third Roman emperor, ruling for four years.
- Elagabalus (Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus) (204–222 CE) Elagabalus, also known as Heliogabalus, served as a Roman emperor from 218 to 222, a time that significantly impacted his placement on the list of worst emperors.
- Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) (27–68 CE) Nero is perhaps the best known of the worst emperors, having allowed his wife and mother to rule for him and then stepping out from their shadows and ultimately having them, and others, murdered.
- Commodus (Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus) (161–192 CE) The son of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus was, according to most historians, a debauched and corrupt megalomaniac who viewed himself as a reincarnated Greek god, Hercules to be exact.
May 26, 2024 · Nero is perhaps the most infamous of Rome‘s bad emperors. He had his own mother killed so he could remarry. His first wife he divorced and executed. His second he kicked to death while she was pregnant. Nero was an inept ruler who left the empire‘s administration to corrupt favorites.
Jan 23, 2024 · Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as Caligula, reigned as Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. His short tenure as emperor is one of the most infamous in Roman history, marked by extreme cruelty, debauchery, and a descent into madness that has made his name synonymous with tyrannical excess.
