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Feb 3, 2023 · Caligula (12-41 AD) 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Aug 18, 2022 · In his 2021 book, Evil Roman Emperors: The Shocking History of Ancient Rome’s Most Wicked Rulers from Caligula to Nero and More, author Phillip Barlag awards Commodus the No. 1 spot, calling...
Tiberius Caesar has gone down in history as one of the most notorious of Rome’s early emperors. The stories that surround him are both scandalous and salacious, as shocking to our modern sensibilities as they were to his contemporaries.