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Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Jan 4

The Late Roman Republic was, pound for pound, the most fascinating period of Roman History.

No other time in long history of Rome had such a high density of impressive and captivating individuals.

Let's explore the incredible figures from the Late Roman Republic. /🏛️🧵

For purposes of this thread, we will look at the people involved in the events starting with Caesar crossing the Rubicon in 49 BC and ending with the battle of Actium in 31 BC.

This period has the highest density of of fascinating people in the late Roman Republic.

The People of the Late Roman Republic

This period is literally a "who's who" of famous people. The history books are filled with their names, countless books are written about them, and they spark our imagination with the might and majesty of Roman History.

• Julius Caesar
• Pompey the Great
• Cicero
• Mark Antony
• Brutus
• Cato the Younger
• Cleopatra
• Octavian

Read 11 tweets

Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Dec 26, 2024

The years 96 AD to 180 AD were the best in all of Roman History.

During this glorious era, five men ruled Rome to unprecedented heights of prosperity.

Let's journey back to the height of the Pax Romana and explore The 5 Good Emperors of Rome /🏛️🧵

Who Were the 5 Good Emperors of Rome?

The reign of the Five Good Emperors of Romespanned 84 years from 96 to 180 AD. Here are the emperors and their respective reigns:

• Nerva (96–98 AD) – 2 years
• Trajan (98–117 AD) – 19 years
• Hadrian (117–138 AD) – 21 years
• Antoninus Pius (138–161 AD) – 23 years
• Marcus Aurelius (161–180 AD) – 19 years

These were five emperors who made up the lion's share of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty, along with Luciius Verus (Marcus Aurelius' brother by adoption) and Commodus (Marcus Aurelius's son)

But not for the 5 Good Emperors.Jd Emperors?

These Emperors were known for their just and effective governance. Things were good in the Roman Empire and it expanded to its greatest territorial extent under Trajan in 117 AD.

These 5 Emperors represented a very unique time in Roman History. It was a period of peaceful transition of power, a very rare thing in the Roman Empire.

Violence was the norm as one Emperor's reign ended and another's began. Murder, assassination, poisoning...you name it. The transition of power in the Roman Empire was typically bloody and brutal.

But not for the 5 Good Emperors.

Just look at the Wikipedia page. It's the only instance you will find of five Roman Emperors in a row dying of natural causes.

Read 10 tweets

Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Dec 22, 2024

69 AD was the most tumultuous year in the history of the Roman Empire.

In one year, four different men held the title of Emperor. When it started, Rome was in chaos. When it ended, Rome returned to stability.

Let's explore Rome's Year of the 4 Emperors 🏛️🧵

The reason why it was called The Year of the Four Emperors is quite clear.

In 69 BC, for different men held the title of Roman Emperor:

Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.

Never in the Roman Empire had power shifted hands so quickly.

Rome became an Empire in in 27 BC, and for 96 years it was ruled by the Emperors of the Julio Claudian dynasty. Each one ruled for a relatively long period of time.

Augustus: ~40 yrs
Tiberius: ~22 yrs
Caligula: ~4 yrs
Claudius: ~14 yrs
Nero: ~14 yrs

Though the transition of power in the Julio-Claudian dynasty was typically violent, each successor was a member of the complex Julio-Claudian family.

That all changed with the death of Nero.

Read 16 tweets

Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Dec 14, 2024

When he was born, his name was Octavian.

When he died, his name was Augustus.

The story of how a distant relative of Julius Caesar beat the odds to become the first Emperor of Rome. /🏛️🧵

Gaius Octavius Thurinus was born on September 23rd 63 BC in the city of Rome, on the Palentine Hill, very close to the Roman Forum.

Even though we know him as "Octavian", technically his name was Octavius.

His father was was a Roman politician named Gaius Octavius.

His mother was Atia Balba Caesonia, a niece of Julius Caesar. This made Octavian the grand-nephew of Caesar.

It was this relationship that was the linchpin to his ultimate rise to power.

Read 15 tweets

Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Dec 7, 2024

Caligula is at the top of every "Rome's Worst Emperors" list.

Surprisingly, his reign started off well, but then it took a turn for the worse.

What happened?

Let's do a deep dive into the reign of the mad Emperor; Caligula. / 🏛️🧵

Who was Caligula?

Caligula was the 3rd Roman Emperor in the Julio-Claudian dynasty (succeeding Tiberius and preceding Claudius) and his reign only lasted four short years from 16 March 37 AD - 24 January 41 AD. He was born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus on August 31, 12 AD.

He came from an excellent bloodline. His father was Germanicus, a famous Roman general and grandson of Mark Antony. His mother was Agrippina the Elder, the granddaughter on Augustus.

The name we know him by, Caligula, was actually a nickname that stood for "little boots." This nickname was given to him by the soldiers of his father's army, due to the miniature military boots he wore as a child. The name stuck, but he reportedly disliked it as an adult.

Caligula was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard on January 24th 41 AD. Why was he assassinated by the soldiers whose job was to protect him? More on that later...

How Did Caligula Become Emperor?

Caligula became Emperor upon the death of Tiberius on 16 March 37 AD.

Tiberius was Caligula’s great-uncle by marriage and adoption. Tiberius was married to Julia the Elder, Augustus's daughter, which made him Caligula's great-uncle through Augustus. Caligula's father, Germanicus, was Tiberius's adopted son, making Tiberius Caligula's adoptive grandfather. Caligula's relationship to Tiberius was complex and evolved over time, marked by a mixture of familial ties, political necessity, and mutual suspicion.

Tiberius had basically become an Emperor in absentia as he removed himself from Rome and lived in a self inflicted exile on the island of Capri. Tiberius called for Caligula to stay with him on Capri to keep a watchful eye on him (as Tiberius was extremely paranoid). Some historians suggest that Caligula was kept there as a sort of hostage to ensure the loyalty of potential rivals. During this time, Caligula skillfully navigated the dangerous environment, displaying outward loyalty while concealing his true feelings.

As Tiberius aged, he was still without an obvious or named heir. Tiberius died on March 16, 37 AD. According to some accounts, Tiberius was either smothered by a pillow or left to die without aid by his Praetorian Prefect, Naevius Sutorius Macro, and possibly with the collusion of Caligula.

With the support of Macro, Caligula was declared emperor by the Senate. Macro’s backing was crucial, as he commanded the Praetorian Guard, which was instrumental in securing Caligula’s position. His ascension was ratified by the Senate, which was eager to see a change from Tiberius’s reign.

Read 13 tweets

Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Nov 30, 2024

From whispers of power to cries of despair.

The famous last words of Roman Emperors. /🧵

Augustus

Rome's first Emperor Augustus died on August 19th 14 AD. Ancient historians hint that he was poisoned by his wife Livia. His last words refer to the role he played as Rome's first Emperor.

Nero

Rome's most egomaniacal Emperor, Nero died on June 9th 68 AD. Declared an enemy of the state, he was forced to take his own life. Nero was more interested in being a performer than Emperor, as his final words reflect.

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