Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born around 30 AD to Marcus Cocceius Nerva and Sergia Plautilla. He came from a Roman noble family with ties to the imperial family and Nerva continued in the same vain becoming Praetor Elect in 65. 1/10
In 65, Nerva is supposed to have played an important role in revealing a conspiracy to assassinate Emperor Nero. But in 68, Nero got himself killed bringing the imperial dynasty to an end. Without an heir, the Empire plunged into chaos as different factions sought power. 2/10
With the collapse of Alexander's Macedon Empire after his death not that long ago serving as a reminder, Rome saw four Emperors attain power in 69 depending on their control of the city of Rome. Fortunately, the last one, Vespasian, managed to hold on to it for keeps. 3/10
With two adult sons, Vespasian, was seen as a more stable contender and thus the Flavian dynasty was born. Nerva soon found himself as the Consul of Rome, the technical joint Head of State for Rome, along side Vespasian in 71. 4/10
Nerva continued to be an influential politician returning to Consulship in 90, along with Domitian. Domitian was Vespasian's younger son and had become Emperor in 81 after Vespasian's elder son, Titus, died. 5/10
But Domitian was also unpopular. Though he worked to make the Empire an efficient system, his autocratic rule led to his undoing with his assassination in 96. This also led to another problem. With no surviving children, Domitian had no heir and the Senate was in a quandary. 6/10
In his 60s with no children, Nerva would have been an unlikely choice for the throne. But the Senate entrusted him with the imperium, perhaps looking at him as a stop gap arrangement hoping for a better ruler by the time Nerva died. 7/10
Though some of Domitian's excesses were reversed, the ones that worked were retained. Nerva also brought back trusted veterans and statemen from retirement like Sextus Frontinus, a former general put in charge of the Roman aqueducts. 8/10
But Nerva faced rebellions as well. Though he did not suppress them strongly, he adopted an heir to guide the future course of the Empire - Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, a general with links to the Flavians, Consul in 91 and whom Nerva had made Governor of Germania Superior. 9/10
Nerva died the following year in 98. A short reign, but one that prevented the chaos Rome saw after the death of Nero. Marcus Ulpius Trajanus became the Emperor and brought it to its greatest territorial extent, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Irish Sea. 10/10
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Murad was born in 1404 to Mehmed. Mehmed was the son of Bayezid, the Ottoman Sultan who was captured by Timur in 1402. This led to a period of anarchy in the Sultanate. By 1413, Mehmed had managed to defeat his brothers and take over as Sultan of the entire Sultanate. 1/10
The Ottoman had Sultanate emerged in late 13th century after the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm was defeated by the Mongols. Many beyliks rose up in the Anatolian peninsula, one among which was ruled by the ancestors of Bayezid, Mehmed and Murad. 2/10
Rastislav was born in early 9th century. His father may have been Wistrach and his uncle Mojmír, the Duke of Moravia. Little is known about Rastislav's youth, until 846 when Franks invaded Moravia and installed Rastislav as the Duke of Moravia. 1/10
Moravia emerged as a semi independent state in Central Europe not long after the Franks had defeated the Avars in late 8th century. Moravia was not the first power in the region though. The Slavic states of Samo and of Nitra had lasted briefly during various times as well. 2/10
Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck was born in 1815 to Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Bismarck and Wilhelmine Luise Mencken. Hailing from Schönhausen, the Bismarcks were a prominent noble family of the Kingdom of Prussia, with connections in Pomerania. 1/10
Prussia became a kingdom in 1701, but its major part was Brandenburg in the centuries old Holy Roman Empire. Invasion by the French in early 19th century led to the dissolution of this empire, with many of its regions joining Napoleon backed Confederation of the Rhine. 2/10
Camillo Benso was born in 1810 to Michele Benso, Marquis of Cavour, and Adélaïde Suzanne de Sellon. The Bensos were prominent nobility of Savoy. Camillo also had a distinguishing French connection thanks to his mother and his godmother Pauline, sister of Emperor Napoleon. 1/10
The early 18th century saw the French under Napoleon occupy Savoy. But the Bensos managed to see through it in a favourable manner eventually. Young Camilo's career prospects improved with his appointment as page to Carlo Alberto, Prince of Carignano in 1824. 2/10
Iaroslav Vladimirovich was born around 980 to Vladimir Sviatoslavich, Grand Prince of Kiev, and Rogned of Polotsk. Vladimir was initially supposed to rule only in Novgorod, but he had taken Kiev and Dereva from his brothers by 980. 1/10
Iaroslav was given an early charge of Rostov and, later, of Novgorod by 1010. But he sought Kiev and rebelled against his father, when he saw that one of his many brothers may be given Kiev. However, Vladimir died in 1015 and his domain got divided between his sons. 2/10
Birger Magnusson was born around 1210 to Magnus "Minnesköld" Bengtsson and Ingrid Ilva. Magnus was the grandson of the powerful Scandinavian noble, Folke, while Ingrid may have been a descendant of Sverker, King of Sweden in mid 12th century. 1/10
The kingdom of Sweden claimed land on the western and eastern coasts of the Baltic Sea in the 13th century. However, the crown itself was held between two dynasties since Sverker's death in 1156; by Sverker's family and that of Erik who became king after Sverker. 2/10