Rome, the Caesars, and Key Dates

Rome, Caesars, and Key Dates

1.  Julius Caesar -  49-44BC
Born July 12, 100 BC; stabbed at a senate meeting on March 15, 44BC; known to be homosexual; the month of “July” is named after him

2.  Augustus - 27BC-14AD
Jesus and Paul born during his reign; the month of “August” is named after him

3.  Tiberius - 14-37
Stepson of Augustus; known to be cruel and immoral; the ministry of Jesus and John the Baptist take place during his reign

4.  Caligula - 37-41
Nephew of Tiberius; also known as Gaius Caesar; wasteful; kills men at his whim; murdered by his own bodyguards (The Praetorian Guard) in 41 AD

5.  Claudius I - 41-54
Uncle of Caligula; Paul’s early ministry is during his reign (Acts 11:8); begins the conquest of Britain in 43 AD; poisoned by his niece (who is also his third wife) in 54 AD. This third wife is Agrippina II, Caligula’s sister. She has a son by a previous marriage named Nero and she wants this son to be Caesar. Claudius agrees, but later vacillates, so she kills Claudius by feeding him a dinner of poisoned mushrooms

6.  Nero - 54-68
His full name is LUCIUS DOMITIUS AHENOBARBUS; Nero becomes emperor after Claudius is murdered. Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:8) and this Caesar is Nero.  (28:19). Nero begins to reign at age 16; becomes cruel as he grows older. Early in his career, Nero lives with a woman named Statilia Messalina and later has her husband assassinated; finally marries her.

Nero has his own mother, Agrippina II, killed along with his wife in 59 AD. He has his mother killed in order to please another woman named Poppaea, a Roman official’s wife. Nero later kills Poppaea by kicking her while she is pregnant. Nero later proposes to Antonia (his adopted sister) but she refuses him He orders her execution.

Nero starts the great fire in Rome in 64 AD, but blames the Christians for it. Legend says Nero sings and plays songs while the city burns around him. During Nero’s reign war begins between the Romans and the Jews, ending in the destruction of Jerusalem. In 65 AD, Nero has many Roman officials executed or drives them to commit suicide. Nero takes his own life on June 9, 68 AD.

<> After Nero follow “the minor Caesars”

7. Galba - 68-69              
8.  Otho -  69
9.  Vitellius - 69                
10.  Vespasian - 69-79
During Vespasian’s reign, the Jews revolt, resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by Titus, who becomes the next ruler. The Jews are still in revolt when Titus comes to power.

11. Titus - 79-81
12. Domitian - 81-96
John writes Revelation during Domitian’s reign. A great persecution of Christians takes place under his rule. Domitian is assassinated in 96 AD

ROME…..Some Key Dates

BC

753 - Rome founded by Romulus (ruled from 753-714)
700 - Etruscans seize Rome
566 - First census taken (84,700)
500 - Rome falls into obscurity
510 - Rome becomes a Republic
433 - Temple of Apollo dedicated
400 - First public banquet of the gods
390 - Rome burnt by the Gauls
265 - Rome controls peninsular Italy
350-27 - Era of Roman expansion
27 BC-68 AD - Julio-Claudian dynasty
63 - Pompey adds Palestine to Roman empire; Julius Caesar fights Pompey and makes himself dictator.
55 - Rome invades Britain
44 - Julius Caesar is assassinated by Brutus and Cassius.

AD

58 - Paul writes Romans from Corinth
61 - Paul brought to Rome as prisoner
63 - Paul acquitted and set free
64 - Rome burnt by Nero
c65 - Paul beheaded in Rome
75 - Temple of Peace dedicated
131-135 - War with the Jews
274 - Temple of the Sun founded
312 - Constantine establishes Christianity as the official religion of Rome
360 - Julian rejects Christianity as the official religion
364 - Rome divides into Eastern and Western empires
410 - Rome sacked by the Goths
600 - Rome reaches its lowest point
728 - Rome comes under the sovereignty of the Pope
800 - Pope Leo III creates Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne
1517 - Reformation
1798 - Pope is deprived of his temporal powers

Today - Rome is a shrine to spiritual apathy.