The most important of those taxes was the Fiscus Iudaicus - an additional tax that all the Jewish subjects had to pay.įorum of Nerva, by Samuel Prout, ca. He also reduced or abolished numerous taxes, giving privileges to the inhabitants of the provinces. The emperor paid particular attention to the poor, to whom he granted land acquired from wealthy landlords. Aware of the troubles faced by the common folk, Nerva introduced several measures to improve their economic situation. The senators, who had been harshly persecuted in the later years of Domitian’s reign, were pardoned, and their possessions were returned. Besides, Nerva had political experience and had held high positions under Nero and the Flavian emperors.ĭuring his brief reign, Nerva tried his best to stabilize the Empire. Yet, he was a safe bet, because he satisfied both the pro and anti-Domitian factions. Sixty-six years old and childless, Nerva could hardly start a new dynasty. At first, Nerva seemed an unusual choice. To avoid chaos, a replacement had to be found quickly. The assassination of his predecessor, Domitian, brought the Flavian dynasty to an abrupt end, leaving the Empire once again on the brink of a civil war. Taking the purple in 96 CE, the first of the Five Good Emperors – Nerva – was a compromise candidate. 96-98 CE, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, via Nerva: The Compromise Roman Emperor Portrait head of Emperor Nerva, ca. Trajan’s forum in Rome, with the Trajan’s Column in the foreground, photo by Kenneth Garrett, via National Geographic Furthermore, the emperors commissioned a series of building projects to immortalize their achievements, reshaping the Empire’s urban and rural landscape. Roman culture and law also saw significant improvements. Their effective rule consolidated the imperial administration and the economy, allowing for a series of highly effective campaigns that extended the Roman Empire to its greatest limits. Not constrained by family connections (and the court intrigues that came with the package), the five emperors could focus on governing. Merit, not blood, may have been their principal formula for success. The Five set a precedent that would later become a trend, particularly during the chaotic Third Century Crisis. Nerva took the purple following the assassination of the last Flavian emperor, while all the others were adopted heirs. From Nerva to Marcus Aurelius, rulers were not chosen based on blood but picked because of their capabilities. But theirs was not a traditional bloodline. The reign of the Five Good Emperors is also known as the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. The Five Good Emperors: The Dynasty Not Tied By Blood Roman Empire at its highest territorial extent at the death of Trajan, and the accession of Hadrian, via The Roman Empire would last for centuries, but it would never again attain the stability and power it held during the reign of the Five Good Emperors. Yet, while their rule brought Rome to its apex, it was also during this period that the first cracks began to emerge in the Empire’s fabric. However, under their tenure, the Empire became the world’s undisputed superpower, whose influence and might was unparalleled. Their names - Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius - have been celebrated, past and present.Īt the start of their reigns, Rome was in danger of another civil war. Probably the most famous of them all are the so-called Five Good Emperors - the distinguished quintet that reigned between the first and second centuries CE. ![]() A few Roman emperors, however, not only ruled efficiently, they also expanded the Empire’s borders and influence, solidifying the power of Rome. Others were simply adequate or left a divisive legacy. Some of them failed to live up to the task. Throughout its long and eventful history, many emperors ruled the Roman Empire.
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