Honorius for his part has often been deplicted as weak, foolish, even perhaps, mentally retarded...Concerned only for the care of his chickens at his secure capital in Ravenna. Yet after Alaric's evacuation of Rome with the help of several able commanders, primary his general and brother-in-law, Constantine, he managed a rather effective political/military comeback for the empire.
A look at the major events in the life of the first Roman emperor, Augustus (Octavian), from the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C., to his death at Nola in 14 A.D.
Numerian - Roman Emperor Numerian
When Carus went to fight the Persians, he took his son Numerian with him and the Praetorian Prefect Aper. When Carus died, in 283, Aper may have been responsible for having Numerian named Augustus and emperor of the East.
Roman Emperor Valentinian III was the son of Emperor Honorius' sister Galla Placidia. He came to power as a young child and was dominated by his mother and three generals until the capable Aetius beat out his two rivals.
Diocletian and the Tetrarchy
Diocletian wasn't the first emperor to divide the Roman Empire into an eastern and western half. For instance, his predecessor, Carus and sons, Carinus and Numerian(us), had split the Empire, too. However, Diocletian is responsible for the four-part imperial division known as the tetrarchy:
Roman Emperors - Table of Age at Accession of the Roman Emperors
The table shows the approximate age at accession of the Roman emperors.
When their father Septimius Severus died, Caracalla tried to rule alone with his brother Geta playing the role of emperor in name only, but Geta or their mother Julia Domna wouldn't go along with this. Geta and Caracalla tried to divide the empire, but Julia Domna stood opposed.
Constantine I - Constantine the Great - Roman Emperor
Upon the death of his father Constantius Chlorus, 25 July, A.D. 306, Constantine was proclaimed Caesar by his troops. Constantine wasn't the only claimant, so when he fought against rival emperor Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, he had a vision that let him know that he could win, but under the sign of Christ.
Nero - Emperor - Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Nero is remembered as a licentious emperor. Despite inadequate evidence, he is also known for burning Rome, which he blamed on the Christians.
It is claimed Trajan, Hadrian's adoptive father, had not wanted Hadrian to succeed him, but was thwarted by his wife, Plotina, who covered up her husband's death until she could make sure of Hadrian's acceptance by the senate. Hadrian was the emperor of Rome from A.D. 117
-138.
Titus, the older brother of Domitian and son of the Emperor Vespasian and his wife Domitilla, was born December 30 around 41 A.D. He grew up in the company of Britannicus, son of the Emperor Claudius and shared his training. This meant Titus had enough military training and was ready to be a legatus legionis when his father Vespasian received his Judaean command.
Elagabalus Emperor of Rome
Elagabalus was the randy priest of a phallic god who became emperor when he hit puberty.
Worst Roman Emperors - Evil or Crazy?
Many emperors had unusual sexual appetites and more were guilty of murder, but somehow these 5 stand out as too awful today. Read about them in Worst Roman Emperors.