On this day in AD 54, the Roman emperor Claudius died at Rome
October 13, 2016
Tradition holds the Praetorian guard made him emperor when they found him quivering behind a curtain, reasoning that he wouldn’t be too ruthless in power.
On this day in AD79 Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum
August 24, 2016
On the day that an earthquake rocks central Italy, two thousand years ago Vesuvius shattered countless ancient lives.
On this day in AD 4 Augustus organised the imperial succession
June 26, 2016
Tiberius was very much Augustus’ reserve choice for the succession…
On this day in AD 193 the Roman emperor Pertinax was assassinated at Rome
March 28, 2016
Text by Benedict Segal Publius Helvius Pertinax was born at Alba Pompeia in Liguria on 1 August, 126 the son of Helvius Successus, a man of humble origins who may have been a freedman. His mother’s identity is unknown. Pertinax received a basic Roman education, which led him initially to become a teacher before joining …
On this day in AD 41, the Roman emperor Caligula was murdered in Rome.
January 24, 2016
Mad, bad and dangerous to know?
On this day in AD 192, the Roman emperor Commodus was murdered.
December 31, 2015
The emperor was strangled in his bath by Narcissus, a wrestler who was tasked with the deed by a small group of conspirators.
On this day in 3BC the Roman emperor Galba was born
December 24, 2015
Galba was born into an ancient and noble family, the Sulpicii, at a country villa near the town of Tarracina (around 50 miles southeast of Rome).
On this day in AD 311, the Roman emperor, Diocletian, died at his palace in Split
December 3, 2015
We are told that it ended in insanity
On this day in AD284 Diocletian became emperor
November 20, 2015
Before becoming emperor, Diocles (for this seems to have been his birth name) had been a successful leader in the military field.
On this day in AD 30, the Roman emperor Nerva was born in Narnia.
November 8, 2015
That’s the the Italian town of Narnia, in Umbria, of course.
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