Life of Emperor Nerva #12 First of the Best Emperors

Summary

Emperor Nerva, the first of the 'Five Good Emperors,' was a respected senator but faced challenges as a ruler due to his lack of military experience and health issues. Despite his efforts to win public favor with financial handouts and tax cancellations, his reign was marked by tension with the Roman legions. His refusal to execute Domitian's assassins led to a crisis, forcing him to adopt Trajan as his successor. Nerva's reign is seen as a transitional period between the Flavians and the prosperous rule of Trajan.

Takeaways

• 👴 Nerva was the first of the 'Five Good Emperors' of Rome, known for his senatorial background and respect within the political sphere.
• 🏛️ Despite his family's close ties to imperial power and his own significant contributions, such as uncovering the Pisonian conspiracy, Nerva never gained the respect of the army.
• 👶 Born in 30 AD, Nerva came from a respected family with a history of senators and close connections to emperors like Tiberius and Nero.
• 🤝 Nerva's political survival was remarkable, navigating through various emperors and political turmoil, including the 'Year of the Four Emperors'.
• 👑 His ascension to the throne was met with public ambivalence due to his old age, poor health, and lack of military experience.
• 💰 To win public favor, Nerva introduced measures such as cash handouts to citizens, donations to the Praetorian Guard, and the cancellation of additional taxes on Jews.
• ⚔️ The Roman legions disapproved of Nerva due to his lack of military background, leading to immediate anger and tension after Domitian's assassination.
• 🏰 A crisis in October 97 AD saw Nerva besieged in the Imperial Palace by the Praetorian Guard, who forced him to execute conspirators against him, damaging his authority.
• 🔄 In response to the crisis, Nerva adopted Trajan as his son and successor, a move that may have been influenced by the Praetorians' actions.
• 🌟 Nerva's reign, though marked by challenges and a transitional nature, laid the groundwork for the prosperous rule of Trajan and the subsequent 'Century of Good Rule' in the Roman Empire.

Q & A

Who was Nerva known as in Roman history?

Nerva was known as the first of the five 'Good Emperors' in Roman history.

What was Nerva's relationship with the Roman army?

Nerva was a well-respected senator but never managed to win the respect of the Roman army, which was a significant factor in his rule.

What significant event did Nerva play a role in during Emperor Nero's reign?

Nerva was instrumental in uncovering the Pisonian conspiracy against Emperor Nero in 65 AD, which earned him Nero's gratitude.

How did Nerva's family background influence his political career?

Nerva came from a respected family with close ties to imperial power, which provided him with connections to several emperors and a consulship.

Why was Nerva's ascension to the throne met with ambivalence by the public?

Nerva's ascension was met with ambivalence because he was an old man in his 60s, in poor health, and had no military experience or children.

What measures did Nerva introduce to win over the public after becoming emperor?

Nerva granted citizens a cash handout, made a traditional donation to the Praetorian Guard, canceled the additional taxation of the Jews, and ended the treason trials of Domitian's reign.

How did the Roman armies react to the news of Domitian's assassination and Nerva's ascension?

The Roman armies on the Danube and Rhine frontiers reacted with anger and tension to the news, as they had liked Domitian, leading to a crisis of legitimacy for Nerva.

What event in October of 97 escalated tensions during Nerva's reign?

Tensions escalated into a crisis in October of 97 due to Nerva's reluctance to deal with conspirators and the absence of a clear successor, leading to a siege of the Imperial Palace by the Praetorian Guard.

Who did Nerva adopt as his son and successor, and why was he an excellent candidate?

Nerva adopted Trajan as his son and successor. Trajan was an excellent candidate due to his military merit, having been an ex consul, and was granted the consulship with Nerva the following year.

What was the ultimate fate of Nerva, and how was he remembered in the Roman Empire?

Nerva suffered a stroke and died in January 98. He was deified by the Senate, and his reign is remembered as a transitional period between the Flavians and the rule of Trajan, leading to a century of good rule in the Roman Empire.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Nerva's Reign: A Transition to Good Emperors

Nerva, born in Narnia in 30 AD, was a respected senator from a family with close ties to imperial power. Despite his family's connections to past emperors and his role in uncovering a conspiracy against Nero, Nerva was not well-liked by the army and was considered an ineffectual ruler. His ascension to the throne was met with ambivalence due to his old age, poor health, and lack of military experience. To win public favor, Nerva granted financial handouts and canceled certain taxes, including those imposed on Jews after a rebellion. However, his lack of military support led to tension, especially after Domitian's assassination. The legions, who played a crucial role in choosing the emperor, disapproved of Nerva. A crisis in 97 AD, involving the Praetorian Guard taking Nerva hostage and forcing him to execute conspirators, further damaged his authority. To secure his rule, Nerva adopted Trajan, a capable and well-respected candidate, as his successor. Nerva's reign, marked by his eventual deification and interment in Augustus' mausoleum, is seen as a transitional period between the Flavian dynasty and the prosperous rule of Trajan.

05:02

🤔 The Adoption of Trajan: A Strategic Move or Coup?

This paragraph poses a question regarding the circumstances that led to Nerva's adoption of Trajan as his heir. It suggests that there might be a connection between Trajan and the Praetorian Guard's actions that forced Nerva to adopt him. The video invites viewers to consider whether Trajan played a role in the coup that ultimately led to his ascension. The paragraph ends with an invitation for viewers to find more information in the video description and a teaser for the next video, which will focus on the reign of Emperor Trajan, known as one of Rome's best emperors.

Keywords

💡Nerva

Nerva was the first of the 'Five Good Emperors' of the Roman Empire, known for his respectability and senatorial background. His reign, as described in the script, was marked by his attempts to gain public favor and his challenges with the military. Despite his noble lineage and political connections, Nerva faced significant opposition and was eventually forced to adopt Trajan as his successor due to pressures from the Praetorian Guard.

💡Five Good Emperors

The 'Five Good Emperors' refers to a period in Roman history where the empire was ruled by a series of five emperors known for their competence and the relative stability of their rule. Nerva is considered the first of these emperors, and the script discusses whether he truly deserved this reputation, given his ineffectual ruling and lack of military support.

💡Year of the Four Emperors

The 'Year of the Four Emperors' or '69 AD' was a period of civil war in the Roman Empire where four different emperors ruled in quick succession. Nerva survived this tumultuous year, which is mentioned in the script as a testament to his political acumen despite the perilous nature of Roman politics at the time.

💡Praetorian Guard

The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit of the Roman army that served as the personal bodyguards of the Roman emperors. In the script, the Praetorian Guard plays a pivotal role in Nerva's reign, eventually taking him hostage and forcing him to execute conspirators, which significantly undermined his authority.

💡Trajan

Trajan was a Roman emperor who succeeded Nerva and is known for his military accomplishments and effective rule. The script suggests that Trajan's adoption by Nerva might have been influenced by the Praetorian Guard's actions, hinting at a possible connection between Trajan and the guard's coup against Nerva.

💡Piso Conspiracy

The 'Piso Conspiracy' was a plot against Emperor Nero in 65 AD. Nerva played a key role in uncovering this conspiracy, which earned him Nero's gratitude and honors. This event is mentioned in the script to illustrate Nerva's early political involvement and the beginning of his rise in the Roman political hierarchy.

💡Domitian

Domitian was the emperor who preceded Nerva and was known for his autocratic rule. His assassination led to Nerva's ascension. The script describes how Nerva's reign was influenced by the aftermath of Domitian's rule, including the public's reaction to his death and the political instability it caused.

💡Treason Trials

Treason trials were a significant aspect of Domitian's reign, where many were accused and punished for alleged disloyalty. Nerva, upon becoming emperor, canceled these trials in an attempt to win public favor, as mentioned in the script, showing his efforts to distance himself from Domitian's oppressive policies.

💡Flavian Dynasty

The Flavian Dynasty refers to the ruling family of Roman emperors that included Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. The script discusses the collapse of this dynasty and the potential for civil strife that followed, highlighting the precarious nature of imperial power during this period.

💡Deification

In Roman culture, 'deification' was the process of declaring a deceased individual a god. The script notes that the Roman armies demanded the deification of Domitian after his death, a request that was not fulfilled, reflecting the complex dynamics of power and memory in the Roman Empire.

💡Transitional Forum

The 'Transitional Forum' or 'Forum Transitorium' was a public building named after Nerva. The script uses this term to symbolize Nerva's reign as a transition period between the Flavian Dynasty and the rule of Trajan, emphasizing the temporary and bridging nature of his rule.

Highlights

Nerva was the first of the five good emperors, but his reputation as an ineffectual ruler is debated.

Despite being a respected senator, Nerva failed to win the army's respect.

Nerva was born in Narnia in 30 AD and came from a family with a history of senators.

His family had close ties to imperial power, including a connection to Emperor Tiberius.

Nerva played a key role in uncovering the Pisonian conspiracy against Emperor Nero in 65 AD.

Nerva's sister married Titianus, Emperor Otho's brother, showing the family's continued political connections.

Nerva survived the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors and was honored with the consulship in 71 AD.

Nerva was a close friend and advisor to Emperor Domitian, receiving another consulship in 98 AD.

Nerva became emperor after Domitian's assassination in 96 AD, an unexpected choice due to his age and lack of military experience.

Nerva's ascension was met with public ambivalence, leading him to introduce measures to win favor, such as cash handouts and tax cancellations.

The Roman armies on the Danube and Rhine frontiers were angered by Domitian's death, reflecting the tension in the Empire.

Nerva's lack of military experience led to the legions' disapproval, and they called for Domitian's deification, which did not occur.

The Senate's decision to condemn Domitian's memory was a significant move in Roman politics.

A crisis in October 97 saw Nerva besieged by the Praetorian Guard, who forced him to execute conspirators.

Nerva's authority was damaged when he was forced to thank the Praetorian Guard for their actions.

Trajan was adopted as Nerva's son and successor, a move that may have been influenced by the Praetorians' coup.

Nerva's reign is considered a transitional period between the Flavians and Trajan's era of good rule.

Transcripts

nervo was known to history as the first

of the five good emperors but does he

deserve this reputation he was a well

respected senator but was never able to

win the respect of the army oh and in

the end proved to be a rather

ineffectual ruler nerville was born in

Narnia in 30 ad he came from a respected

family many of whom were senators his

family had been close to imperial power

for decades his father had been a close

friend to emperor Tiberius and one of

his aunts on his mother's side was the

great-granddaughter of Tiberias and

Nerva himself had been instrumental in

uncovering the piso conspiracy against

Emperor Nero in 65 ad earning him Nero's

gratitude he was rewarded with a statue

in the Imperial Palace and other

significant honors nervous sister

Xia married Tatiana's who was Emperor

orthos brother

despite nervous connections to Tiberius

Nero and Otto he survived the year of

the Four Emperors and emerged as one of

very few men honored by the station with

the consulship in 71 AD nervo was a

close friend and counselor to his

patient's son emperor Domitian and he

was rewarded with a consulship again in

98 II and omission trusted him as a

friend to the very end Trust which was

evidently misplaced Roman politics were

very perilous business Nerva it seemed

managed to navigate that minefield very

effectively he had been aligned to

virtually every Emperor since Tiberius

and yet he had survived when Domitian

was murdered in 96 ad Nerva emerged as

the new emperor of Rome however he was

an odd choice he was an old man in his

60s by then in poor health and lacking

military experience in fact he had never

seen a province or an army in his life

and he didn't have any children - an

aired the throne nervous ascension was

met with ambivalence by the general

public of Rome so he introduced a number

of measures to win them over granting

citizens a handout of cash and the

traditional donation to the Praetorian

Guard and soldiers Nerva even canceled

the additional taxation of the Jews a

punishment for the rebellion in 66 AD

and he canceled the treason trials that

had blackened the last year's of

Domitian's reign when news of Domitian's

assassination reached the Roman armies

on the Danube and rind frontiers there

was immediate anger and tension they had

liked to mission and there was tension

growing in the Empire that perhaps

another year of civil strife would

follow the collapse of the Flavian

dynasty just as it had done with the

fault of the Giulio Claudian dynasty in

68 AD at that time it was the armies of

the Empire who ultimately decided the

new emperor and Nerva had no military

experience so the legions disproved of

the new princeps the armies called for

Domitian's deification immediately which

never happened

the Praetorian prefect advised Nerva to

give up the assassins for execution

nervo refused in a tactless move the

Senate decided instead to condemn

Domitian's memory his face would be

removed from statues his name would be

removed from buildings and inscriptions

all efforts were made to effectively

remove the memories of him from history

the tensions erupted into a crisis in

October of 97

fueled by nervous reluctance to deal

with the conspirators and the absence of

a clear successor to the elderly Emperor

so members of the Praetorian Guard

besieged Nerva in the Imperial Palace

and took him hostage and they forced him

to give up the conspirators for

execution Nerva had little choice but to

give in to their demands

adding to the humiliation nerville was

made to give a speech thanking the

rebellious Praetorians this of course

caused irreparable damage to his

authority shortly thereafter he

announced the adoption of Trajan as his

son and successor Trajan was an

excellent candidate without standing

military merit and an ex consul he was

given the title of seize

and granted the consulship with Nerva

the following year in 98 in the letter

brought to Trajan who was governing

Germania inferior announcing nervous

choice Nerva asked him to take revenge

on the Praetorian guards who had

humiliated him on the 1st of January

Nerva suffered a stroke and by the end

of the month he had died he was deified

by the Senate and his ashes were placed

in Augustus mausoleum the last emperor

to be interred there and just as the

only public building named after him the

forum of nerva would ultimately become

known as forum transitorium or

transitional forum so too would his

reign be remembered as a transition

between the Flavians and Trajan to the

following century of good rule in the

Roman Empire thanks for watching this

video our question for you today is do

you think Trajan had anything to do with

the COO of the Praetorians which

ultimately forced Nerva to adopt him or

not

as usual sources and suggestions are in

the description below our next video

will be on the best emperor trajan

see you