Curated playlist
1st-century Roman emperors
- TiberiusMobs shouted "To the Tiber with Tiberius" when Rome's second emperor died.
- VespasianEmperor Vespasian taxed urine, then held a coin under his son's nose and asked if it smelled.
- Year of the Four EmperorsA general sent to crush a Jewish rebellion in Judaea ended up as Roman emperor. His dynasty held power until AD 96.
- AugustusAt nineteen, Augustus accepted a dead man's will and took Julius Caesar's name.
- DomitianRoman emperor Domitian was stabbed by a steward who faked an arm injury to hide a dagger.
- ClaudiusA soldier found Claudius hiding behind a curtain and declared him emperor.
- NeroEmperor Nero was crowned winner of a chariot race he did not finish.
- CaligulaEmperor Caligula once rode a horse across a floating bridge more than two miles long.
- TitusEmperor Titus reportedly died saying, "I have made but one mistake." No one agrees what it was.
- GalbaRoman emperor Galba refused to pay the Praetorian Guard, and it cost him his life.
- OthoRoman emperor Otho stabbed himself the day after losing a battle. He had ruled for just 91 days.
- VitelliusVitellius ruled Rome for just eight months in AD 69. His last words were "Yet I was once your emperor."
- TrajanTrajan, born in a small Spanish town without baths or a theater, became Rome's emperor.
- NervaIn October 97, Roman soldiers besieged Emperor Nerva's palace and took him hostage.