Rome's First Family Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Senate gave him the title.

Octavian was Caesar's grand-nephew, adopted son, and heir. Although he was only eighteen years old when Caesar died, Octavian showed remarkably good judgment and decision-making skills. First he allied with Caesar's old friend, Marc Antony, but when Antony jilted Octavian's sister, Octavia, in favor of Cleopatra, and bequeathed his holdings of the Roman Empire to Cleopatra and her children, the Senate declared war on Egypt.

After defeating the combined forces of Antony and Cleopatra, Octavian went back to Rome, and in a public ceremony, closed the doors of the temple of Janus.

This act symbolized the end of the civil wars, and peace between Rome and the rest of the world. It was the beginning of a two hundred year period called the "Pax Romana".

The grateful Senators gave him the title "Augustus", meaning "Majesty" or "Honored", for all that he had done to restore peace in the Empire.

Answer: True

He understood that the word "rex" ("king") was abhorrent to the Romans, and that they would never tolerate a king. Initially, after his success over Marc Antony and Cleopatra, he was called "Imperator", which was the military title given to every triumphant general. During his life he held nearly every office in Rome's republican form of government; on the outside it appeared as if nothing had changed.

However, the Senate made Octavian's "imperium", or authority, superior to any other. The customs of the Republic were carefully preserved, but the new government of Augustus, called the "Principate", after his title of "princeps" or first citizen, would usher in a new form of government. Always humble, emphasizing the important of family and religion, Augustus would not be called the first emperor until after his death.

Answer: The murder of his son, Drusus.

Tiberius was the step-son and heir of Octavian, as his mother was Octavian's second wife. He had served Rome as a general, and was respected by Rome's army. Although he was said to be not as personable as his step-father, Tiberius closely followed his policies and ruled wisely. Like Octavian, Tiberius was careful to recognize the power of the Senate and other republican officials.

After the murder of his son Drusus, however, Tiberius began to conduct treason trials and punish anyone who was suspected of being involved.

He retired to the island of Capri, and left a friend, Sejanus - ultimately proven to have murdered Drusus with the help of Livilla, Drusus' own wife - in charge.

Answer: Gloomy, jealous, and bitter

It is said that even though Tiberius, who was educated to become a Caesar, developed into an able young man, Octavian was never really fond of him. It seemed that by the time Tiberius was named emperor, he was the last possible choice alive. Tiberius, who was already serious and grave, felt passed over and slighted time after time, and became bitter and suspicious. Pliny the Elder called him "tristissimus hominum" ("the gloomiest of men).

The death of his only son, Drusus, sent him over the edge, and he never came back.

As time went on he became more and more unpopular as an absent emperor after leaving for Capri, and as a miser, unwilling to spending money for public buildings or games. Tired of an emperor who was viewed as abandoning them, the Romans celebrated, "To The Tiber With Tiberius", when they heard of his death.

Answer: He had the army pick up seashells and take them back to Rome.

Caesar's invasion of Britain in 55 BC, had established both diplomatic and trading connections between the two areas. Augustus had plans to invade, but with problems elsewhere in the empire, along with the fact that the two British kings had offered more tribute than could be collected by taxation, plans changed. Caligula had planned a campaign, but as it turned out, Caligula and his army didn't even make it to Britain. According to Suetonius, on the northern coast of France, Caligula ordered his battle formations to attack the water, and pick up the seashells.

Answer: Fasces

Caligula was the only living son of the war hero, Germanicus. He lived in military camps as a young boy, and people affectionately had called him "Little Boots", or Caligula. Unfortunately he had no training whatsoever to make him a suitable emperor. Before the end of his first year in office he had already depleted the money that Tiberius had saved.

He also had announced that he was a god, and had statues from temples all throughout the Roman emperor sent to Rome, beheaded, and refitted with his own likeness. Yikes! The "fasces" was one of the oldest symbols of power in Rome. Believed to have come to the Romans from the Etruscans, who built the city of Rome, the "fasces" was a bundle of rods that was bound to an ax that symbolized the official's power to be able to behead anyone they wanted to behead! For example, it was a common practice for the consuls to be preceded in a procession by lictors, who carried the "fasces" as a symbol of their power. Public officials would not tolerate this insult for very long; in fact, Caligula only reigned for three years.

Answer: Praetorian Guard

After Caligula died with no heirs, the Senate began discussions as to which direction the government should take. The Praetorian Guard, however, did not give them a choice. Shortly after assassinating Caligula, the Guard found his uncle, Claudius, in the palace.

Some accounts say he was hiding behind a curtain and was proclaimed emperor; others say he offered the Praetorian a nice bribe if he was the one to become emperor. After the Senate agreed, Claudius was proclaimed emperor. Claudius proved to be a good leader; he was one who left a positive mark on the Empire as he established favorable relationships with the many provinces, working toward granting them political equality, and even allowing some to send representatives to serve in the Senate.

Answer: False

Claudius was related to Caesar (great-great nephew) on his mother, Antoinia's, side of the family. He had a brother, Germanicus, a well-loved military hero who died during the reign of Tiberius, and a sister, Livilla, who had assisted in killing her husband, Tiberius' son, Drusus.

Claudius had several physical handicaps. He was hard of hearing; he slobbered; he limped when walking. He was ostracized by his family, and really, everyone else. His mother is said to have delivered the insult to many a person, that "He is a greater fool than my son, Claudius". His family's perception of his disabilities probably helped spare his life; some sources claim that Claudius himself realized that it was better to let people believe the worst about his ability. He was left alone because no one saw him as a political threat. For most of his life, Claudius had studied and written about Roman history, focusing on the actions of Julius Caesar and Octavian. His rule reflects his knowledge of these great men. He was a good ruler who unfortunately made poor choices in his personal life. Many modern historians have tried to guess the cause of Claudius' health problems. Polio, cerebral palsy, and Tourette syndrome are illnesses that have been considered. However, none of this prevented him from being a highly competent emperor.

Answer: He was named heir by Claudius.

Claudius' last poor personal choice? He married Caligula's sister, Agrippina. Apparently she persuaded him to name her son, Nero, the great-great-great-great grand nephew of Julius Caesar, as his successor over his own son, Britannicus. Then she fed him poisoned mushrooms.

But that wasn't enough. Distressed because Claudius did not die fast enough, she called in a doctor who was said to have used a feather covered with a faster-acting poison to complete the deed. Shortly after the popular Britannicus was also murdered.

Many believe that Agrippina expected to rule jointly with her son. Coins were even minted that show the two of them together. Nero was only sixteen when he became emperor and it didn't take him long to decide that his mother had to go.

Answer: Christians

Rome was one of the most religiously tolerant empires; many religions were practised in the city. The Christians, however, believed in a God that was not worshipped by the Romans. In addition they refused to worship the emperor, so it was easy to use them as the scapegoats for the great fire.

It doesn't matter how the fire started. No one knows for sure anyway. What matters is that someone had to take the blame for the destruction of ancient public buildings and the great artistic masterpieces, as well as the homes and possessions of the ordinary citizens. Someone had to take the blame, and it wasn't going to be Nero, although he was rumored to be more than a little bit involved.

He launched an attack on the Christians of such cruelty that people actually began to pity them. Nero was eventually declared an enemy of the state, and committed suicide.