The Ten Caesars Trivia Quiz

Answer: Claudius

Tiberius CLAUDIUS Caesar Augustus Germanicus (10 BC - 54 AD) -- Claudius, who suffered from several physical challenges in his life, was thought to also be mentally limited. This allowed him, the uncle of Caligula, to fly under the radar during Caligula's reign. Once he became emperor, Claudius proved to be a relatively competent leader. Under his leadership, the Roman Empire began its expansion into Britain. (Although Julius Caesar claimed to "conquer" Britain, Roman control was not permanently gained at this time.) He also greatly increased the use of freedmen in administering the Empire.

Answer: Otho

Marcus Salvius OTHO (32-69 AD) -- One of the emperors during the Year of the Four Emperors, Otho ruled for three months (January-April). Otho was an ally of Nero early in his reign before being exiled to Lusitania as its governor. He was initially a supporter and ally of Galba before turning on him. Losing the Battle of Bedriacum, Otho was soon replaced as Emperor by Vitellius.

Answer: Vespasian

Titus Flavius VESPASIANus (9 - 79 AD) -- Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian Dynasty (69-96), which included himself and his two sons, Titus and Domitian. He was involved in several military campaigns including the invasion of Britain under Claudius and the Jewish-Roman War which began under Nero.

He was also known reinstituting a tax on urine in public toilets, leading to the saying "Money doesn't stink." Suetonius, the author of "The Twelve Caesars", gave Vespasian's statement as "Vae, puto deus fio" (Dear me, I think I'm becoming a god).

Answer: Domitian

Titus Flavius DOMITIANus (51 - 96 AD) -- Opinions of Domitian run the gamut from him being a cruel tyrant to him being an efficient administrator. He helped the Roman economy to improve, actually being able to increase the silver content of the denarius (a common Roman coin).

He also led a major reconstruction of Rome, still damaged by events (including the fire of 64 AD) of the last couple of decades. In 86 AD he founded the Capitoline Games, which were held on the Campus Martius, just outside of Rome.

They were modelled on the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece.

Answer: Tiberius

TIBERIUS Caesar Augustus (42 BC - 37 AD) -- Becoming Emperor in 14 AD, Tiberius very seldom left the Isle of Capri from 26 AD until his death. His reign was known for a uncomfortable relationship with the Senate. His Praetorian Prefect, Sejanus, made many of the day to day decisions on behalf of Tiberius before his execution in 31 AD.

After that, the Empire was largely run by the bureaucracy. Eventually he seems to have decided upon Caligula as his successor.

Answer: Titus

TITUS Caesar Vespasianus (39 - 81 AD ) -- Titus, the elder son of Vespasian, before he became Emperor, was the general in charge of the siege and capture of Jerusalem during the Jewish-Roman War. He would later serve several consulships during the reign of Vespasian.

The Colosseum, or "Flavian Amphitheater" was finished during his reign. The famed eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, burying the city of Pompeii, also occurred while he was the Emperor.

Answer: Vitellius

Aulus VITELLIUS (15 - 69 AD) -- Vitellius was the third Emperor during the Year of the Four Emperors. He had significant military and political experience before assuming power. Just as he gained control after the first Battle of Bedriacum, his defeat at the second Battle of Bedriacum led to his demise.

He attempted to resign the imperial title after this defeat, but this action was not accepted by his supporters. He was executed shortly thereafter by Vespasian's soldiers. It is believed that he banned the astrologers after hearing about a negative prediction that one made about him.

Answer: Nero

NERO Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (37 - 68 AD) -- Popular legend suggested that agents working on behalf of Nero were responsible for the fire of 64 AD that burned large parts of Rome, though this may have been propaganda. In any case, large parts of the city were rebuilt or redesigned after the fire, including the erection of his infamous "Golden Palace", today the site of the Colosseum. Nero actually had a positive reputation during the first few years of his reign, when it is thought that his advisers such as Seneca played an important role.

Answer: Caligula

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (nick-named CALIGULA) (12 - 41 AD) -- Many authors such as Suetonius refer to him by his given name Gaius. Caligula is actually a nickname meaning "little boots" that was attached to Gaius as a boy when he liked to play at drilling the troops, with whom he was popular. Though his reign started relatively well, his later actions have led many historians to suggest that Caligula became mentally unwell.

Some historians suggest that Caligula quickly ran through the surplus money accumulated by his miserly predecessor, Tiberius.

Other historians point to evidence that suggest the Roman treasury remained solvent throughout his reign.

Answer: Galba

Servius Sulpicius GALBA (3 BC - 69 AD) -- Galba was already an old man when he became Emperor, having had a long career of political and military service. He had a reputation for being very greedy including a love of food. In his later life, he suffered from severe gout as described by Suetonius: "He could not endure a shoe for long, unroll a book, or even hold one".

He found it difficult to gain support and was killed by the soldiers of Otho, his successor as Emperor.