Few periods in history have had a greater impact on humanity than ancient Rome. In particular, its influence on Western civilization is ubiquitous, and its legacy can be seen almost everywhere, from our calendars and political systems to our familiar alphabet. Since the establishment of Rome in 753 BC, its influence has lasted for more than 1,000 years, leaving an indelible mark on the world.
So who left an indelible mark on ancient Rome?
From its founding to its collapse in AD 476, ancient Rome had three distinct periods: the Roman Kingdom (753 BC - 509 BC), ruled by a monarch; the Roman Republic (509 BC - 27 BC), Rulers elected by the Romans; and the Roman Empire (27 BC – 476 AD), where the Roman Empire was ruled by a supreme ruler, alongside the elected Senate in its early years. During this period, Rome was ruled by dozens of kings, dictators, and emperors who expanded Rome from a small city to an empire spanning nearly 2 million square miles, which historians estimate from 50 million to 90 million compositions of residents.
Often innovative and ingenious, these rulers shaped a small part of the world today, despite their brutality and corruption. Below are examples of the 11 most influential emperors.
Gaius Julius Caesar (reigned: 49 BC to 44 BC)
death of caesar
Strictly speaking, as the last ruler of the Roman Republic, Gaius Julius Caesar was never recognized as emperor. But it would be impossible to tell the story of Rome (or its eventual transition from a republic to an empire) without mentioning Julius Caesar. Not only was Caesar a successful general, but he conquered Spain and Gaul, greatly expanding the size, power, and wealth of Rome. Caesar implemented a series of fundamental reforms that established the coming Roman Empire. As the leader of the Roman Republic, Caesar expanded the size of the Senate to represent more Roman citizens, established the Julian calendar (a 365-day, 12-month calendar that is still used around the world), giving all people living under Roman rule Roman citizenship and redistribution of wealth among the poor. These reforms made Caesar increasingly popular with the Roman populace while alienating him from the Roman elite (and leading to his eventual infamous assassination). After he was murdered by dozens of senators, Rome officially transitioned from a democratic society to an imperial society.
Caesar Augustus (reigned: 27 BC to 14 AD)
Gaius Octavius Thurinus, also known as Octavius or "Augustus", was the first official emperor of the Roman Empire considered the greatest emperor by scholars. The emperor (named after "August") ushered in a period of peace known as "Peace in Rome", which saw the Roman economy, agriculture and art flourish. During the period of relative peace, Augustus also instituted reforms, including tax breaks for families with three or more children, and punishment of childless marriages, which helped the population of Rome grow. An aggressive builder, he also oversaw the construction and restoration of many of Rome's great temples and strengthened the system of ditches.
Tiberius (reign: 14 AD to 37 AD)
Few emperors in ancient Rome were better at acquiring land for the empire than Tiberius Caesar Augustus. The second Roman emperor has a place on this list solely because of his military conquests. As an emperor and statesman, Tiberius was largely regarded as uninterested in the work and was not ashamed to show it. (The ancient Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder called him "the most pessimistic man"). Yet when it comes to conquering neighboring countries and expanding Roman territory, nothing beats this. During his reign, he oversaw one of the greatest military expansions in ancient Roman history, extending the empire's borders to present-day Croatia and Germany.
Vespasian (ruled: AD 69 to AD 79)
After the autocratic rule of Emperor Nero, Rome fell into a crisis of instability. During the 12 months following Nero's death, the empire had four different rulers (known as the "Year of the Four Emperors"). It wasn't until Titus Flavius Vespasianus ascended the throne that Rome regained stability and prosperity, putting the country back on track. During his reign, Vespasian helped reform the financial system and embarked on a number of ambitious construction projects, most notably the Colosseum. Vespasian was also the first ever Roman emperor to be succeeded by his son. The father-son handover would lay the foundation for the Flavian dynasty, a period of financial and cultural prosperity for nearly three decades.
Trajan (reign affairs: AD 98 to AD 117)
In historians' talk of the "greatest Roman emperor", Marcus Ulpius Traianus was a member of the Nerva Antonine dynasty (popularly known as the Roman "Golden Age") Second Roman Emperor. Backed by one of the greatest military expansions in Roman history, Trajan's reign marked the culmination of Rome's geographic expansion, which covered nearly 1.7 million kilometers of territory in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with a population of nearly 57 million. In addition to his military success, Trajan also oversaw a number of ambitious architectural projects, including the still-standing architectural marvel, Trajan's Column. He also expanded Augustus' financial aid program for poor Roman citizens, thereby providing one of the earliest examples in the history of federal welfare programs.
Hadrian (reign: 117 AD to 138 AD)
Publius Aelius Hadrianus has been hailed as the greatest Roman leader for his ability to defend Rome and its borders, and for his unprecedented engineering abilities in defending Rome. One of the most influential emperors. He oversaw the construction of Hadrian's Wall, a 73-mile-long fortified fortress, most of which still stands today and is recognized as a symbol of British culture. He also left behind the Pantheon, an innovative structure made of concrete that revolutionized construction.
Antoninus Pius (reign: 138 AD to 161 AD)
Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius presided over Rome during one of the most peaceful periods of Roman civilization. This lack of turmoil gave Pius the opportunity to focus on advancing the infrastructural success and civic reform of his predecessor Hadrian. However, his greatest contribution to Roman civilization came from the legal system. As the first Roman emperor to adhere to the concept of "natural law," Pias established a legal system that would serve as a reference point for many countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, to develop their own legal systems.
Marcus Aurelius (reigned: 161 AD to 180 AD)
Works by Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, known as the "Emperor Philosopher", are now considered philosophical classics. The Stoics were a Greek school of philosophy that argued that being a clear, unbiased thinker was the key to attaining universal reason. The emperor (pictured in the Oscar-winning film "Gladiator") is widely regarded as one of history's most important philosophers. His book Meditations is largely considered a literary masterpiece.
Valerian (reign: 253 AD to 260 AD)
What makes Publius Licinius Valerianus one of the influential lists is not so much what he did, but what he did to him. In 260 AD, following the battle of Edessa with the Persians, Valerian became the first Roman emperor to be captured. The unprecedented event caused an uproar in the Roman Empire, but the shock was compounded by the fact that Valerian was not rescued. The emperor died in captivity under unknown circumstances. Rome's inability to save its own sovereignty would deal a heavy blow to the Romans' mystique of world power. Moreover, many historians believe that this will sow the seeds among foreigners that the formerly "unconquerable" Roman state may indeed be overthrown.
Diocletian (reign: 284 AD to 305 AD)
On the one hand, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus is remembered for saving Rome from the "Crisis of the Third Century". The crisis lasted nearly 50 years, with civil wars, political upheavals, rebellions and invasions, and the near collapse of the empire. On the other hand, some historians believe that it was his establishment of a "four-power" government that may have been his most valuable contribution. According to the separation of powers, Diocletian stipulated that Rome would be ruled by four leaders: an emperor in the west, an emperor in the east (the "Augustus" emperor), and two junior joint emperors ("Augustus" emperor) Caesar"). The Quadruple Powers didn't last long, but it did lay the groundwork for dividing the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves, a move that was crucial in extending the life of the Roman Empire.
Constantine the Great (reign: 306 AD to 337 AD)
Considered by many to be the last Western Roman Emperor, Constantine I brought many changes that would irreversibly transform the Roman Empire. He was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, and in AD 313 issued the Edict of Milan, making Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine also built Byzantium (later renamed Constantinople), which would be the center of the empire for the next thousand years, marking the transition to a new era known as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire.
