Roman Emperors Family Tree | Augustus to Diocletian

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  • Опубліковано 2 лют 2023
  • Buy the chart:
    usefulcharts.com/collections/...
    CREDITS:
    Charts & Narration by Matt Baker
    Animation by Syawish Rehman
    Audio editing by Ali Shahwaiz
    Theme music: "Lord of the Land" by Kevin MacLeod and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license 4.0. Available from incompetech.com

КОМЕНТАРІ • 374

  • @UsefulCharts
    @UsefulCharts  Рік тому +49

    Buy the new chart:
    usefulcharts.com/collections/royal-family-trees/products/roman-emperors-family-tree

    • @Turbo_Messi
      @Turbo_Messi Рік тому +3

      Hi baker boy

    • @MCAPrince
      @MCAPrince Рік тому +2

      Isn't 'Servilla' a mistake, it should be 'Servilia'

    • @thepalerider
      @thepalerider Рік тому +1

      Patiently waiting on the conclusion of the denominations tree

    • @ptolemeeselenion1542
      @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому

      No mention about Zenobia being a descendant of Cleoptatra? Unlikely Heliogabal, she was actually the MOST well-known descendant of the Queen-Pharaoh, even by her own contemporaries... as well as by native Egyptian nationalists who welcomed the Palmyrene Empress with open hands, even crowning her new legitimate Pharaoh under the name of her ancestress.

    • @MCAPrince
      @MCAPrince Рік тому +1

      @@ptolemeeselenion1542 Yes she was a claimed descendant of Cleopatra. There is however, no full known line, or further evidence that she actually was. I am not saying she wasn't though.
      Fabricated and claimed descent was very common and sometimes this descent was accepted by people, which is not necessarily evidence that it is true.
      We simply do not know and it seems like we cannot know.

  • @lukaslambs5780
    @lukaslambs5780 Рік тому +529

    I always thought the way Roman Emperors came to power was fascinating since it doesn’t cleanly fall into any category we’d probably associate with emperor/king making throughout history. It’s like bloodlines did matter but to varying degrees and sometimes not at all

    • @Lampebruder
      @Lampebruder Рік тому +17

      Nepotism to an extent

    • @hens0w
      @hens0w Рік тому +4

      I think the only time in this period the surviving blood son of an emperor was Britannicus and look what happened to him.

    • @atzuras
      @atzuras Рік тому

      If someone managed to get elevated to the purple and hold the empire safe from the external enemies, internal rebellions,ambitious generals, senatorial conspiracies, praetorian shenanigans, and civil unrest, then that person was be fitted for the job. If not, then his days were numbered. It is more interesting to know why they survived or get killed rather than why they were elected.

    • @untruelie2640
      @untruelie2640 Рік тому +16

      It was a meritocratic (in abroad sense) but also dynastical principle. New rulers always tried to form their own dynasties, because that's the "natural" thing to do to preserve power, but since the legitimacy did not come FROM the dynasty, the could be overthrown with relative ease.

    • @untruelie2640
      @untruelie2640 Рік тому

      @CipiRipi00 I don't think the principate was ever intended to be meritocratic. The mindset of the roman aristocracy (of which Caesar and Augustus were members) revolved around thir gens (dynasties) and family ties, as can clearly be seen in the first part of the chart. However, since the roman state was officially still a republic and the power of the ruler only came from an agglomeration of republican titles, offices and competencies, the dynasties themselves did not carry the same sacral/inherited legitimacy as in later times. They were important for the rulers when they chose their successors, but on their own they could not withstand political or military opposition. When the former emperor's grip on power had been weak, his son usually wasn't able to prevail, as can be seen during the crisis of the third century.
      Clarification: So it was meritocratic by accident, not on purpose. Only Diocletian tried to create a truly meritocratic, non-dynastic system, and he failed spectacularly. The dynastic mechanic was too strong, but it also never became the sole principle of power. The "meritocracy of force" always remained a factor, even in the Byzantine Empire. A dynasty was never safe on its own, only if the current ruler was strong enough.

  • @VieShaphiel
    @VieShaphiel Рік тому +57

    "Killed by his wrestling buddy in a bathtub on New Year's Eve" sound like something I might have read in the news a while ago

  • @LPVince94
    @LPVince94 Рік тому +53

    You get assasinated. You get assasinated. You get assasinated. And even you get assasinated.

  • @drachentopf5470
    @drachentopf5470 Рік тому +49

    The Praetorian Guard: Murdered numerous previous emperors, including the last one.
    The new emperor: "Ah, yes, let's keep these guys close."

    • @aaronTGP_3756
      @aaronTGP_3756 Рік тому +4

      The Emperors thought, "Yeah, the Pr*etorians killed so many emperors before, but THIS time, they'll be loyal! ....right?"
      That was the way of things until Diocletianus decided to abandon them and adopt a new guard. And Constantinus abolished them in favor of the Palatini.

    • @user-ix1rp9ff3p
      @user-ix1rp9ff3p Рік тому

      @@aaronTGP_3756 "Then Constantinus a" what

  • @Frahamen
    @Frahamen Рік тому +61

    It's more a hot potato than a family chart.

  • @WowUrFcknHxC
    @WowUrFcknHxC Рік тому +155

    Iulia and Pompeii apparently genuinely loved each other. And Octavian actually refused the title Augustus during his life. The one thing he wanted to maintain was the facade that the Republic was still a republic. The whole "Death to kings" thing was still very much held dear by most Romans.

    • @q-tuber7034
      @q-tuber7034 Рік тому +25

      Funny to our ears that the title “dictator” was acceptable, though “king” (rex) was not. And funny that the surname Caesar went on to become synonymous with king.

    • @WowUrFcknHxC
      @WowUrFcknHxC Рік тому +23

      @@q-tuber7034 well dictator just means "one who speaks", because what the dictator says has the full force of law for his tenure. Prior to Sulla, the longest reign of a dictator was 6 months.

    • @Vielenberg
      @Vielenberg Рік тому +1

      We have the same thing in many countries right now which are monarchies in all but name. Like North Korea, which is a communist country and by definition officially hates everything associated with monarchy. The same was true for Cuba until 2021. Turkmenistan is another known example.

    • @user-ix1rp9ff3p
      @user-ix1rp9ff3p Рік тому

      @@Vielenberg why'd you avoid China tho, among their censored online posts are those comparing Xi Jinping to the First Emperor of Qin (Qin _Shi Huang_ )

    • @Vielenberg
      @Vielenberg Рік тому +1

      @@user-ix1rp9ff3p Because there are many dictatorships in the world. If we talk about monarchies in all but name we talk about those dictatorships which have a system of hereditary transfer of power.

  • @revanius2213
    @revanius2213 Рік тому +40

    So a descendant of Cleopatra did end up ruling the empire she and Mark Antony had dreamed of, it just took 200 years

    • @ptolemeeselenion1542
      @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому +9

      Not just one, but two.
      Zenobia, another direct descendant of Cleopatra, "usurped" the control of much of the oriental provinces of the Roman Empire by 270 CE. Her Palmyrene Empire lasted for three years.

    • @miguelpadeiro762
      @miguelpadeiro762 Рік тому +2

      Alas Octavian didn't get their vile spawns

    • @sylviamontaez3889
      @sylviamontaez3889 Рік тому

      Wait what?!

  • @untruelie2640
    @untruelie2640 Рік тому +210

    One small correction: The so called "five good Emperors" did not really chose their successors following a new meritocratic principle. This is mostly a narrative constructed by later historians. The succession by adoption was accidental, not really on purpose. Those Emperors had no sons, so they were forced to adopt other people as their successors. However as we can see, they had family ties with each other and as as soon as one of them, Marcus Aurelius, had a son, he reverted to the dynastic principle.

    • @EinFelsbrocken
      @EinFelsbrocken Рік тому +7

      And it all went down immediately. God; nepotism sucks. Humanity failing to actually integrate meritocracy is a painful loss.
      I wont act as if I couldnt relate to a father wanting to give the fruits of his hard work to his son; but when it comes to politics and power dynamics... it has basically never proven to be a good idea..

    • @untruelie2640
      @untruelie2640 Рік тому +19

      @@EinFelsbrocken The concept of nepotism only makes sense in an environment in which personal ties are, at least formally, not important - in other words in an abstract meritocracy. But that would've been a rather strange concept to these people back then. Of course the roman republic included meritocratic elements, but family ties were still the most important element of securing power. It has been this way for most of human history (and it is still relevant today, just look at North Korea, Azerbaijan, Nicaragua, etc., etc.). That's the point I was trying to make, this wasn't a meritocracy that failed because of dynastic nepotism, it was dynastic continutity that was temporally distorted by an accidental meritocracy.

    • @EinFelsbrocken
      @EinFelsbrocken Рік тому +3

      @@untruelie2640 I agree with everything you said; I guess I just had to vent for a second there 😅

    • @Romulan1993
      @Romulan1993 Рік тому +2

      You'll have to provide a source for that since almost all classical historians would disagree with what you just said.

    • @hannibalburgers477
      @hannibalburgers477 9 місяців тому +2

      >Be Roman Emperor
      >Be a Good Roman Emperor
      >Waste your life and well being for the good of Empire
      >Give 0 (Zero) "Ø" fucks who is going to be your successor
      >Accidental succeed by another good Emperor 5xCombo
      Legit 💯💯 fr fr No 🧢🧢💊
      Definitely believable argument, I applaud thee

  • @shinyagumon7015
    @shinyagumon7015 Рік тому +83

    Roman Emperor: You are my Praetorian Guard, my bodyguards essentially.
    PG: Splendid, when shall we turn you into a body?

  • @Integurs
    @Integurs Рік тому +83

    Other emperors : Let's practicing polygamy and having many children.
    Roman emperors : We don't do that here.

  • @carl8703
    @carl8703 Рік тому +13

    Man, never have I realized just how bad a decision it was to choose Commodus as your successor.

  • @jansenart0
    @jansenart0 Рік тому +38

    In Civilization V, whenever your units get promoted, either through combat or from buildings/wonders, you can click the "edit" next to their name before you select a promotion, to permanently change the unit's name.
    I'd always name my Giant Death Robots after Roman Emperors.

    • @InvadeleYogurt
      @InvadeleYogurt Рік тому +7

      Y'all remember when Tiberius razed the American capital with the aid of Koreans in 367 AD

    • @jansenart0
      @jansenart0 Рік тому +4

      @@InvadeleYogurt Was too busy focusing on the Shoshone Empire dispatching its first Privateers to attack Cardiff.

  • @brendenwright7957
    @brendenwright7957 Рік тому +74

    I'm honestly surprised Marcellus isn't on the chart... he was Augustus' nephew and was originally considered to be his Heir, but he died from an illness when he was only 19, in 23 BC

    • @Cheemsarion
      @Cheemsarion Рік тому +10

      Also Agrippa Postumus. Another son of Marcus Agrippa and Julia the Elder. Another missed opportunity is Cornelia, Julius Caesar’s wife was the granddaughter of Sulla.

    • @prasoonjha1816
      @prasoonjha1816 Рік тому +3

      Also wasn't Augustus' maternal grandfather a cousin of Pompey?

    • @passerby7112
      @passerby7112 Рік тому +1

      @@Cheemsarion sorry, did Julia the Elder other name was Octavia? From what i know Octavia was Agustus two sisters. The one who marry Agrippa was Marcella (daughter of Octavia the Younger) and later Julia the Elder (daughter of Augustus)

    • @Cheemsarion
      @Cheemsarion Рік тому +1

      @@passerby7112 I made a mistake I meant to say Julia the Elder not Octavia. Julia and Agrippa had 5 children. Gaius Caesar, Julia the Younger, Lucius Caesar, Agrippina the Elder, and Agrippa Postumus.

    • @passerby7112
      @passerby7112 Рік тому +1

      @@Cheemsarion oh okay , thanks👍

  • @alanholck7995
    @alanholck7995 Рік тому +9

    Hadrian’s wall was a first-century effort to separate Scotland from England. The 21st-century effort to separate Scotland from England is called Brexit.

  • @rodrigodepierola
    @rodrigodepierola Рік тому +39

    Octavian was never known in his life as "Octavian". We was Gaius Octavius (or simply Octavius) before his formal adoption and the Gaius Iulius Caesar after that. Octavian (or Gaius Iuilius Caesar Octaviannus) is a conventional name

    • @user-bl6ix9dt7r
      @user-bl6ix9dt7r Рік тому +5

      @CipiRipi00
      That's the thing: as far as we can tell, it didn't. You're right that according to Roman custom he should've been called Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, but he never was. Probably due to his political need to emphasize his connection to the late Caesar as much as possible.
      You've correctly presented the logic behind the conventional name, but AFAIK - it's still just convention.

    • @Frahamen
      @Frahamen Рік тому +3

      It's not even the most annoying Englification of a Roman General within the second triumvirate. The most annoying is how English speaking people call Marcus Antonius.

    • @KKKKKKK777js
      @KKKKKKK777js Рік тому +1

      Well calling him Gaius Iulius Ceaser while accurate is also very confusing. So we accept Octavian or Augustus as inaccurate but necesary consesions. Although I suppose we could call him Deus fillis, but that might confuse him with Jesus.

    • @user-bl6ix9dt7r
      @user-bl6ix9dt7r Рік тому +2

      @@KKKKKKK777js
      It'd be Divi Fillius. The OG Caesar was a mortal defied, which makes him a Divi. Deus is for a higher order of gods, not for ex-mortals.
      Also, on an unrelated note to the other poster, I feel that my point has been misunderstood? "Obviously it's convention, everything about Roman names is" would've made sense if ROMANS called him Octavianus. As far as we can tell though, they didn't - so we gave him that name as a MODERN convention, based on what he should've been called (but WASN'T) according to Roman custom.

  • @revinhatol
    @revinhatol Рік тому +6

    Matt, Jack's and your analysis really converged into one clear historical point of view on the Roman Empire.

  • @redflame21
    @redflame21 Рік тому +39

    This was a really interesting video and well explained! Well done Matt & The UsefulCharts team!

  • @aaronTGP_3756
    @aaronTGP_3756 Рік тому +19

    The Five Good Emperors adoption method was really a fluke. All but Marcus Aurelius had no surviving sons.
    To add: Not choosing Commodus would almost certainly begin a civil war between the Emperor's son and adopted son. But Marcus Aurelius still tried to adopt Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus, a capable general and senior advisor. Pompeianus refused the honor.

    • @fathirizzanzahrano.r6161
      @fathirizzanzahrano.r6161 Рік тому

      Antoninus Pius has children but is a daughter

    • @viniciusvyller9458
      @viniciusvyller9458 9 місяців тому

      Is Pompeianus the inspiration Gladiator?

    • @aaronTGP_3756
      @aaronTGP_3756 9 місяців тому +1

      @@viniciusvyller9458 Part of the inspiration, alongside the wrestler Narcissus.

    • @ultra-papasmurf
      @ultra-papasmurf 8 місяців тому

      except for Hadrian he was just gay

    • @aaronTGP_3756
      @aaronTGP_3756 8 місяців тому

      @@ultra-papasmurf Not exactly. Today, we would call Hadrian's relationship with Antinous pederastic (between adult man and adolescent boy).

  • @ironworkssamurai9421
    @ironworkssamurai9421 Рік тому +10

    NOBODY EXPECTS THE PRAETORIAN GUARD

  • @LegendaryObserver
    @LegendaryObserver Рік тому +6

    Rarely I am so early to UsefulCharts upload 😅 Keep up the good work!

  • @wilberforce95
    @wilberforce95 Рік тому +18

    I am so invested in this story; I can't wait for the 2nd episode!

  • @MrDoobla
    @MrDoobla Рік тому +23

    I would love for you to explore the longest direct line from a modern person. Essentially how far back can a person trace their ancestry. With no assumptions, names in every place. I am so curious.

    • @concept5631
      @concept5631 Рік тому +1

      As am I

    • @VictorLopez-eh2rs
      @VictorLopez-eh2rs Рік тому +3

      My guess would be Charlemagne and his decedents

    • @fakeskyler2305
      @fakeskyler2305 6 місяців тому +2

      I reckon if you looked at the Spanish royal line you could go just about as far back as possible. Links to the Visigoths and the OG Roman Imperial lines. Though really, everybody's family lines all go equally far back, when you think about it. Most Euros can trace their ancestry back to some degree of European nobility, and they're all pretty much interconnected. If one of them can trace their line back to the Romans, they all can, and by extension, so can we.

  • @thomasdixon4373
    @thomasdixon4373 Рік тому +15

    Awesome video, can't wait for part 2

  • @emperoremperor1486
    @emperoremperor1486 Рік тому +18

    Diocletian split the empire in 4 for all intent and propose.
    I know it doesn't last long but it is a bit lazy to jump straight to the West-East separation here.
    It should happen after Constantine enacts his "brilliant" succession plan.

    • @thomasvrielink299
      @thomasvrielink299 Рік тому +7

      Well yes but actually no. He split it into 4 administrative zones, but only two were ruled by an Augustus while the other two were ruled by Caesars who were in name still subservient to the Augusti. I suppose they'll go more in depth on the tetrarchy when actually discussing Diocletian in the next episode.

  • @katherinegilks3880
    @katherinegilks3880 Рік тому +25

    It would be a very dangerous drinking game if one had a beverage for each time someone was assassinated. (One might even get water poisoning.)

  • @johnhanifin1952
    @johnhanifin1952 Рік тому +20

    Love roman history. You should do one for the Seleucid Kings

  • @cherrydot7874
    @cherrydot7874 Рік тому +12

    There is a small error in this video - the emperor named Elagabalus was _not_ named Elagabalus in his time. The name was given to him by later scholars to distinguish him from his supposed father Caracalla because both of them had the same regal name; this was not a coincidence either because Iulia Soaemias and Iulia Maesa, mother and grandmother of the young Elagabalus, made up the story of Caracalla being his father to continue the dynasty on the throne and have a better claim on it. The name Elagabalus or Heliogabalus is only mentioned in scholarly works from the 4th century and was kept, as I said, by scholars to better distinguish him from his "father". Elagabaluse's real name was Varius Avitus Bassianus, and his regal name was Marcus Aurel(l)ius Antoninus.
    By the way, some scholars use Elagabal to name the emperor and Elagabalus for the god. In some languages both are called Elagabal, and some use the supposedly (but wrong) Greek form Heliogabalus.

    • @mohammedalsaed5130
      @mohammedalsaed5130 10 місяців тому

      Interesting point. Considering the Arabic root for Elagabalus being “Elah Al-Gabal” translating directly to “God of the Mountain”, it would seem like a bizarre given name indeed.

  • @diogodavid3557
    @diogodavid3557 Рік тому +3

    Man you're amazing, 5 minutes in and I've already learned so much things

  • @hades1696
    @hades1696 Рік тому +1

    You always making topics alive I was very curious about time ago when only reliable source I had was a classic paper encyclopedia xD You're my hero, Matt

  • @darrenknowles842
    @darrenknowles842 Рік тому +2

    Your videos are SO fascinating!!

  • @safetinspector2
    @safetinspector2 Рік тому +4

    I'm very surprised the praetorians weren't disbanded at some point considering how often they assassinated emperors...

    • @lordfreezer5631
      @lordfreezer5631 Рік тому

      They assassinated the emperors because the emperor was not liked by the military or the senate. The emperor as important as he was had not full control over the empire's governament

    • @safetinspector2
      @safetinspector2 Рік тому

      @@lordfreezer5631 I would think that at some point an emperor would either do their best not to end up disliked and assassinated or would move to get rid of or reform the praetorians is what I meant

  • @tiodichia5309
    @tiodichia5309 Рік тому +9

    23:31 Important! His name is Maximinus, not Maximus!

  • @asukaaachan2624
    @asukaaachan2624 Рік тому +11

    Roman Emperor: Son, you will become an Roman emperor
    Future Roman emperor: thank you father
    Praetorian , Senate,military leader: No , I don't think so.
    Proceeded to kill The emperor*

  • @samsunglg6671
    @samsunglg6671 Рік тому +6

    I always wonder what goes through those Emperors' minds anticipating possible assassination attempts that were so imminent and often came to their faith.

    • @ptolemeeselenion1542
      @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому +3

      They might starts thinking like the Peaky Blinders.

    • @samsunglg6671
      @samsunglg6671 Рік тому

      @@ptolemeeselenion1542 just literal wars, the good part is the innocent masses were kept out of them unlike the English succession (the Roses)

  • @revinhatol
    @revinhatol Рік тому +5

    Who doesn't love Crassus' rap in Horrible Histories? He's the wealthy one in the first Triumvirate.

    • @q-tuber7034
      @q-tuber7034 Рік тому +2

      And not a general, unless you count putting down a slave revolt and then getting your ass kicked in your first solo campaign.

    • @racsoleerf124
      @racsoleerf124 Рік тому +1

      Personally the Charles II song is my favourite

    • @kate_cooper
      @kate_cooper Рік тому +1

      “Ran Rome with Pompey and Caesar, they’re more famous than me. But I’m the world’s richest geezer…”

    • @revinhatol
      @revinhatol Рік тому

      @@kate_cooper THERE'S. NO. ONE
      RICHER. THAN. ME!

    • @kate_cooper
      @kate_cooper Рік тому +1

      @@revinhatol I’M MINTED!

  • @matthiasnagorski8411
    @matthiasnagorski8411 Рік тому +3

    ...he was assassinated by his wrestling buddy in the bath tub...
    I definitely feel like there's more going on here.

  • @d.c.8828
    @d.c.8828 Рік тому +2

    I physically winced at the way you pronounced "Imperator".

    • @kate_cooper
      @kate_cooper Рік тому

      Should be pronounced Im-pera-ter, right? That’s how I’ve always said it.

  • @ipbo
    @ipbo Рік тому +1

    This channel is AMAZING! I had been thinking of taking up a Theology class and this really made me decide to actually do it! Thanks for the inspiration!
    P.S.: I would LOVE to see a chart of the timeline of the six "big" world religions, by region :)

  • @EdithEHein
    @EdithEHein Рік тому

    WOW‼
    I just found your channel and I love it! 😍
    Thanks for making such interesting content. 🙂👍
    You have a new subscriber from Argentina ❣

  • @elipersky1591
    @elipersky1591 Рік тому +14

    It’s not Maximus Thrax, it’s Maximinus. Should probably correct this on the poster, otherwise it will be very confusing why Maximinus Daza is called Maximinus II.

  • @Shasarazad
    @Shasarazad Рік тому +1

    I am currently studying ancient Rome at uni and these videos are so much fun to watch!

  • @jamessutton9323
    @jamessutton9323 Місяць тому

    Thank you. This is really clear and interesting

  • @Nooticus
    @Nooticus Рік тому

    incredible video as always!

  • @frankmcquade992
    @frankmcquade992 7 місяців тому

    Fabulous. I love your work.

  • @DoubleDsDeliveries
    @DoubleDsDeliveries Рік тому +16

    "Forced to commit suicide" ... Never heard it said like that. Is that kinda like Japanese harakiri?

    • @MCAPrince
      @MCAPrince Рік тому +16

      It's can be seen as being given the opportunity to kill yourself (which Romans considered honourable) or being executed. Execution came with severe consequences for family inheritence, which forced suicide sometimes could circumvent.

    • @DoubleDsDeliveries
      @DoubleDsDeliveries Рік тому +1

      @@MCAPrince isn't that similar to ritual suicide by the Japanese?

    • @ptolemeeselenion1542
      @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому

      Lmao.

  • @MegaUMU
    @MegaUMU Рік тому +17

    Neat lookin chart. Any chance there will be a book of the renewed collection of charts like a while back?

  • @thomasrinschler6783
    @thomasrinschler6783 Рік тому +8

    Sigh. The myth that the "Five Good Emperors" chose their successors by merit. Nope, it was often still good old-fashioned heredity or outright coercion. Nerva was forced at basically sword point by the army to choose Trajan, Hadrian was *Trajan's nearest male relative* and would have succeeded him adopted or not, and Marcus Aurelius was *Antoninus Pius' nearest male relative* and would have also succeeded him adopted or not. The only real adoption situation was for Hadrian to Antoninus Pius, but even then, Antoninus Pius was still like his second or third closest male relative and thus high up in the line of succession.

    • @aaronTGP_3756
      @aaronTGP_3756 Рік тому +1

      It was based on merit. It wasn't a pure coincidence that emperors Trajan through Marcus Aurelius were all good emperors.
      *But as you said*, ONLY for male relatives, or at "sword-point". The only time they had room to make a pick was when there was no son.
      -Nerva was a lonely loser with no close male line relatives. So the army forced him to name Trajan as his successor.
      -Trajan had no sons. So when he died, his wife chose the late emperor's first cousin once removed.
      -Hadrian was (likely) gay and had no children or close relatives. So he was free to choose basically anyone. Antoninus Pius was adopted on the condition of adopting Lucius Verus, Lucius Aelius' (Hadrian's original intended successor) son.
      -Antoninus Pius was an old man with only daughters. He named Marcus Aurelius, his wife's nephew, as his son.
      -Marcus Aurelius had a son, Commodus, and therefore had to make him successor, even though he really didn't want to.

    • @cancerino666
      @cancerino666 Рік тому

      @@aaronTGP_3756 I'm sorry, but how does being the emperor of the motherfucking roman empire make one a loser? you got some real warped views on life.

  • @joshygoldiem_j2799
    @joshygoldiem_j2799 Рік тому +2

    SENATE: We don't want Ptolemy to become king
    AUGUSTUS: Then let me be Emperor, in name as well

  • @carson_26cr
    @carson_26cr Рік тому +1

    A few critiques,
    Caesar was a part of the Julii Caesares family, and it was Augustus who would go on to found the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
    The name "Octavian" was only a nickname for Augustus. He was born as Octavius, and Octavian is just the past tense of his name. It was used to distinguish him from his uncle.
    I love the video, and other than a few tiny unimportant mistakes, the graph is great!

  • @Blalack77
    @Blalack77 Рік тому +13

    I love these videos. Also, I didn't know Caesarion was murdered - I thought he died of some sickness when he was a kid. Learn something new everyday... This is definitely a chart I'd like to get. Really, all of them, but specifically this one for sure.

    • @buttercxpdraws8101
      @buttercxpdraws8101 Рік тому +2

      Actually he escaped with his real father, a lowly Roman soldier by the name of Titus Pullo 😉😂

    • @ptolemeeselenion1542
      @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому +3

      All of Cleopatra's offspring, save hers and Mark Anthony's daughter Cleopatra Selene, perished in obscure circumstances or had been strangulated by Octavien.
      He didn't want any legitimate heir to Caesar (Ceasarion) nor any male heir of Cleopatra that might assemble the Egyptians and poses a threat against Rome (any male child) .
      He undereestemed Selene.
      He *severely* underesteemed the wrath of a princess and her mother-- and this partly contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire. Egyptians (and much anyone in the Nile Valley) are like the Corsicans, the Amazulus, the Chinese, the Native Americans and the J--ws: they *never* forget. *Never* forgive.

    • @ptolemeeselenion1542
      @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому +4

      @@buttercxpdraws8101 That's from the HBO TV show, lol.

    • @buttercxpdraws8101
      @buttercxpdraws8101 Рік тому +2

      @@ptolemeeselenion1542 I know honey, it was a joke lol

    • @cancerino666
      @cancerino666 Рік тому +1

      @@ptolemeeselenion1542 you do realize that Cleopatra's dynasty wasn't Egyptian though? not really sure if the clear-skinned, red-haired descendants of her would really be able to assemble the egyptians. their hold onto power there was already tenuous. but octavian played it safe. regarding selene, she joined an existing dinasty, so that dinasty was able to "claim ancestry" moving forward as a political chip. but it wasn't a dynasty in egypt, it was a whole foreign entity.

  • @escantonio6110
    @escantonio6110 Рік тому +3

    15:51 finally, the argument has been solved

  • @insulaarachnid
    @insulaarachnid Рік тому +2

    Gonna need more info on death by "a wrestling buddy in the bathtub" !!!

  • @maggielovestoads
    @maggielovestoads Рік тому +2

    New fear unlocked: getting brain infection from fly going up my nose

  • @Justaguywhohyperfixates
    @Justaguywhohyperfixates Рік тому +1

    Can I just say these videos are calming for my adhd brain

  • @empireofengland6039
    @empireofengland6039 Рік тому +2

    Zenobia also was descendant of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony. Thats why she's important

  • @ptolemeeselenion1542
    @ptolemeeselenion1542 Рік тому +6

    It was alleged that both Octavius and Brutus were Julius Caesar's illegitimate sons.

  • @joesanchez979
    @joesanchez979 Рік тому

    Thanks for video 👍

  • @paulkoza8652
    @paulkoza8652 Рік тому

    Nice job!

  • @mirandak3273
    @mirandak3273 Рік тому +6

    Great video & chart. I didn’t know that Trajan through Commodus were all part of the family of Ulpius, by blood or marriage.
    I’m wondering why we don’t call them the Ulpian Dynasty as all the adoptions were within the family, like with the Julio-Claudians.
    We could still describe Nerva to Marcus Aurelius as the Five Good Emperors.

  • @starlite04
    @starlite04 Рік тому +2

    You would think with their history, the emperors would want to be good people so they wouldn't be killed by their guards or friends.

  • @burcu4711
    @burcu4711 Рік тому +7

    There is a tv series about first roman emperors, its name is "I Cladius" . I learned a lot from it. Also there is book with that name. If you love history i recommend them

  • @parisfrance6483
    @parisfrance6483 Рік тому +3

    Like the video really enjoyed it 💯🔥

  • @titrekmumalevi
    @titrekmumalevi Рік тому

    Thanks. Appreciate.

  • @miguelpadeiro762
    @miguelpadeiro762 Рік тому +3

    Shout out to the pretorian guard for guarding the emperors from living

  • @phdtobe
    @phdtobe Рік тому

    Useful Chartman strikes again!

  • @mohammedalsaed5130
    @mohammedalsaed5130 10 місяців тому +2

    Seems like the real “emperor” at any given point in this timeline is whoever is head of the Pretorian Guard 😂

  • @silesiaball9505
    @silesiaball9505 Рік тому +1

    "Aurelian, noooo"
    Great video as always

  • @TommiHonkonen
    @TommiHonkonen Рік тому +3

    imagine if they pulled one rope instead of just assassinating each other and conquered whole europe we all would speak italian now rather than like about 100 different languages

  • @Zorton_
    @Zorton_ Рік тому

    You should do the family tree of Kit Carson! :D Love ur videos❤ Great stuff! 👍🏼

  • @godzilla9619
    @godzilla9619 Рік тому

    Can't wait for part 2!!! How do you connect past royalty to their current heirs?

  • @apartmentsmiroslavvojnovic3302
    @apartmentsmiroslavvojnovic3302 4 місяці тому

    Bery interesting 😊👍. Best regards from Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia!

  • @kennyw871
    @kennyw871 Рік тому +3

    You should do a chart depicting all of Donald Trump's civil lawsuits. The one's he won could be in blue and the one's he lost in red or some other color scheme. It might take 2-3 or more charts to show them all.

  • @DailyHedge
    @DailyHedge Рік тому +2

    Should probably rename Mark Antony to Marcus Antonius, Pompey to Pompeius Magnus, they were romans after all.

  • @lp-xl9ld
    @lp-xl9ld Рік тому

    In Gilbert and Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, the Major General sings (in his famous patter song) "I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabolous" which is another way of saying "Elagabulus". One wonders how many people in 1879 knew exactly what he was talking about... Eagerly awaiting part 2

  • @brendenwright7957
    @brendenwright7957 Рік тому +2

    Otho wasn't defeated... after seeing how many lives would be taken if he continued fighting for the title, he took his own life...

  • @aaronTGP_3756
    @aaronTGP_3756 Рік тому +6

    The leadup to the Crisis of the 3rd century was pretty well paved by the time of Septimius Severus. In Marcus Aurelius' reign, the Antonine Plague especially devastated the army, making it worse disciplined and less experienced. Rome greatly struggled to win the Marcomannic War. Raids had become really common, almost reaching Italy at times. The Year of Five Emperors weakened it further. Septimius Severus, while victorious, had to severely debase the silver currency to 50% silver, to pay his massive army, which was needed to keep control, with his equestrian birth (only becoming senatorial later in life). Making the Emperor's legitimacy solely based on the rule of the militarally strong. Caracalla's and Elagabalus' reigns further damaged the economy. Allowing for the Empire to be even weaker. After Severus Alexander's assassination, the events had finally allowed for the Crisis to begin.

  • @adityatyagi7296
    @adityatyagi7296 Рік тому +1

    Great video as always. Super informative. Much appreciated 👍.
    I am highly intrigued by your video on how much of the bible is true. Can you pls do the same type of video for the Hindu Epic - Ramayana...

  • @dschanriihl9043
    @dschanriihl9043 Рік тому +1

    Nero was not in Rome when it burned.
    The christians claimed the arson themselves and were not percecuted.
    He was discredited by the other noble families, because he made them pay for the rebuilding.
    Later on some katholic priests tried to reframe their early history.

  • @ChristofferETJ
    @ChristofferETJ Рік тому +2

    Flavian Amphitheatre!

  • @womblingwurzel
    @womblingwurzel Рік тому

    This has to be one of those great You Tube Channels for people who like facts and connecting. Can we have one on Steven Spielberg please.

  • @pargd6236
    @pargd6236 Рік тому +2

    Clodius Albinus did not betray Septimius Severus, the opposite happened as Severus was in a way stronger position than Albinus and he wanted his sons as Caesars.

  • @yassygaming2417
    @yassygaming2417 Рік тому +2

    Yeahhhhh

  • @muhammadhabibieamiro3639
    @muhammadhabibieamiro3639 Рік тому +2

    The New roman emperor tree is here

  • @ottolehikoinen6193
    @ottolehikoinen6193 Рік тому +1

    Cleopatras line goes on at least until the crisis of the 3rd century, wow.

  • @MAP2023
    @MAP2023 2 місяці тому

    You get adopted. You get adopted. You get adopted. You get adopted. And even you get adopted.

  • @michaelmcsilvers5416
    @michaelmcsilvers5416 Рік тому +2

    wrestling buddy in the bathtub…riiiight

  • @nootnugget
    @nootnugget Рік тому +1

    Drinking game: take a shot whenever a Roman emperor gets assassinated and double shots for when it's by a PG 😂

  • @DukeLongfellow
    @DukeLongfellow Рік тому

    Hey UsefulCharts! I was looking into buying this map and the European royal family trees one but I can't seem to be able to place an order for Croatia on the site. For unlisted countries, is it recommended to use Etsy instead? Thank you!

  • @MollyBorneman
    @MollyBorneman Рік тому

    7:03 “nice, neat line of succession” -shows a jumbled mess of arrows-

  • @FoolRegnant1
    @FoolRegnant1 Рік тому +1

    One quick correction - Macrinus was not the first equestrian emperor, Severus actually was

    • @ferdinandfoch7816
      @ferdinandfoch7816 Рік тому

      While Severus was born as an Equestrian, he was promoted to senatorial rank by Marcus Aurelius. Macrinus is the first to become emperor as an Equestrian.

  • @ladysamxoxo
    @ladysamxoxo Рік тому +1

    I clicked the link to buy the new chart so fast the video hadn't even loaded.

  • @mmaxaira
    @mmaxaira Рік тому +2

    teenage politicians bring a lot of trouble when they rule

  • @niccolorichter1488
    @niccolorichter1488 Рік тому +1

    So Galienus was the longest reigning Crisis of the 3 cemmtury emperor not his father .
    Also Galienus was the last Emperor from family with Senatorial rank
    Augustus s first heir was Marcellus his newphew by Octavia , Julia married him at first but Marcellus died so she was remerried to Agrippa .
    Carus had a second son Numerian who was a Co Emperor with Carinus 283-284

  • @gothia1715
    @gothia1715 8 місяців тому +1

    "How unsuccessfull do you want to be in having biological sons?" Roman Emperors: "Yes"

  • @laisguedes4769
    @laisguedes4769 Рік тому +2

    Where are the captions 😭

  • @Amioni
    @Amioni 5 місяців тому

    Rule number one in the Roman Empire : It's safer to be a soldier than an emperor

  • @sdspivey
    @sdspivey Рік тому +1

    "Pompey ended up dead." I'm pretty sure that the whole chart is people that ended up dead.

  • @Hannibalian
    @Hannibalian Рік тому +2

    caracalla didn't actually have geta assassinated, he murdered geta himself, in front of their own mother
    savage

  • @rationalsamrat3247
    @rationalsamrat3247 11 місяців тому

    Restorer of the world Aurelian did an amazing job in pulling everything together , he conquered France (gaul)
    And then palmyra(egypt,syria) and also fixed currency debasement all in just 5 years , but he got assasinated because a rumor his accountant/secretary started .