Nervo-Trajanic Dynasty

• The Nervo-Trajanic Dynasty (96-192 CE), also known as the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty, consisted of seven Emperors.
• They are also known as the Adoptive emperors as each was adopted by his predecessor, with the exception of the first and last.

Nerva-Antonine Dynasty

• Nerva-Trajanic Dynasty

  • Consisted of 3 Emperors:
    • Nerva (96-98 CE)
    • Trajan (98-117 CE)
    • Hadrian (117-138 CE)

• Antonine Dynasty

  • Consisted of 4 Emperors:
    1. Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE)
    2. Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE)
    3. Lucius Verus (161-169 CE)
    4. Commodus (176-192 CE)

• The Five Good Emperors

  • Niccolo Machiavelli created this phrase in his book ‘The Discourses on Livy’ published in 1531 CE.
  • He felt that the adopted Emperors ruled more wisely than the hereditary Emperors.
    1. Nerva
    2. Trajan
    3. Hadrian
    4. Antoninus Pius
    5. Marcus Aurelius.

• Year of the Five Emperors (193 CE)

  • The Nerva-Antonine Dynasty ended with the assassination of Commodus on 31st December 192 CE.
  • Rome was plunged into civil war as five contenders battled with each other to become Emperor.

Dynasties of Roman Emperors

• Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BCE-68 CE)
• Flavian Dynasty (69-96 CE)
• Nervo-Trajanic Dynasty (96-138 CE)
• Antonine Dynasty (138-192 CE)
• Severan Dynasty (193-246 CE)
• Constantine Dynasty (324-264 CE)
• Valentinian Dynasty (364-395 CE and425-455 CE)
• Theodosian Dynasty (379-457 CE)
• Leonid Dynasty (457-518 CE)
• Justinian Dynasty (518-602 CE)
• Illyrian Emperors (249-565 CE)
  • Emperors born in or near Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia).
• Soldier Emperors (235-284 CE)
  • 33 Emperors in 50 years, nearly all the result of a succession of military coups during the Crisis of the Third Century