Is it true that a Roman emperor planned to make his horse a consul? Who participated in an astounding 735 gladiatorial combats? Was Hadrian really a homosexual? What in fact do we know of the lives and personalities of the ninety or more emperors who reigned from Augustus to the fall of Rome?

Chronicle of the Roman Emperors is the first book to follow the succession of rulers on Imperial Rome, using timelines and other visual aids throughout. These portraits of the emperors form the building blocks of an invaluable and highly readable popular history of Imperial Rome, brought to life using the colorful testimony of contemporary authors. From the resounding glories of Augustus to the dark days at the close of the empire, we follow the triumphs and failures of imperial rule over an incredible four centuries—a period of stable and civilized rule unparalleled even in recent times. Key features of the book include:

• biographical portraits of all the emperors from Augustus to the fall of Rome;


• personalities and eccentricities of both the famous—Trajan, Hadrian, Diocletian, Constantine—and the infamous—Caligula, Nero, Caracalla;


• special illustrated features ranging from Nero's Golden House to Diocletian's Palace;


• datafiles for every emperor listing key information such as titles, family relationships, and manner of death;


• genealogical tables and lists of main events;


• portraits of every emperor and plans of wars and battles.

Chris Scarre is a leading historian of the ancient world, and recently completed editing Smithsonian Timelines of the Ancient World.

ISBN 0-500-05077-5 · 7 ¹/₂" x 10" · 328 illustrations, 111 in color · 240 pages · ARCHAEOLOGY

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