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The Five Good Roman Emperors
(96 A.D. - 180 A.D.) | | | | Roman Emperor | Reign | | Nerva |
September 18, 96 A.D. - January 27, 98 A.D. | | | | Trajan | January 28, 98 A.D. - August 7, 117 A.D. | | | | Hadrian | August 11, 117 A.D. - July 10, 138 A.D. | | | | Antoninus Pius | July 10, 138 A.D. - March 7, 161 A.D. | | | | Marcus Aurelius | March 7, 161 A.D. - March 17, 180 A.D. |
The five good emperors were known for their moderate policies, in contrast to their more tyrannical and oppressive successors. This period was particularly notable for its peaceful method of succession, whereby each emperor chose his successor by adopting a heir. This prevented the political turmoil associated with emperors both before and after this period. The Empire, secure from both internal and external threats, prospered under the reign of the good emperors. This time period of peace is often referred to as the PAX ROMANA or Roman peace. With the conquest of Dacia during the reign of Trajan, the Empire reached its height of territorial expansion. In 117 A.D. the Roman Empire spanned an area of some 2.5 million square miles (6.5 million square kilometers). |
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