The Rulers of Rome

Book Categories: Emperors, Livy, Ancient Accounts, Empire, Decline & Fall, Rome & Barbarians, Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, Constantine, Roman Britain, DVDs, Miscellaneous, Fiction, Early Kings, Etruscans, Byzantine Empire, Italy, World Royal History

Emperors of Rome

Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome by Christopher Scarre. Includes 328 illustrations.

The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty by Philip Matyszak. Reviews the long history of the Julian and Claudian families in Rome. At the heart of the account are the lives of six men -- Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero -- who changed Rome from a democracy to a personal possession.

Emperors of Rome by David Potter. Beginning with the accession of Augustus, this is a lavishly illustrated survey of the Roman Empire through the lives of its emperors.

A Pocket Dictionary of Roman Emperors by Paul Roberts. Introduces 27 important emperors, including Augustus, Trajan, Septimus Severus, Nero, and Caligula. Illustrated with coins, jewelry, busts, and ancient monuments.

Lives of the Caesars edited by Anthony Barrett. Tells the stories of 12 of Rome's most influential rulers, including notorious leaders such as Nero and Caligula, and less famous ones such as Diocletian and Vespasian. With illustrations, a timeline of Roman history, and a chart of dynasties.

Emperors Don't Die in Bed by Fik Meijer, translated by S.J. Leinbach. This lively general introduction to the Roman emperors focuses on their unusual deaths, and what their final days tell us about their lives.

Heavenly Honours by Ittai Gradel is about Roman emperor worship, from Caesar to Constantine.

Death and the Emperor: Roman Funerary Monuments, From Augustus to Marcus Aurelius by Penelope J. E. Davies.

Storming the Heavens: Soldiers, Emperors, and Civilians in Imperial Rome by Antonio Santosuosso.

Constructing Autocracy: Aristocrats and Emperors in Julio-Claudian Rome by Matthew B. Roller. How did the imperial regime establish itself and how did the Roman elites make sense of it? According to this book, writers and philosophers vigorously contested the emperor's authority.

A Scandalous History of the Roman Emperors by Anthony Blond. The shocking lives of the emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.

Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" series of novels: The First Man in Rome (about Caesar's uncle by marriage, Gaius Marius); The Grass Crown (about Sulla); Fortune's Favorites (about Pompey, Sulla, and Caesar); Caesar's Women (about Aurelia, Servilia, and Julia); Caesar; and The October Horse (about Caesar, Cleopatra and the fall of the Roman republic); and Antony and Cleopatra.

Children's Books

Famous Men of Ancient Rome: Lives of Julius Caesar, Nero, Marcus Aurelius and Others by John H. Haaren and A. B. Poland. For children ages 9 to 12.

The World of the Roman Emperor by Peter Chrisp is for children ages 4 to 8.

Books About the Early Kings of Rome
Books About Julius Caesar
Books About Augustus Caesar
Books About Tiberius

Books by Ancient Historian Livy

Early History of Rome: Books I-V of the History of Rome From Its Foundation by Livy, translated by Aubrey De Selincourt. The historian Livy died in 17 AD. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Rome and Italy by Livy, translated by Aubrey De Selincourt. Contains volumes 6 through 10 of Livy's history of Rome; covers the Samnite Wars.

(Note: Books 11 through 20 of Livy's history of Rome no longer exist.)

The War With Hannibal by Livy, translated by Aubrey De Selincourt. Livy's account of the Second Punic War, comprising volumes 21-30 of his history of Rome.

Rome and the Mediterranean by Livy, translated by Henry Bettenson. Includes books 31 through 45 of Livy's history.

(Books 46 through 142 of Livy's history of Rome no longer exist.)

Other Ancient Accounts of Roman History

The Annals of Imperial Rome by Cornelius Tacitus, translated by Michael Grant. An ancient Roman account of the reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero. (The section about Caligula no longer exists.)

The Histories by Tacitus, translated by Kenneth Wellesley. Describes the murderous "year of the Four Emperors," 69 AD, when the Roman Empire was torn apart by civil war. Penguin Classics edition.

The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius, translated by Robert Graves. Fascinating, easy-to-read, very entertaining introduction to the lives of the first 12 emperors of Rome. Born in 60 A.D., Suetonius served as secretary to the emperor Hadrian.

Blood of the Caesars: How the Murder of Germanicus Led to the Fall of Rome by Stephen Dando-Collins. Suggests that the killing of Germanicus -- grandson of Mark Antony, adopted son of Tiberius, father of Caligula, and grandfather of Nero -- caused the Roman empire's collapse four centuries later.

The Later Roman Empire by Ammianus Marcellinus. The writer, who lived in the 4th century AD, wrote a 31-book history of the Roman empire from emperor Nerva to the death of the Eastern emperor Valens. Only the last 18 books, about the years 353 through 378, have survived. Available at Alibris.

The Later Roman Empire by Ammianus Marcellinus, translated by Walter Hamilton. An abridged version of Ammianus's history of later Rome.

Ancient Sources on the Life of Julius Caesar
Ancient Sources on the Life of Augustus

History of the Roman Empire

A Dictionary of the Roman Empire by Matthew E. Bunson. Over 1,900 entries covering more than 500 years of Roman history, from Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars to the fall of Romulus Augustus, the last Roman emperor. From Oxford University Press.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Roman Empire by Eric Nelson, Ph.D. An overview of Roman history and culture from 800 BC to the 15th century AD.

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Roman World edited by John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray.

The Romans: An Introduction by Antony Kamm. A general, concise introduction to all aspects of Roman culture. Includes photographs and maps.

Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History by Christopher S. Mackay. From the origins of the city in the Italian Iron Age to the deposition of the last emperor in 476 AD.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome by Chris Scarre. Matching clear graphics with informative text, this atlas gives a fine overview of Roman history from the eighth century B.C. to the rise of Christian theocracy a millennium later. (Review © Amazon.com)

Houses, Villas, and Palaces in the Roman World by Alexander Gordon MacKay.

Books About the Byzantine Empire

Gibbon's Decline and Fall

Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, edited by Moses Hadas. Abridged version of Gibbon's lengthy history of the Roman Empire's last days. For the unabridged version, see below.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Volumes 1, 2, and 3 by Edward Gibbon. Written in the 18th century, Gibbon's work is considered a masterpiece.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Volume 4 by Edward Gibbon.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Volume 5 by Edward Gibbon.

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Volume 6 by Edward Gibbon. The final volume of the series.

Romans and Barbarians

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians by Peter Heather. Shows how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the Roman empire apart.

Rome and the Barbarians: 100 B.C. - A.D. 400 by Thomas S. Burns. Shows how Rome's relations with the barbarians slowly evolved from ignorance, hostility, and suspicion toward tolerance, synergy, and integration.

Roman Barbarians: The Royal Court and Culture in the Early Medieval West by Yitzhak Hen. A study of the formative period when Roman and Christian practices mingled with Germanic practices to produce medieval civilization.

The Fall of Rome: And the End of Civilization by Bryan Ward-Perkins. Argues that the fall of Rome was not a peaceful blending of barbarians into Roman culture, but a time of horror and dislocation that destroyed a great civilization.

Books About Attila and the Huns
Books About the Franks

Caligula

Caligula: The Corruption of Power by Anthony A. Barrett. Was Caligula really a depraved despot? Barrett reevaluates this infamous figure in the context of the system that gave him absolute power.

Caligula by Sam Wilkinson. This biography examines the events of Caligula's reign to investigate whether his infamy was fully deserved.

Caligula: Divine Carnage: Atrocities of the Roman Emperors by Stephen Barber and Jeremy Reed. Documents in full the atrocities of Caligula and other mad emperors. Also included is a bloody history of gladiators and the depraved Roman arena.

Caligula: Emperor of Rome by Arther Ferrill. The author believes Caligula was indeed a madman. This book was published in 1991. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

More Books About Caligula

Claudius

I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54 by Robert Graves. A ripping good read, this fictional autobiography set in the Roman Empire's days of glory and decadence. Best is Claudius himself, the stutterer who let everyone think he was an idiot (to avoid getting poisoned) but who reveals himself in the narrative to be a wry and likable observer. (This review © Amazon.com.)

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves. This sequel to I, Claudius tells the story of Claudius's 13-year reign as emperor of Rome.

Nero

Nero by Edward Champlin. Biography of the notorious Roman emperor.

Nero by Jurgen Malitz. Nero's crimes are notorious, but this biography also outlines his surprisingly responsible political agenda, his initial popularity, and his patronage of the arts.

Nero Caesar Augustus: Emperor of Rome by David Shotter. Reveals the many contradictory faces of Nero and gives a balanced introduction to the paranoid, self-indulgent emperor.

Nero: The Man Behind the Myth by Richard Holland. Biography that promises to rescues the man from the myth and show that he was a man, not a monster.

Nero's Killing Machine: The True Story of Rome's Remarkable 14th Legion by Stephen Dando-Collins. The 14th legion achieved glory when it put down the rebellion of Britain's Queen Boudicca, an accomplishment that led Nero to honor it with the title "Conqueror of Britain."

Octavia: A Play Attributed to Seneca edited by Rolando Ferri. This tragic play -- thought to have been written by Seneca, a Roman who lived during the reigns of emperors Caligula, Claudius, and Nero -- focuses Nero's divorce from the princess Octavia, daughter of Claudius. The book includes an introduction and a detailed commentary. (The book's editor believes the play was wrongly ascribed to Seneca, and actually written during the reign of the Flavian dynasty.)

Nero: Destroyer of Rome by Julian Morgan. Children's book.

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius by Anthony R. Birley. An accessible and scholarly study of an emperor who was human and just throughout his long reign, which was frequently punctuated by wars.

Marcus Aurelius: A Life by Frank McLynn. Biography of the Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, based on all available original sources.

The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, translated by C. Scot Hicks and David V. Hicks. Philosophical reflections of a 2nd century Roman emperor (originally written in Greek). Marcus Aurelius was the father of emperor Commodus.

Marcus Aurelius in Love by Marcus Aurelius, introduction and translation by Amy Richlin. A collection of passionate love letters between Roman orator Marcus Cornelius Fronto and future emperor Marcus Aurelius -- the only love letters to survive from antiquity.

The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius by Pierre Hadot. This study offers a fresh picture of the philosopher-emperor, a fuller understanding of Stoicism, and insight into Roman culture in the second century.

More Books About Marcus Aurelius

Hadrian

Hadrian: The Restless Emperor by Anthony R. Birley. Scrutinizes Hadrian's private life -- including an unhappy marriage and a devoted homosexual attachment -- and his public works. (This review © Amazon.com.)

Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome by Anthony Everitt. Biography of a brave, astute Roman emperor who was an accomplished huntsman, poet, and student of philosophy.

Hadrian: Empire & Conflict by Thorsten Opper. A new appraisal of the Roman emperor's personality, rule, and military role, illustrated with key works of art and objects.

Following Hadrian: A Second-Century Journey Through the Roman Empire by Elizabeth Speller. This biography captures the emperor as a builder and an inveterate traveler, guiding readers on a grand tour of the Roman Empire at its greatest, from the barren frontiers of Britain to the urban splendor of Rome itself.

Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire by Mary Taliaferro Boatwright. A comprehensive investigation into the vibrant urban life that existed under Hadrian's rule.

Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar, translated by Grace Frick. Novel that reimagines Hadrian's arduous boyhood, his triumphs and reversals, and finally, as emperor, his gradual reordering of a war-torn world.

The Emperor by Georg Ebers. Novel about the emperor Hadrian, written by a 19th century Egyptologist.

Hadrian: Consolidating the Empire by Julian Morgan. Children's book.

Constantine I

Life of Constantine by Eusebius, Averil Cameron, Stuart George Hall. The emperor Constantine converted the the Roman Empire to Christianity. Eusebius wrote his life and preserved his letters so that his policy would continue. This English translation is the first based on modern critical editions.

Constantine and the Christian Empire by Charles M. Odahl. A rounded and accurate portrait of the emperor, extensively illustrated and fully documented.

Constantine the Great: And the Christian Revolution by G. P. Baker.

Constantine and the Conversion of Europe by Arnold Hugh Martin Jones.

Constantine: History, Historiography, and Legend by Samuel N.C. Leiu and Dominic Monserrat is about Emperor Constantine I. Examines the reign of Constantine, the first Christian emperor and the founder of Constantinople.

The Emperor Constantine by Hans A. Pohlsander. A concise account of one of the most important figures in ancient history. Emphasizes the significance of Constantine as Rome's first Christian emperor.

Constantine and the Bishops: The Politics of Intolerance by H. A. Drake. Shows how Constantine's policies were constructed to ensure the stability of the empire. Despite the emperor's conversion to Christianity, Rome remained a world filled with gods.

Constantine's Bible: Politics and the Making of the New Testament by David L. Dungan. Discusses the Roman emperor Constantine's achievement in transforming orthodox, Catholic Christianity into imperial Christianity.

The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine edited by Noel Lenski. A comprehensive one-volume survey of the pivotal Roman emperor Constantine I and his times.

Constantine the Great: York's Roman Emperor edited by Elizabeth Hartley, Jane Hawkes, Martin Henig, Frances Mee. Celebrates the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Constantine as Emperor in York on 25th July, 306. Includes essays and an illustrated, scholarly catalogue of objects, including the monumental marble head of Constantine from York.

The Living Wood by Louis De Wohl. Novel about Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, and her quest for the True Cross.

The Life & Times of Constantine by Kathleen Tracy. Biography for children ages 9 to 12.

Constantine: Ruler of Ancient Rome by Julian Morgan. Children's book about emperor Constantine I.

Miscellaneous

Galerius and the Will of Diocletian by Bill Leadbetter. Studies Roman emperor Diocletian's imperial strategy, wars, religious views and abdication; and the failures and successes of his successor Galerius against the backdrop of Constantine's remorseless drive to power.

69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors by M. Gwyn Morgan. Between the suicide of Nero in June 68 and the triumph of Vespasian in December 69, three other emperors held power in Rome: old, tightfisted, conservative Galba; Otho, once Nero's boon companion; and indolent, extravagant Vitellius.

The Roman Succession Crisis of AD 96-99 and the Reign of Nerva by John D. Grainger. Explores how and why the infamous emperor Domitian was killed, the rule of his successor Nerva, and Nerva's own successor, Trajan, who became a respected emperor against the odds.

Representing Agrippina: Constructions of Female Power in the Early Roman Empire by Judith Ginsburg. Agrippina the Younger, mother of the notorious emperor Nero, was one of the most powerful women in the history of the Roman empire. This book takes a fresh look at literary and material representations of Agrippina.

Trajan: Optimus Princeps by Julian Bennett. Biography of the Roman emperor.

Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, edited by Anthony Birley, is a biography of the emperor who ruled from 193 to 211. He was succeeded by his son Caracalla.

Julia Domna, Syrian Empress by Dr B. Levick. Julia Domna, who died in 217, was the Syrian-born wife of Roman emperor Septimius Severus, and mother of Emperor Caracalla. This book examines key questions about the powerful empress.

The Last Pagan: Julian the Apostate and the Death of the Ancient World by Adrian Murdoch. The emperor Julian (332-363) had an aristocratic Christian upbringing, but later attempted to establish paganism as the faith of the Roman world.

Familia Caesaris: A Social Study of the Emperor's Freedmen and Slaves by P. R. C. Weaver. Shows how the emperor's slaves and freedman differed from others of their class.

Fiction

The Course of Honour by Lindsey Davis. In ancient Rome, future emperor Vespasian falls in love with a slave in the household of the imperial family.

Gods and Legions: A Novel of the Roman Empire by Michael Curtis Ford. Novel about the 4th century Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, told from the viewpoint of his doctor.

The Emperors by Frank Manley. Poems about Roman emperors.

Books About Roman Britain
Books About Boadicea

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On DVD

These DVDs are formatted for North American audiences.

Caligula: Reign of Madness. Documentary from A&E's "Biography" series. A compelling look at one of the most notorious rulers in history, whose name is synonymous with depravity and madness.

I, Claudius. Excellent, racy miniseries from BBC's "Masterpiece Theater" series.

Modern Marvels: Hadrian's Wall. Walk the 74-mile barrier that marked the edge of the Roman Empire with world-renowned scholars.

In Search of History: The Roman Emperors. Go deep into the private lives of the mighty emperors. Visit the remains of their opulent mansions and see stunning reconstructions of what these palaces looked like at their prime.

Roman Vice. Luxury made the Roman world go round. This documentary uses recent archeological evidence to bring this tumultuous period to life. Explore Roman funeral practices, secret societies and mysterious cults, and the grand palaces of Nero and Tiberius.

Rome: The Complete First Season. HBO television series starring Ciaran Hinds as Julius Caesar.

Rome: The Complete Second Season. The year is 44 B.C. Julius Caesar has been assassinated. The brutally ambitious Mark Antony (James Purefoy) attempts to solidify his power, coming to blows with cunning Octavian, Caesar's heir.

DVDs About Julius Caesar
VDVDs About Augustus Caesar
DVDs About the Byzantine Empire