Page:A General Sketch of Political History from the Earlist Times.djvu/125

 THE ROMAN EMPIRE 113 was succeeded by his great-nephew Gaius, who is familiarly known as Caligula; who was a madman. He was murdered and was succeeded by his uncle Claudius, who was feeble- minded. Claudius was succeeded by Nero, who stands for all time as the type of a bloodthirsty tyrant. Galba, an aged general, led his legions from Spain to overthrow the tyrant, who perished by his own hand. But Galba was overthrown by the praetorians who made Otho emperor. Otho was over- thrown by the troops of Vitellius, and Vitellius was overthrown by Vespasian. Every Emperor down to Nero had become a member of the Imperial family by adoption. Augustus himself had been adopted by Julius Caesar, and had adopted his own step-son The Julian Tiberius, and so on. This group therefore are called Emperors. the Julian Emperors. The principal extension of frontiers which took place during their rule was the partial conquest of Britain under Claudius. Attempts were made by frontier officers to conquer more German territory, but these attempts were success- fully resisted by the Teutonic Tribes under the leadership of the chief whom the Romans called Arminius. Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, all owed their election to the Praetorian Guard. The first was chosen because he was the son of a popular soldier who was supposed to have been foully done to death. The second was caught hiding behind a curtain and was acclaimed emperor half in jest. For the third, Nero, the support of the praetorian officers had been secured beforehand. The wars following on Nero's deposition, ended by the accession of Vespasian, gave a more military turn to the supreme government ; since the success- ful emperor had no possible claim to the succession except the fact that he was the chosen candidate of the legions he com- manded in the east. Titus Flavius Vespasianus was of plebeian birth, but he was an able soldier and a shrewd man of business. He restored order, and stopped the extreme corruption which The F i av ian prevailed in the heart of the empire. His reign is Emperors, notable for the destruction of Jerusalem by his son AD# 70 " 96, Titus, and the scattering of the Jews, who preserved their unity as a separate people whithersoever they might be driven, but H