Roman Emperors Study Guide: 70 Flashcards from Augustus to Constantine XI

Deck MW4831 — Roman Emperors takes 70 cards to cover almost 1,500 years, from Augustus being granted his title in 27 BC to Constantine XI dying on the walls of Constantinople in 1453. The deck is really two decks in one. Cards 1–44 cover the Roman Empire up to 476, and cards 45–70 cover Byzantium. Once you see that, the best way to learn it is by dynasty, not by card order.

Seven cards from the deck

What you'll learn

The dynasties in order: Julio-Claudian, Flavian, Nerva–Antonine, Severan, then the Crisis of the Third Century, Diocletian's Tetrarchy, Constantine, Theodosius I. In the East: Justinian, Heraclian, Isaurian, Macedonian, Komnenos, Laskaris (Nicaea), Palaiologos. You also get the terms Principate, Dominate, princeps, augusti and caesares, plus key events: the Year of the Four Emperors and the Year of the Five Emperors, the founding of Constantinople (330), the division of 395, Odoacer deposing Romulus Augustulus, the Corpus Juris Civilis, Hagia Sophia, Iconoclasm, the 1054 Schism, the Fourth Crusade and the fall of 1453.

Build a dynasty ladder

Make one card per dynasty: dynasty name on the front; dates, founder, standout ruler and last ruler on the back (for example, Flavian, 69–96: Vespasian → Titus → Domitian; Colosseum, Vesuvius). That gives you about 14 cards that hold up the other 56. Then review the remaining cards as "who belongs on this rung?"

Four cards to correct

• Card 13 dates the Year of the Four Emperors to "AD 68–69". The name refers to AD 69. Nero died in June 68, and Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian all held power in 69.
• Card 34 says Diocletian set up the Tetrarchy in 286. In 286 he made Maximian co-augustus, which created a two-man rule. The two caesares were added in 293.
• Card 65 says the Laskaris dynasty recaptured Constantinople in 1261, but card 67 correctly credits Michael VIII Palaiologos. Michael was regent and then co-emperor for the young John IV Laskaris, and he later blinded John. Rewrite card 65 so the two cards agree.
• Card 12 (Nero playing the lyre as Rome burned) is a hostile rumour. Tacitus places Nero at Antium when the fire broke out. Tag this card "legend".

For the Republic and the early Empire in more depth, see our Ancient Rome study guide. Find deck MW4831 in the library at flip-it.app.