What happened in ad 180 in ancient Rome?

Answer 1

Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD. He was the last of the five good emperors: Nerva (ruled 96-98 AD), Trajan (ruled 98-117), Hadrian (ruled 117-138), Antoninus Pius (ruled 138-161) and Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161-180). They have been called good emperors because they were benign rulers, pursued moderate policies, ruled wisely, allowed a lot of freedom and were popular. This contrasted with the more tyrannical rule of other emperors.

The famous historian Edward Gibbon wrote: 'If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus [the emperors before and after the five good ones]. The vast extent of the Roman Empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom. The armies were restrained by the firm but gentle hand of five successive emperors, whose characters and authority commanded respect. The forms of the civil administration were carefully preserved by [emperors], who delighted in the image of liberty, and were pleased with considering themselves as the accountable ministers of the laws. Such princes deserved the honour of restoring the republic had the Romans of their days been capable of enjoying a rational freedom.'

Marcus Aurelius was succeeded by his son Commodus. His behaviour became increasingly arbitrary and capricious and his bad rule caused political strife. Ancient historian Cassius Dio said that his rule marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of rust and iron." This prompted Edward Gibbon, to take Commodus's reign as the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. Commodus was assassinated in 192, twelve year into his reign. His death was followed by the Year of the Five Emperors where five men (Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus) fought each other to usurp the imperial title. Septimius Severus was the final winner and managed to retain power. He founded the Severan dynasty.