"I, Clavdivs" questions

Dr_Paprika writes:

Ack, no! The “Five Good Emperors” were the adoptive emperors who ruled from 98-180CE. The “Julio-Claudians” were the first five emperors who ruled from (conventionally) 27BCE-68CE.

While Augustus was pretty darn good, and Tiberius I and Claudius I weren’t bad, it is hard to imagine anyone describing Caligula or Nero as a “good emperor”. Not and keep a straight face at the same time, anyway.

Correct. Also known, if I recall correctly, as the “Adoptive Emperors” becauas of their practice of adopting as their political heir the man they thought was best suited to govern the empire, as opposed to their natural son or relative.

This ended when Marcus Aurelius made his son Commodus his co-ruler and eventual successor. This succession was discussed in the following thread:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=29519