The Julio-Claudians were the descendents of Augustus Caesar and/or his wife Livia, who was of the Claudian family.

27 BC -- AD 14: Augustus Caesar

Rome was ruled by the emperor Augustus Caesar, who later adopted Tiberius, Livia's son.

AD 14 -- AD 37: Tiberius

Tiberius was skilled at being a general and leader. However, he became paranoid and had many Romans killed including two nephews. AD 37 -- AD 54: Gaius Gaius was nicknamed Caligula because as a boy, he enjoyed dressing up as a soldier. Soldiers wore slippers named caligulae. He was a good ruler but went insane. He was murdered by his body guard, also known as the praetorian guard.

AD 41 -- AD 54: Claudius

Claudius was Gaius' uncle. The praetorian guard chose him to replace Gaius as emporor. He was a good administrator and created the civil service of Rome. However, he was flawed in various ways. He was ugly, hunch backed, and stammered. He also had a weakness for women. He married his niece Aggripina, who poisoned him with mushrooms so that her son Nero could become emperor.

AD 54 -- AD 68: Nero

Nero was talented in many ways but very conceited. He entered poetry contests, and even participated in chariot races. He thought himself to be a very good musician, but in reality, his music was horrible. He is remembered today as an evil emperor. People believe that in 64 AD, he started the great fire of Rome. He blamed the Christians for the event and killed them. He also erected a statue on a Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He killed himself in AD 68 when the governer of Spain tried to kill him.

AD 69: The year of four emperors

The four emperors were Galba, a previous governer of Spain; two senators; Otho, and Vitellius. Each of the four quickly lost their prestigious position.