The Death of Emperors
A study of Roman history reveals the gory endings of emperors — from the archives
***Please take out a membership to support the light of truth.***
Author’s note: I am republishing this post from August 13, 2025 to help put things in context.—hsc
The Death of Emperors
They nearly always ended badly.
The reigns of Rome’s most famous and infamous leaders ended in stabbings, poisonings, murder, and forced suicide.
I am writing this today, because dictatorships end, and with them, goes their power.
Dictatorships vest power in a single man, and these men are mortal. The greatest weakness of dictatorships is the entire power structure can be toppled when that one man falters. Power sharing, like in a Democracy, offers a much more robust way to choose a successor.
Emperors, however grand, are really just glorified despots. So it should come as no surprise that these men often meet tragic ends.
I am binging on Mike Duncan’s The History of Rome Podcast and there are so many parallels to what we are enduring today. I highly recommend his work:
For example, Julius Caesar was a superb propagandist, but spin only goes so far, as you will learn in a minute.
The Propagandists
Roman leaders used propaganda to shape public perception. Augustus put his face on coins, making him look young and virile. He wasn’t above employing poets to rewrite history, making his reign appear to be destiny. He also built monuments to himself.
Julius Caesar also put his face on coins, as did other subsequent leaders.
Death of Emperors
Multiple Roman emperors died prematurely. In 44 BC, Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by senators in what came to be known as the Ides of March. Claudius was poisoned allegedly by his wife Agrippina in 54 AD. Condemned for being a public enemy, Nero committed suicide in 68 AD. Caligula was also stabbed — murdered by the Praetorian guard in 41 AD. Caracalla also met his death by stabbing. Commodus was poisoned and when he didn’t die, he was then strangled. Galba, Vitellius, and Elagabalus also met violent deaths, with Elagabalus’ body tossed into the Tiber River after he was murdered.
Primarily in its later stages, the Roman Empire was plagued by corruption and unequal distribution of wealth, often due to military spending as the empire expanded.
Men like Putin and Trump, in their all or nothing approach to life, seek power in a bid to avoid prosecution.
And it works for a time. But inevitably, they, too, will be painted as public enemies.
It is very rare indeed that emperors find their way to a comfortable retirement.
****
****
****
Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members.
I expose the corruption of billionaire fascists, while relying on memberships for support.
Thank you in advance for considering the following:
Share my reporting with allies
Buying my ebooks
A private link to an annual membership discount for older adults, those on fixed incomes or drawing disability, as well as activists and members of the media is available upon request at bettedangerous/gmail. 🥹
More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
🤍
Begin each day with a grateful heart.
🤍
This piece really cheered me up. Thank you!