Being a Roman emperor was a risky job. It wasn't unusual for emperors to be killed by usurpers wanting to remove them from power. They also faced many health challenges, such as death from epidemics ...

The latter days of the Roman Republic, which preceded the Roman Empire, were marred by political instability, as senators conspired against one another to hold onto power at the expense of the people.

Domitian’s murder marked the end of the Flavian dynasty and changed the rules of succession. Nerva and Trajan (ruled 96 – 98 AD, 98 – 117 AD) were not born to rule, but were chosen for the job. The ...

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Ruling Imperial Rome was a risky business—a gladiator was more likely ...