Roman rulers

Bust of Emperor Alexander Severus

The Library Ancient Rome in crisis

Gaius Caligula

5 facts about Caligula

A detail of a fresco of Hannibal riding his elephant. It is estimated he took as many as 40 elephants when he marched an army across the Alps and into northern Italy. (Photo by Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)

Q&A How many elephants did Hannibal take over the Alps?

Picture of the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus

Q&A What happened to the last emperor of Rome?

Rubicon

Q&A What does it mean to 'cross the Rubicon'?

An illustration of Nikephoros II. (Photo by INTERFOTO/Alamy Stock Photo)

General ancient history

A big day in history: the all-conquering Byzantine emperor Nikephoros II loses his head

A second-century bronze head of Roman Emperor Hadrian

Hadrian: rescuer of the Roman Empire