Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Certamen > End of the Empire > Flashcards

End of the Empire Flashcards

1
Q

When was the Year of Six Emperors?

A

238 AD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who were the emperors of 238 AD?

A

Maximinus Thrax, Gordian I,II,III, Pupienus, Balbinus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where were the first two Gordians declared emperor during Maximinus Thrax’ rule?

A

North Africa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How was Gordian III related to the other Gordians?

A

Grandson of Gordian I, nephew of Gordian II

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How did Gordian II (son of Gordian I) die?

A

Killed in battle against Maximinus Thrax’s army

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How did Gordian I die?

A

Suicide after his son died

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What two emperors did the Senate appoint in 238 AD after the deaths of the Maximinus Thrax and the first two Gordians?

A

Pupienus and Balbinus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How did Gordian III finally die in 244 AD?

A

Either died in battle or killed by Philip the Arab

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What was the crisis of the third century?

A

Empire was split between Gallic, Roman, and Palmyrene sections.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who ruled during the crisis of the third century?

A

The Barracks Emperors: had military support of the people, how they came to power, usually only ruled briefly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who had founded the Gallic Empire during the crisis of the third century?

A

Postumus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Who ruled the Palmyrene Empire at the start of the crisis of the third century?

A

Odenathus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which Barracks emperor made peace with the Sessanid empire which the 238 AD emperors had been fighting?

A

Philip the Arab

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What Roman emperor was a sheik from Jordan?

A

Philip the Arab

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Who ruled during the 1000 anniversary of Rome?

A

Philip the Arab (248 AD)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What future emperor killed Philip the Arab at the Battle of Verona in 249 BC?

A

Decius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Who was the first emperor to be killed in battle, and at what battle against who?

A

Decius
-Battle of Abrittus (251 AD)
-Against Cniva and the Goths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Who was the first emperor to have an empire-wide persecution of Christians?

A

Decius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Who did Decius co-rule with?

A

His son Herenius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Who did Trebonius Gallus rule with?

A

His son Volusianus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How did Trebonius Gallus die?

A

Killed by his own troops in favor of Aurelius Aemilianus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How did Aureilius Aemilianus (Aemilian) die?

A

Killed by own troops in favor of Valerian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Who was the first emperor to be captured alive in battle?

A

Velerian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What was Valerian’s first act as emperor?

A

Making his son Gallienus co emperor with him

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What Persian King did Odenathus defeat on behalf of the emperor Gallienus?

A

Shapur I

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What was Shapur I called?

A

King of Kings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Who captured Velerian?

A

King Shapur I of the Sessanid Empire, who later stuffed his body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How did Shapur I use the captured Valerian for the rest of his life?

A

As a mounting block

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

At what battle of 260 AD was Valerian defeated by Shapur I?

A

Battle of Edessa (260 AD)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What emperor died in captivity in 260 AD?

A

Valerian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What emperor rewarded Odenathus for defeating Shapur I by giving him power in the East?

A

Gallienus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

How did Claudius Gothicus get his name?

A

Defeated the Goths at the Battle of Naissus (269 AD)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How did Claudius Gothicus die?

A

The plague
-He knew this was coming because of the Sibyline books

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Who reunited the empire?

A

Aurelian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Who did Aurelian defeat to bring back the Gallic empire?

A

Tetricus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

At what battle did Aurelian defeat Tetricus?

A

Battle of Chalons (274)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Who did Aurelian defeat to bring back the Palmyrene empire?

A

Zenobia (after husban Odenathus died)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Who was Zenobia’s son, whom she ruled through?

A

Vaballathus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Who was Zenobia’s advisor?

A

Cassius Longinus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What happened after Zenobia’s defeat?

A

-She got a nice life and a villa in Tivoly
-Cassius Longinus was executed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What was Aurelian called after defeating the Palmyrens?

A

Restitutor Orientis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Who was called the “Restitutor Orbis”?

A

Aurelian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Who was called “manus ad ferrum”?

A

Aurelian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Who was called “Germanicus Maximus”?

A

Aurelian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

How did Aurelian die?

A

Killed by the Praetorian Guard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What happened with Tacitus?

A

-Killed by his own soldiers

Two people wanted the throne after his death:
-Probus (magister equitum)
-Florianus (Praetorian Prefect)
Florianus was killed by his own men and Probus became emperor
-276 AD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Why did Probus’s soldiers kill him?

A

He worked them too hard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Who were Carus’s sons whom he made Caesars?

A

-Numerian (assassination planned by Aper)
-Carinus (defeated by Diocletian at Margus River)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Who created the tetrarchy?

A

Diocletian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Who increased the number of provinces from about 40 to about 105?

A

Diocletian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

What were Diocletian’s provinces grouped into?

A

12 Dioceses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

What official was in charge of each diocese?

A

Vicarius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Where was Diocletian from?

A

Dalmatia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

How did Diocletian rise to the throne?

A

Declared emperor after Numerian and Carinus’s deaths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Who was Diocletian’s Christian wife?

A

Prisca

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

What Praetorian Prefect did Diocletian kill?

A

Aper

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

What son of Carus did Diocletian defeat to become sole ruler?

A

Carinus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

At what battle in 285 AD did Diocletian defeat Carinus?

A

The Battle of Margus River

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

When did Diocletian persecute Christian’s? (despite the fact that Prisca was literally Christian, sorry queen)

A

303 AD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Who became the first emperor to abdicate in 305 AD?

A

Diocletian

61
Q

Who abdicated with Diocletian?

A

Maximian

62
Q

Where did Diocletian abdicate to?

A

Salona (Split)

63
Q

Who was Diocletian’s co-Augustus in the West?

A

Maximian

64
Q

How did the tetrarchy work?

A

In each half, there was an Augustus and a Caesar (East was Diocletian and Galerius, West was Maximian and Constantius Chlorus)

65
Q

Who did Maximian send to deal with the pirates in the British Channel?

A

Carausius

66
Q

What happened with Carausius?

A

Tried to become “Emperor of the North” (Britain) until he was killed by Electus, his second in command

67
Q

What titles did Diocletian and Maximian take?

A

Diocletian took the title “Jovius” (Jupiter) and Maximian took “Herculius” (Hercules)

68
Q

How did Diocletian deal with inflation in 301 AD?

A

His Edict of (Maximum) Prices

69
Q

What was Diocletian’s capital in the East?

A

Nicomedia

70
Q

What was Maximian’s capital in the West?

A

Mediolanum

71
Q

What happened to Constantius Chlorus and Galerius after Diocletian and Maximian’s abdication?

A

They became Augusti

72
Q

What emperor issued the Edict of Toleration in 311 AD?

A

Galerius

73
Q

What men vied for power after Maximian and Diocletian’s 305 AD abdication?

A

Maxentius and Constantine

74
Q

When was the Battle of the Milvian Bridge?

A

312 AD

75
Q

What phrase did Constantine see before battle?

A

“In hoc signo vinces” (in this sign you will conquer)

76
Q

What sign was the phrase Constantine saw referencing?

A

Chi Rho

77
Q

Who did Constantine defeat at the Milvian Bridge, symbolizing a triumph of Christianity over Paganism?

A

Maxentius

78
Q

Who legalized Christianity, and when did it happen?

A

Constantine in 313 AD

79
Q

What edict, made by Constantine, recognized Christianity and established religious freedom in the empire?

A

Edict of Milan (313 AD)

80
Q

Who married Constantia (Constantine’s half-sister) in 313 AD, forging a temporary alliance with Constantine?

A

Licinius

81
Q

At what 324 AD battle did Constantine become sole emperor, and who did he defeat?

A

Battle of Chrysopolis where he defeated Licinius

82
Q

What emperor disbanded the Praetorian Guard?

A

Constantine

83
Q

Who was Constantine’s first wife, and who was their kid?

A

Minervina had son Crispus

84
Q

Who was Constantine’s second wife, and who were their children who would become emperors?

A

Fausta had sons Constantine II, Constans I, and Constantius II

85
Q

Who did Constantine have executed in 326 AD?

A

Fausta (second wife) and Crispus (son of him and Minervina)

86
Q

Which of Constantine’s sons lasted the longest?

A

Constantius II

87
Q

Which emperor was baptized on their death bed in 337 AD?

A

Constantine

88
Q

Who baptized Constantine on his death bed?

A

Eusebius

89
Q

Where did Constantine summon a council of bishops in 325 AD?

A

Nicaea

90
Q

Where did Rome set up a new capital in 330 AD on the site of Byzantium?

A

Constantinople

91
Q

Who tried to bring back Paganism?

A

Julian the Apostate

92
Q

How did Julian the Apostate die?

A

Died fighting Shapur II of Sessanid Empire
-Killed by a spear at the Battle of Ctesiphon

93
Q

Who restored Christianity after Julian?

A

Jovian

94
Q

Who made a treaty with Shapur II, giving up a lot of land but bringing relative peace with them?

A

Jovian

95
Q

What two brothers ruled over the East and West from 364-375/8

A

Valens (East) and Valentinian I (West)

96
Q

What western emperor died from a stroke while giving an angry speech/negotiations with the Quadi?

A

Valentinian I

97
Q

What emperor stopped making Christians fight as gladiators?

A

Valentinian I

98
Q

Who did Valentinian I make his emperor in the East?

A

Valens (his brother)

99
Q

Who did Valentinian I leave the West to when he died?

A

His son Gratian

100
Q

At what battle in 378 AD was the eastern emperor Valens killed by the Goths?

A

Battle of Adrianople (378 AD)

101
Q

Who was emperor of the west when Valens died?

A

His nephew, Gratian

102
Q

Which Goth leader defeated Valens in 378 AD at Adrianople?

A

Fritigern

103
Q

What emperor got rid of the title Pontifex Maximus?

A

Gratian

104
Q

What Western usurper fought with Gratian, leading to his death?

A

Magnus Maximus

105
Q

Who eventually fully took over for Magnus Maximus in the West?

A

Valentinian II

106
Q

Who was the last emperor to rule over both the East and West?

A

Theodosius the Great

107
Q

Who made Christianity the official religions of the Roman Empire?

A

Theodosius the Great

108
Q

What battle of 394 AD did Theodosius win?

A

Battle of the Frigidus River

109
Q

Who did Theodosius defeat in 394 at the Battle of the Frigidus River?

A

Eugenius and Arbogast

110
Q

Who helped Theodosius defeat Arbogast and Eugenius at the Frigidus River in 394 AD?

A

Alaric and the Visogoths

111
Q

Who ended the Olympic games in 393 AD?

A

Theodosius the Great

112
Q

Who knelt to St Ambrose, choosing the church over state?

A

Theodosius the Great

113
Q

Why did Theodosius the Great have to kneel to St Ambrose?

A

His massacre of 7000 at Thessanolica in 390 AD

114
Q

Where did Theodosius die in 395 AD?

A

Mediolanum (Milan)

115
Q

Who were Theodosius’ sons and which part of the empire did they rule over?

A

Honorius (west) and Arcadius (east)

116
Q

Who was Arcadius’s son, who became emperor at seven years old and codified Roman law?

A

Theodosius II

117
Q

Which son of Theodosius the Great became emperor of the west at ten years old?

A

Honorius

118
Q

Who was Flavius Stilicho?

A

Regent to Honorius, since he was ten

119
Q

What was Stilicho’s ethnicity?

A

Half Vandal, half Roman

120
Q

What was Stilicho’s title?

A

magister militum (highest general command, of cavalry and military)

121
Q

What Visogoth chief did Stilicho defeat twice?

A

Alaric

122
Q

Where had Stilicho defeated the Visogoths?

A

Pollentia and Verona

123
Q

Where did Stilicho retire to before being executed by Honorius?

A

Ravenna

124
Q

What did Honorius make the capital of the West?

A

Ravenna

125
Q

Who did Honorius execute in 408 AD, opening the door for the Visogoths to attack in 410 AD?

A

Stilicho

126
Q

Who sacked Rome in 410 AD, for the first time since in almost 800 years (since 390 BC)

A

Alaric and the Visogoths

127
Q

Who was emperor at the Visogoth sack and where was he??

A

Honorius, cowering in Ravenna when the city was being sacked

128
Q

What emperor officially got rid of gladiator fights?

A

Honorius

129
Q

What grandson of Theodosius I (the Great) became emperor at age six?

A

Valentinian III

130
Q

Who was Valentinian III’s mother, who was the daughter of Theodosius I?

A

Galla Placidia

131
Q

Who essentially ruled Rome during Valentinian III’s rule since he was so young?

A

Aetius

132
Q

What was Aetius called, and what was his title?

A

Called “the last of the Romans” and was the Magister Militum

133
Q

Who defeated Attila the Hun at the Battle of Catalaunian Plains (451 AD)?

A

Aetius

134
Q

At what battle of 451 AD did Aetius defeat Attila the Hun?

A

Battle of Catalaunian Plains (451 AD)

135
Q

Who convinced Attila the Hun not to invade deeper into Italy?

A

Pope Leo I

136
Q

Who did Valentinian III have executed in 454 AD?

A

Aetius

137
Q

Who convinced Valentinian III to kill Aetius?

A

Petronius Maximus

138
Q

Who killed Valentinian III and was emperor when the Vandals sacked Rome in 455?

A

Petronius Maximus

139
Q

Who sacked Rome in 455 AD?

A

Gaesaric and the Vandals

140
Q

What city had the Vandals sacked in 439 AD, before they came after Rome?

A

Carthage

141
Q

Why did a Roman mob kill Petronius Maximus?

A

He abandoned Rome during the Vandal sack

142
Q

What Germanic general essentially ruled Rome through his “puppet emperors” in the final years of the empire?

A

Ricimer

143
Q

Who was the last Western Roman Emperor?

A

Romulus Augustulus

144
Q

Who lived in leisure as his father briefly ruled the empire in his name, and continued to do so in Campania after being defeated by Odoacer?

A

Romulus Augustulus

145
Q

Who was Romulus Augustulus’ father who ruled for him?

A

Orestes

146
Q

When was the end of the Western Roman Empire?

A

476 AD

147
Q

Who deposed Romulus Augustulus in 476 AD?

A

Odoacer

148
Q

Who was emperor in the East when Romulus Augustulus was deposed?

A

Zeno

Certamen (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions