The Twelve Caesars Lyrics

Julius Caesar, great military leader of history

He grew in power, and sought to be dictator indefinitely

So angered by this, the Senate attacked him with daggers to end his life

What was rude is that even Brutus, his friend, employed a knife

Octavian, adopted son of Julius was the next to preside

He brought about Cleopatra's defeat at Actium and suicide

He became Augustus in 27 when he received the call

The Empire grew-reputation did, too, as the greatest of them all

Tiberius, stepson of Augustus, the next Caesar of Rome

Augustus forced him to divorce his wife and lose his happy home

Not wanting the title, he exiled himself to an island called Capri

He returned to rule, was terribly cruel, his death brought no sympathy

Caligula followed as Rome's new Caesar at 24 years old

Though his first six months were good for Rome, soon cruelty took hold

His joy was torture and suffering, lives easy to discard

Four years of pain, then his own death came from his Praetorian Guard

Hail, the early Roman Caesars whose lives helped us to see

That power corrupts the weak mind, but the strong mind let's us be

Next, Claudius in 41, became Emperor, in fact

He was considered an imbecile, but claimed it was an act

He was an effective leader, rule of law returned to life

But, he was cruel and a weak fool, was poisoned by his fourth wife

Nero, the next Caesar lived a life of decadence

Adopted son of Claudius, claimed he had artistic sense

He spent lavishly on Rome and himself, and when the Great Fire burned

Some cast the blame, on his hand, the flame, ousted when the Senate turned

Then, well-respected, Senate-chosen Galba took the throne

Rome had high hopes that he would rule them as his own

But, Galba was ruthless, and his greed turned loved into hated

Tempers grew hot, Otho hatched a plot. He was assassinated

Otho was the second of four emperors who ruled this year

Upon his rise, he restored faith and calmed the public's fear

But the public chose Vitellius, they chose him from the start

Their armies fought, then Otho thought, for peace, I'll stop my heart

Hail, the early Roman Caesars whose lives helped us to see

That power corrupts the weak mind, but the strong mind let's us be

Vitellius, in 69 assumed the Roman throne

Gluttony and gambling is how he is best known

He was a brutal judge, but then Vespasian's army came

They battled fiercely, he tried to flee, but was killed for his cowardly shame

Vespasian, last of the four, the next Caesar to reign

He was a kind and just leader, avarice, his only stain

He headed the Flavian Dynasty, Rome, his sons would protect

No war siege, return prestige, the Colosseum, his project

Though brutal in command, Titus as Caesar changed instantly

He was patient, fair and kind and had integrity

He dealt with Vesuvius, fire and plague the best he could've done

Two years a Caesar, caught a fever, and died at 41

Domitian became Emperor of Rome in 81

He curbed the Senate's power and rebuilding Rome had begun

As time passed, and though popular, his paranoia grew

Him, the elite feared, a dagger appeared that ended Domitian's rule