@Neoprusiano Emperador Pablo I de Rusia Импера́тор Павел I России Imperator Paulus I Russiae Kaiser Paul I. von Russland Emperor Paul I of Russia Empereur Paul I de Russie

Vladimir Lukich Borovikovsky (1757-1825), 1799.

Emperor Alexander Severus, born 1.X.208.

Fath Ali Shah (1834-1772 AD)

Fat′h Ali Shah was the son of Hossein Qoli Khan Qajar, brother of Agha Mohammad Khan. He was governor of Fars when his uncle was assassinated in 1797. Fat′h Ali shah’s real name was “Bābā Khān" but he was crowned as Fat′h Ali Shah. He became suspicious of his chancellor Hajji Ebrahim Khan Kalantar and ordered his execution. Hajji Ebrahim Khan had been chancellor to Zand and Qajar rulers for some fifteen years.

Much of his reign was marked by the resurgence of Persian arts and painting, as well as a deeply elaborate court culture with extremely rigid etiquette. In particular during his reign, portraiture and large-scale oil painting reached a height previously unknown under any other Islamic dynasty, largely due to his personal patronage.

Fat′h Ali also ordered the creation of much royal regalia, including coronations chairs, “Takht-e-Tâvoos" (Persian: تخت طاووس‎) or Peacock throne and “Takht-e-Nāderī" (Persian: تخت نادری‎) or Naderi throne, which was also used by later kings, and the “Tāj-i-Kīyānī" (Persian: تاج كيانى‎), or Kiani Crown, a modification of the crown of the same name created by his uncle Agha Mohammad Khan. This, like most of his regalia, was studded with a large number of pearls and gems.

In 1797, he was given a complete set of the Britannica’s 3rd edition, which he read completely; after this feat, he extended his royal title to include “Most Formidable Lord and Master of the Encyclopædia Britannica."[1]

Marble bust of Caracalla 

212-217 AD

Eldest son of Septimus Severus and Julia Domna. He ruled jointly with his brother Geta for a short time before he had him murdered in 211 AD. He had his brother’s memory erased from monuments and coins and killed any supporters he had had. Including Caracalla’s ex wife Fulvia Plautilla and her family. 

The nickname Caracalla was given to him because of the type of Gallic hooded tunic he wore. He is one of the most notorious and unpleasant Emperors thanks to a number of massacres and persecutions he instigated across the Empire. He did however grant Roman citizenship to all freemen across the Empire… but that was in order to increase his tax revenues. 

He had an estimated 20,000 people murdered in Alexandria after they made a satire play about Caracalla’s claims that Geta’s murder was self defence.

He is said to have tricked the Parthians into peace by pretending to accept a Parthian bride then slaughtering both bride and guests at the wedding celebrations. Leading to further wars with Parthia. 

Seeking popularity in Rome he commissioned the Baths of Caracalla (as they are known today). They were the largest public baths ever built in Rome. The main bath room was larger than St Peter’s Basilica and could accomodate over 2000 citizens at any one time. It was opened in 216, with its own libraries, outdoor tracks and private rooms. It was lavishly decorated with marble trimmed floors, columns, mosaics and colossal statues.

He was assassinated while urinating near Carrhae on his way to continue his war with Parthia on 8th April 217 AD. The killer was his own body guard Julius Martialis.  

Source: Metropolitan Museum

Cameo with double portrait of the emperor Trajan and his wife Plotina

AD 105-115

This double portrait shows the Roman emperor Trajan and his wife Plotina. The cameo is carved from a three-layered sardonyx, a type of precious stone.

Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Traianus, about AD 53–117), was a native of Italica in south-west Spain. His father had risen to prominence as a military commander and politician under the emperor Vespasian (AD 69–79). Trajan followed him into a successful military career and was adopted by the elderly, childless emperor Nerva. He became ruler in AD 98 and under him, the empire reached its greatest extent.

Trajan and Plotina did not have any children. In AD 85 Trajan became guardian of the future emperor Hadrian, son of his cousin. There are indications that Trajan may have groomed Hadrian as his potential heir. He guided Hadrian’s career and agreed to a marriage with his great-niece, Sabina. But Hadrian was never confirmed with the title of Caesar, so it was never publicly clear that he was the intended successor. In fact, Trajan frequently pronounced that a number of men were capable of ruling the empire. Only on his deathbed did Trajan adopt Hadrian as his heir and successor. The letter of adoption was signed by Plotina, leading to rumours she may have manipulated the succession.

The maker of this cameo has created a powerful mix of naturalistic and idealised features in his depiction of the imperial couple. Many of the best gem cutters came from the Greek parts of the Roman Empire and luxury objects of this kind were circulated among the elite.

(Source: The British Museum)

Today in History: December 2, 1804, The Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte

In Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned Napoleon I, the first Frenchman to hold the title of emperor in a thousand years. 

The ceremony had started at nine a.m. when the Papal procession set out from the Tuileries. The procession was led by a bishop on a mule holding aloft the Papal crucifix. The Pope entered Notre Dame first, to the anthem Tu es Petrus, and took his seat on a throne near the high altar.

The two-part ceremony was held at different ends of Notre Dame to emphasize the disconnectedness of religious and secular facets. An unmanned balloon, ablaze with three thousand lights in an imperial crown pattern was launched from the front of Notre Dame during the celebration.

At the moment of the crowning when the Pope said, “Receive the imperial crown…” Napoleon unexpectedly turned and, forestalling the Pope, removed his laurel wreath and crowned himself and then crowned the kneeling Joséphine with a small crown surmounted by a cross, which he had first placed on his own head. At Napoleon’s enthronement the Pope said, “May God confirm you on this throne and may Christ give you to rule with him in his eternal kingdom”.

Limited in his actions, Pius VII proclaimed further the Latin formula “Vivat imperator in aeternum!” (May the Emperor live forever!), which was echoed by the full choirs in a Vivat, followed by “Te Deum”. With his hands on the Bible, Napoleon took the oath:

After the oath the newly appointed herald of arms proclaimed loudly: “The thrice glorious and thrice august Emperor Napoleon is crowned and enthroned. Long live the Emperor!” During the people’s acclamations Napoleon, surrounded by dignitaries, left the cathedral while the choir sang “Domine salvum fac imperatorem nostrum Napoleonem”—”God save our Emperor Napoleon”.

The Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army or the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses”, is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

The figures, dating from 3rd century BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers in Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits near by Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and they include officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.

The terracotta army figures were manufactured in workshops by government laborers and by local craftsmen, and the material used to make the terracotta warriors originated on Mount Li. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Once assembled, intricate features such as facial expressions were added.

The terracotta figures are life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. Most originally held real weapons such as spears, swords, or crossbows. The figures were also originally painted with bright pigments, variously coloured in pink, red, green, blue, black, brown, white and lilac. The coloured lacquer finish, individual facial features, and actual weapons used in producing these figures created a realistic appearance. Most of the original weapons were thought to have been looted shortly after the creation of the army, or have rotted away, and the colour coating has flaked off or greatly faded. However, their existence serves as a testament to the amount of labor and skill involved in their construction.

A Japanese emperor’s crown “Benkan” from the Edo period (1603-1868) of Japan

Ecuador seeks answer to riddle of Inca emperor's tomb

The mystery surrounding the tomb of the last Inca emperor - and its reputed treasure - might be closer to being solved.

If Ecuadorean historian Tamara Estupinan is right, Emperor Atahualpa’s mummified body was kept in the lush, hilly lowlands, a six-hour drive south-west of Ecuador’s capital city, Quito.

While it is still too early to confirm Ms Estupinan’s theory, this discovery could shed light on a tumultuous historical period that marked the beginning of the Spanish colonial era in the Americas.

At its height, in the early 1500s, the Inca empire covered most of the Andes, from southern Colombia to central Chile as well as some parts of Argentina.

Inca emperors were mummified because it was believed that their powers remained within their bodies, which were guarded by guards and family members. Read more.