Beautiful Egypt 17 – Oppression and Murder – August, 18, 2013

   In the previous article, we began tackling a new phase in the Egyptian People’s history after Egypt became a Roman state. Egypt has always been the country to which all the great power aspire to control, due to its uniqueness and greatness. Rome had come to know the importance of Egypt, so it interfered in Egypt’s affairs and administration until it was ruled by the Caesars of the Roman state. August Caesar placed it under the direct power of the Emperor, he issued laws to keep up his control over Egypt. We have mentioned that the Holy Family’s Flight to Egypt is one of the most important events took place in Egypt during August Caesar’s rule.

Tiberius Caesar (14 AD – 37 AD):

   Tiberius Caesar I assumed the power of Rome after the death of August Caesar in 14 AD. He at first showed great modesty, declaring he is unworthy to take over the country’s rule. Once he seized the throne, his real character began to uncover. He was violent and proud, which made the people hate him and wish to get rid of him. As a result, he feared to live in the Royal Palace and went to an island near Rome to spare a life of cheat, oppression and bloodshed, until this island was turned into a graveyard. Whenever he wanted to get rid of someone, he would ask him to come to the island, where he would order him to be murdered and drowned. He didn’t cease to do so until one of the princes revolted against him and murdered him in 37 AD. The town Tiberias, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, was named in Tiberius’s honour by Herod Antipas.

   Despite being a symbol of oppression, Tiberius Caesar I was a successful politician and his era was a peaceful one. He had several publications in Greek and Latin, due to his great love for culture and sciences. The events of Christ’s crucifixion and Resurrection are the most important during his era.

1. Aemilius Aulus:

   He assigned Aemilius Aulus over Egypt’s rule. Aemilius wanted to increase the money sent to Rome, so he asked Caesar,w ho replied, “However, I do not want the shepherd except to fatten those for whom he cares, yet I do not accept those whom he slaughters, consider it.” Thus, he stopped asking for more money than what was ordered by August Caesar.

1. Aelius Seyan:

   He succeeded Aemilius in Egypt’s rule, yet he was proud, wicked and oppressor for the flock, he counseled King Tiberius Caesar to murder all the family members of August Caesar. He responded to his call and indeed murdered whoever he could destroy. Aelius kept arousing Caesar’s interest in committing sins and bloodshed, until Tiberius Caesar began to feel suspicious about him, so he rose against him, and ordered him to be murdered and his corpse to be thrown in a public square. His assassination made all the people happy, they tortured his corpse in revenge for the oppression and violence they had received from him.

Caligula Caesar (37 AD – 41 AD):

   Caligula Caesar succeeded Tiberius Caesar in Rome’s rule in 37 AD. At the onset of his rule, he was known for his good reputation, firmness, as well as wisdom. And he kept up these traits until a severe illness attacked him and he was on the verge of death. Yet, after his survival, and due to the sufferings he had during his illness, his character was turned to quiet the opposite, wickedness pervaded his heart and acts!

   Corrupted people surrounded him, and he became a bloodthirsty man who kept death as a portion for whoever contradicted with him from the Roman Senate, for whoever showed discontent of what he did. He became one of the most oppressive, treacherous and aggressive rulers. He ordered the Jews to make a statue of him in Jerusalem, they rejected, so he persecuted him harshly, exactly as he persecuted the Christians to death.

   He was a squanderer to the extent of foolishness, he spent all the state money left by Tiberius Caesar. Foolishness expanded even to his acts, he made his beloved horse one of the gods to be worshipped, assigning special priests for it. His fate was to be murdered by one of the princes inside his palace in 41 AD.

   He assigned a similarly oppressive ruler over Egypt, he oppressed the people and strife prevailed over the country then – particularly in Alexandria – until he was murdered and the country became stable.

Claudius I (41 AD – 54 AD)

   Claudius I assumed power after his predecessor’s murder. He was found unconscious by the soldiers in the palace, so they carried him, called him the Emperor of the Romans. After Claudius regained his conscious, the royal Guard pledged allegiance to him. Although Claudius Caesar was a simple, honest man who did not hurt anyone, he was not wise, but foolish and oblivious to what was going on around him.

   Despite his foolishness, he was an author; he authored a book on the history of Rome and Cartagena. Because of his foolishness, he was unable to govern the country and manage its affairs; he handed over its administration to two ministers he trusted, yet they used to push him towards committing sins and bloodshed.

   He killed his wife after he had been informed of her plot to kill him, and then got married to a more treacherous woman than his ex wife; she conspired with a doctor to poison him, and he died in 54 AD, ending a period filled with hardships. For example, a severe sedition occurred in Alexandria between its people and the Jews, and the two groups engaged in fierce fighting, but he overcame this sedition. In his days, interest in science and knowledge increased, and a House of Sciences was established in Alexandria. Also during his era, the three Gospels of the Holy Bible were written: the Gospel of St. Mark, the Gospel of St. Matthew, and the Gospel of St. Luke.

Nero Caesar (54 AD – 68 AD):

   After the assassination of Claudius Caesar, his wife made attempts to prevent his husband’s son from taking over the rule after his father’s death, she wished to appoint her son Nero over the rule. Indeed, she made him Caesar of Rome while he was fifteen years old, and for his young age, his mother ruled on his behalf.

   His intelligence and genius were witnessed by everyone, despite his young age. He had two of the best tutors; Bogus and Sanfis. Yet, he was turned to the quiet opposite; he became a tyrant, poured all his wrath on the Christians and persecuted them in the most heinous ways. He even killed many of them by brutal means in all the states of Rome. During his reign, St. Mark went to Alexandria, Egypt, Cyrenaica, and Arab Countries to preach Christianity, and many believed on his hands, and thus, Christianity entered Egypt.

   Alexandria was the base for St. Mark, but he was tortured and subjected to many hardships. Spreading Christianity in Egypt raised the anger of the Egyptian gods’ priests, so they rose up against St. Mark, and sought to torture him, and finally killed him. They also tortured many Christians and killed them. Nero Caesar persecuted the Jews, killed their chief of priests, and after a while he rose once again against them, ordered them to be killed and Jerusalem to be destroyed.

   Murder appears to be an inseparable part of Nero Caesar’s character; he killed his half brother by poisoning his drink. He then attempted to drown his mother yet she survived and returned to her palace. When he knew that, he sent someone to kill her. He killed his virtuous wife as well because he loved another woman, whom he also killed later due to his anger against her.

   In his era, the Great Fire of Rome broke out; it caused great devastation to Rome and destroyed many of its people. The people of Rome accused him of burning the country, but he spread a rumor that it was the Christians who burnt Rome, then he severely tortured them and killed many of them, including St. Peter and St. Paul the Apostles.

   Then the people rose against him, but he managed to end the strife, and killed its instigators. Out of his big ego, he ordered statues and pictures of him to be made, and to be put in public squares and to be coined on currency. When his evils and grievances got more intense, the people planned to kill him, so he fled to one of his palaces where he killed himself in 68 AD!

   During his rule, he appointed Prince Palpilus a ruler of Egypt. He managed to rule Egypt by the best means; he reformed its lands, concerned about the Nile water to increase the fertility of the land, that welfare prevailed over Egypt. Nero sought to know the source of the Nile, so he sent a mission from Rome to explore the sources of the Nile… and… Stories about Egypt never end!

The General Bishop

Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center