THE CHRISTIAN ERA—WHEN FIRST USED.
1. When was the practice of reckoning time from the birth of Christ instituted, and by whom? 2. What nations now reckon time according to this era?
G.
Answer.—Dionysius the Little, a learned monk, introduced the use of this epoch in Italy in the sixth century. It began to be made use of in Gaul and England about two centuries later. It is now followed in nearly all Christian countries and in several Eastern nations.
THE TWELVE CÆSARS.
Saopi, Minn.
Who were the twelve Cæsars?
M. H. Miller.
Answer.—The twelve Cæsars are Julius Cæsar and the eleven Emperors following him, most of whom were from his family. Nerva was chosen by the Senate, and was the first to select a successor without regard to family. Following are the names and dates of the reigns of the twelve: Julius Cæsar, 44; Augustus, 31 B. C.-14 A. D., Tiberius, 14-37; Caius, 37-41; Claudius, 41-54; Nero, 54-68; Galba, 68-69; Otho, 69; Vitellius, 69; Vespasian, 69-79; Titus, 79-81; Domitian, 81-96. The title Cæsar was given to all of the Roman Emperors, until the time of Hadrian, after whom Cæsar was the title of the heir of the throne, and the title of the Emperor was Augustus.