At its height, the Roman Empire controlled huge swaths of Europe and the Middle East—and the Emperors of the great conquering nation had to be cunning, cruel, and brutal to survive in this wide, cutthroat world. From the death of Julius Caesar to the mad ramblings of Nero, here are the most ruthless Roman Emperors in history. Roman Emperors Facts1. All Roads Lead to Julius CaesarJulius Caesar is now the most famous Roman ruler in history, and his brutal assassination at the age of 55 has lived in infamy ever since—yet few people know his even darker history. The brilliant Caesar quickly rose f…