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Such a question only brings about bigger questions. What is a good emperor? Was there ever a good emperor? What is meant by good? An emperor, by definition, is a supreme ruler or monarch. The word itself is derived from the Latin word imperatus which meant; to command. In order to be a good emperor, it would seem that emperor must be skilled in commanding the populace. If that emperor is good, then he or she has effectively seized the power necessary to rule as a commander. Where did this power come from that this emperor seized? Who or what gave this emperor the authority to command or rule the people? There is a legal doctrine known as The Divine Right Doctrine, that posits that God Himself, or Herself, gave the emperor the right to rule the land and the people on that land. A good emperor would be well versed in this doctrine.
Julius Caesar relied heavily upon Roman law in order to obtain his power of emperor over Rome. He obeyed as much of the law as was expedient to do so, but in the end took one legion from his army and crossed the Rubicon, and by entering Rome breaking Roman law as ancient as Rome itself. The die was cast and Caesar used his immense military skills to start and win a civil war. His command over his army could be considered a necessary skill required to be a good emperor and Caesars military genius was great and awe inspiring. When fighting Pompei for control of the Republic of Rome and after pursuing Pompei to Brindisium only to watch the elusive Pompei escape with Romes entire naval force, Caesar decided to wage war against his enemies and Pompei's allies in Hispania where he said: "I have set forth to fight an army without a leader, so as later to fight a leader without an army." Caesars ultimate victory over Pompei and the Optimates of the Roman senate that opposed him demonstrated his gift for leadership and command but his sense of politics and populism was another skill that made him a likely candidate for "good emperor".
Because Caesar had not condemned his enemies and pardoned practically all of them the senate began bestowing honors upon him in abstentia and there was no real public opposition to him. As an emperor he found himself charged with the responsibility of forming a new calender of which he created the calender now known as the Julian calender that was used until the 1500's when the Gregorian calender replaced it. The month of July is named in Caesars honor. This, perhaps, is evidence of a "good emperor", but peace and prosperity were not to be a part of Caesars legacy as members of the senate soon conspired to assassinate him. The group was known as The Liberatores and included Caesars close friend Marcus Junius Brutus. Brutus along with several other senators stabbed Julius Caesar 23 times and killed the first emperor of Rome. After the assassination, Brutus went out into the streets and began yelling: "People of Rome, we are once again free."
After five civil wars Caesar Augustus followed the death of Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire began. Were there "good emperors"? Was Caesar Augustus a good emperor? While historians tend to credit Augustus for initiating a period of time known as Pax Romana, under his rule Rome was in a virtual constant state of war. There were the civil wars that came before Augustus' rise to power and subsequently there were the wars with Pompeius and Antony and the wars that came with expansion and empire building. His legacy of peace stems from the empiric system he created. Many consider Augustus to be one of the greatest emperors Rome had known. Was Augustus a good emperor? His tact and political acumen and as with all of us his timing helped make him powerful and the policies he effectively implemented, the dynastic system of succession, and the steady expansion of the Roman empire seem to qualify as traits of a "good emperor" but the price of having a good emperor is the necessity to endure the bad ones. Nero, who could not possibly have fiddled while Rome burned because the fiddle had not yet been invented, but just the same is generally accepted to be a bad emperor and his legacy is the fall of Rome.
Constantine, Napoleon, Peter the Great, and Adolf Hitler were all emperors. Were they good emperors? Is having an emperor good? Do people need such a leader? Does such a concentrated collection of power make for good government? Does Power corrupt? Does absolute power corrupt absolutely? Is power better used when more evenly dispersed? Where does such power come from? Do the people have the power? Should they so willingly hand it over to one tyrant or emperor? What makes a good emperor? Perhaps an equal distribution of emperors is best. Would that every man and woman would be the emperor of their own universe, taking command of their world and owning the responsibility that comes with such command building their own empires in perfect harmony. That would make a good emperor, one of all, each and all equal under law with the divine right to rule their own lives.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe term the 'five good emperors' was invented by Machiavelli. He said that these emperors were good rulers and exercised good governance. He mentioned six emperors who ruled well: Titus, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. However, he used the term five good emperors because these men succeeded by adoption (by the previous emperor) and he thought that this was why they were good rulers. They were good rulers, lived good lives and earned the good-will of the people. Machiavelli also said that when emperors inherited the throne by birth again, bad rule started and the ruin of the empire commenced.
Historian Edward Gibbon thought that under these men the empire was 'governed by absolute power under the guidance of wisdom and virtue.' They were benevolent despots who pursued moderate policies, while their successors were more tyrannical.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAll Roman emperors helped the community in some way as it was to their advantage to be considered public benefactors. Usually this was by some new construction or gift to the people. The emperors Nero and Caligula, who many consider "bad" emperors aided considerably. Caligula enlarged the harbors at Sicily and Rhegium in order to enable the imports of grain from Egypt to increase. He eliminated some taxes, and helped people recover their losses if they were victims of fires. When a devastating earthquake hit the city of Antioch in 37, Caligula responded quickly with funds and work crews to rebuild the city. Nero gave the Romans their first imperial baths, an amphitheater and eliminated taxes for Greece. He also rebuilt the city in a safe way demanding fireproof materials to be used in most construction. He was one of Rome's most popular emperors among the common people. The so-called "good" emperors did much improving on the same order as these "bad" ones.
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Who was emperor during pax romana?
There were sixteen Roman emperors during the Pax Romana. They were the Julio/Claudians, the first three emperors in the "years of the four emperors, The Flavians and the five Good Emperors. In other words, the Pax Romana lasted from Augustus to Aurelius. Their individual names were: Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius.
What was the ruler of the Aztecs lifestyle?
they had rulers called emperors or empires that ruled each city but the emperors ruler was the gods.
Who were the four bad emperors of Rome before Christ?
There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.There were no emperors before Christ. Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the first emperor.
How many emperors did the roman empire have?
From Augustus (the first emperor) to the division of the Empire into Eastern and Western Empires in A.D. 395 there were 147 Roman Emperors, including 7 ruling the rebel Gallic empire and 2 leading the rebel British empire in defiance of central authority. After A.D.395 the Western Empire lasted until A.D476 under 23 emperors. The Eastern Empire lasted from A.D.395 to A.D.1453 under 94 emperors. From this you can see that the number of Roman emperors will be 147 if you count only the rulers of the United Roman Empire, or 9 fewer excluding rebel emperors, and many more if the Divided Empire totals of 23 and 94 more emperors are included.
Who was the first of the GalliC Emperors?
Postumus
From the five good emperors who was the greatest emperors?
Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius are considered the most outstanding among the five good emperors. Aurelian, Diocletian, Constantine I (or the Great) Theodosius I (or the Great) and Justinian I (or the Great) are considered the most outstanding emperors after the five good emperors.
Were all the good emperors adopted?
No, there were good emperors who were biological sons of previous emperors. Titus for one. Some of them were designated as heir without being adopted and others were appointed by the military.
Who are some good emperors but not The Five Good Emperors?
Ancient Rome had many, good emperors. Some of them were Augustus, Tiberius (yes, Tiberius, he left the empire in excellent financial shape), Claudius, Vespasian, Trajan and Hadrian.
Who were the first good emperors?
the first good emperor was domitian
Who are all of the 5 good emperors?
The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.The so-called fine good emperors of Rome were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius.
Who were the good ''emperors'' and what did they accomplish?
there is none loser
Who were the good emperors what did they accomplish?
there is none loser
Was octavian the greatest emperor of the five good emperors?
Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.Octavian was not one of the so-called five good emperors. The five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius and they reigned well over a hundred years after Octavian. Octavian was, however, a good emperor, perhaps the greatest that Rome produced.
What were the five good emperors known for?
The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.The five emperors from Nerva to Aurelius are called the "good emperors" because they were generally wise men and their reigns were mostly beneficial to the empire. Under one of them, Trajan, the empire reached its greatest extent.
How was Rome affected by good and bad emperors?
augutus
Who was the last of the Five Good Emperors in Rome?
Marcus Aurelius.
How many good emperors were in ancient Rome?
aproximatly eleven
