Best Roman Emperor?

[Recursion]

This came up in some thread a while ago.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. Hadrian

He really knew a thing or two about walls!

[Sheets of Easter]

11. It was done to keep the troops from fighting during peace time.

Our modern leaders could learn a thing or two by his example.

[Lady Freedom]

2. Hello! Forgot one, The One and only...

Gaius Julius Caesar?Born July 13, 100 BC – Murdered March 15, 44 BC.

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. Julius Caesar wasn't an emperor...

his successor Augustus was the first.

[Recursion]

9. He was a triumvir and dicator, but was not an Emperor

He was never Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus.

[CreekDog]

3. Nero was underrated

:think:

[Dr. Strange]

13. First time I ever used this smilie:

:nopity:

[CreekDog]

20. uhhh

:applause: :rofl:

[Kutjara]

5. Other: Caligula.

The man was about 2,000 years ahead of his time. His kind of government has only really been perfected in the past seven years.

[NewJeffCT]

6. Trajan expanded the empire to its largest

and, was also the first non-Roman to be Emperor.

[semillama]

7. Marcus Aurelius

Not only was he the last of the Five Good Emperors, he was also one of the most important Stoic philosophers.

[LibertyLover]

8. Definately Julian the Apostate

He tried to re-introduce paganism as the official state religion. Go Julian!!!

[underpants]

10. Chicken Parmigiano

[Sheets of Easter]

12. Technically a Byzantine Emperor (which considered itself the Roman Empire),

Constantine V Kroponymos. The "shit-named." I kid you not. :D

[jobycom]

14. Commodus. No, I'm not voting for him, I just like saying his name. nt

[joeybee12]

15. Trajan was the gay one, right?

Voted for him.

[Recursion]

16. I'm not sure the modern senses of "gay" and "straight" are terribly applicable to ancient cultures

That said, quite a few Emperors seemed to enjoy sex with other men.

[joeybee12]

17. But I think he pretty much lived with the guy...

...a little more than the casual sex the Romans (many of them) were so fond of.

[Recursion]

21. Fair enough, still...

...I've often thought asking if Trajan, or Claudius, or whoever, were "gay" is like asking if Augustine was "black": those just aren't concepts that, in my mind, translate into ancient Rome. They did have an idea of sexual orientation, but it was roughly the same distinction we make today between "top" and "bottom".

[joeybee12]

24. And why isn't there a Caligula option?

are you discriminating against sadistic barbarians who comit crimes against humanity? :D

[Recursion]

25. Little Boots had his moments

But it's a shame Germanicus didn't get his chance instead. He could have been a great emperor and maybe kept Rome on a more even track for a while.

[joeybee12]

33. Yeah, but how many plays, movies, books and television shows

would have been produced about him? Caligula has helped saved the 20th and 21st century entertainment biz.

[intaglio]

28. Well, derrrr, this is Democratic Underground

How could we vote for Dubya?

[Recursion]

30. Huge difference:

Caligula actually fulfilled his military service obligations.

[mitchum]

34. Nor did Caligula favor the wealthy and powerful

[mitchum]

29. Actually most of his crimes were against the wealthy and powerful...

and there is nohing wrong with that

[mitchum]

31. Actually, most of his crimes were against the wealthy and powerful...

and I rarely object to that

[mitchum]

32. delete: double post

[Recursion]

35. Have you noticed the "edit" button?

:)

[mitchum]

36. Yes...

and I had noticed my second screw up after doing it, but just let it go. I had fearful visions of it turning even more into a Lucille Ball bit :)

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. Sometimes this place is just too easy

[Recursion]

19. Vewy weww. I wiww wewease Wodewick. (nt)

[YankeyMCC]

22. Screw Rome!

All honor and glory to Queen Dido!

"Rome must die!"

[Recursion]

23. "If not for mine, for Empire's sake...

...some pity on your lover take;
Ah! make not, in a hopeless fire
A hero fall, and Troy once more expire."

"Fate forbids what you pursue."

"Aeneas has no fate but you.
Let Dido smile and I'll defy
The feeble strokes of destiny."

I love the fact that "if you won't do it for me, will you do it for your country?" has been around (and apparently effective) for millenia.

[YankeyMCC]

27. The ancient classics hold timeless insights and wisdoms

for example I've been reading the Iliad with my son (he's 11) and Achilles speech about how Agamemnon essentially misled all the Argives into a quagmire war was just a spooky. :)

[mitchum]

26. Marcus Aurelius was the best, but Caligula is my favorite