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Ancient History thought of the day: Why would anyone want to be emperor of Rome?
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:02 pm
I'm still on the Roman History kick, learning more about the year of 6 emperors (238 AD) and I confirmed a thought I had a few weeks ago: I would NEVER want to be a Roman Emperor.
I just went through and counted, 32 Roman Emperors are confirmed to have died from assassination, several more deaths are suspected assassinations, and many more died in battle during a civil war or invasion.
On top of that it seemed like 1 or 2 out of 3 of the people, the army, or the Senate hated almost every emperor, even the great ones who ruled for decades.
Why would any elite Roman politician or general ever want to be emperor? Unless you were truly a once in a century type of ruler (Augustus, Trajan, Constantine ect...)
You basically just confirmed your death, and/or hatred, and/or death of all your friends and family was coming sometime in the next decade. And if you were lucky enough to die of natural causes, your son or heir almost certainly wouldn't live up to expectations and would be assassinated.
I just went through and counted, 32 Roman Emperors are confirmed to have died from assassination, several more deaths are suspected assassinations, and many more died in battle during a civil war or invasion.
On top of that it seemed like 1 or 2 out of 3 of the people, the army, or the Senate hated almost every emperor, even the great ones who ruled for decades.
Why would any elite Roman politician or general ever want to be emperor? Unless you were truly a once in a century type of ruler (Augustus, Trajan, Constantine ect...)
You basically just confirmed your death, and/or hatred, and/or death of all your friends and family was coming sometime in the next decade. And if you were lucky enough to die of natural causes, your son or heir almost certainly wouldn't live up to expectations and would be assassinated.
This post was edited on 5/9/15 at 1:03 pm
16
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:12 pm to Tiger1242
Every man dies. Not every man really lives.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:28 pm to Tiger1242
I read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbons several times and came away with the same question. The majority of the time, becoming Emperor was just expediting your death.
I just finished reading The History of Scotland by Magnusson and it was very similar. From about 800 AD to 1650 AD(Charles I) very few Kings enjoyed a reign uninterrupted by assassination or at least multiple assassination attempts. There were also very few who failed to be captured/ abducted at least once and imprisoned in some castle for a lengthy time until they were either executed, rescued or released.
I guess it is the lure of power was so strong for those who held a claim to the throne that they reasoned that they would be the exception and not eventually be taken out.
I just finished reading The History of Scotland by Magnusson and it was very similar. From about 800 AD to 1650 AD(Charles I) very few Kings enjoyed a reign uninterrupted by assassination or at least multiple assassination attempts. There were also very few who failed to be captured/ abducted at least once and imprisoned in some castle for a lengthy time until they were either executed, rescued or released.
I guess it is the lure of power was so strong for those who held a claim to the throne that they reasoned that they would be the exception and not eventually be taken out.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:36 pm to Dick Leverage
Yea I suppose everyone thinks they are special and the exception.
I just don't get it, if you're an uber powerful general who has the faith and loyalty of the whole army, why not just rode that out? You basically have all the real power anyway, but there is always a fall guy if things go bad (the emperor).
There were more than a few generals who rejected the legions calls for them to be Caesar, they are the smart ones
I just don't get it, if you're an uber powerful general who has the faith and loyalty of the whole army, why not just rode that out? You basically have all the real power anyway, but there is always a fall guy if things go bad (the emperor).
There were more than a few generals who rejected the legions calls for them to be Caesar, they are the smart ones
This post was edited on 5/9/15 at 1:37 pm
Posted on 5/9/15 at 1:40 pm to Tiger1242
b/c they wanted oysters AND snails
Posted on 5/9/15 at 2:20 pm to Tiger1242
I'm 100% sure those emperors could choose whatever woman they wanted to suck them off whenever they wanted, for decades in a row before being assassinated. And be rich as frick
Posted on 5/9/15 at 2:21 pm to Tiger1242
Even with the probability of death it still sounds more enjoyable than being president.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 2:23 pm to Tiger1242
Just like everything else in life it's about poon.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 4:43 pm to Tiger1242
Rich, famous, suicide to name a few.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 6:19 pm to Tiger1242
As mentioned before, everyone is the exception.
Truly great men don't want to be equal to the ones before them, they want to be better. The previous emperor making mistakes leading to his hatred and death has no bearing on me being a boss emperor
Truly great men don't want to be equal to the ones before them, they want to be better. The previous emperor making mistakes leading to his hatred and death has no bearing on me being a boss emperor
Posted on 5/9/15 at 6:26 pm to Mizzoufan26
I guess it's a lot to ask any man to admit he's not truly great.
I'd like to think though if I were some Spanish legion general living happily at the head of a massive army that loved me and no real threats to my power or life. I would have sense enough not to get involved in a power struggle for a position that has changed hands by brutal murder more times than not, and multiple times in my own career.
I probably wouldn't though. I'd probably think I could be the exception, fight a horrific war for power, and get assassinated after 5 mediocre years running the empire
I'd like to think though if I were some Spanish legion general living happily at the head of a massive army that loved me and no real threats to my power or life. I would have sense enough not to get involved in a power struggle for a position that has changed hands by brutal murder more times than not, and multiple times in my own career.
I probably wouldn't though. I'd probably think I could be the exception, fight a horrific war for power, and get assassinated after 5 mediocre years running the empire
This post was edited on 5/9/15 at 6:28 pm
Posted on 5/9/15 at 6:59 pm to Tiger1242
If you're one of the most powerful men in Rome, it doesn't matter whether you're playing the game or not. If you have the potential to be a threat, someone will perceive you as a threat and act accordingly. So you will play the game out of self preservation.
Don Corleone tried to opt out of the narcotics business, and they wouldn't let him. He was just as dangerous to them sitting on the sidelines as he would be if he was neck deep in it.
Don Corleone tried to opt out of the narcotics business, and they wouldn't let him. He was just as dangerous to them sitting on the sidelines as he would be if he was neck deep in it.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 7:16 pm to Tiger1242
Beats most of the alternatives in ancient Rome. Not like these people were leaving til their 80's anyway. Might as well be the boss while alive. They did have it pretty good before dead.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 7:21 pm to Tiger1242
For the secks
Posted on 5/9/15 at 7:31 pm to Tiger1242
It's easy to see why someone would want to do it. Why someone would choose to do it even with what would most likely happen to them is the real question. It's like being a celebrity. Everyone wants to be rich and loved, but very few people can handle the negatives of it.
I think men trust the people they see as loyal to them without realizing how easily men are bought. For the right price, a loyal soldier would easily switch to a hired assassin simply because they are promised wealth or power by people hiring them.
I think men trust the people they see as loyal to them without realizing how easily men are bought. For the right price, a loyal soldier would easily switch to a hired assassin simply because they are promised wealth or power by people hiring them.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 8:04 pm to Dijkstra
1. Some of them actually cared about the empire and tried to make a difference. They really took it seriously. Hadrian, Trajan, Aurelius, Augustus, Tiberius are in that class.
2. As someone said, if it was offered to you or you could seize it, you took it. If you didn't, well, whoever did become emperor would make sure you disappeared. See Germanicus.
3. It was the greatest possession of absolute power known in history at the time. Not many men can refuse that temptation.
4. Many of them did want to defend Rome against the barbarians and preserve civilization.
5. Some just wanted the right to butcher and lord it over everyone. Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and others.
2. As someone said, if it was offered to you or you could seize it, you took it. If you didn't, well, whoever did become emperor would make sure you disappeared. See Germanicus.
3. It was the greatest possession of absolute power known in history at the time. Not many men can refuse that temptation.
4. Many of them did want to defend Rome against the barbarians and preserve civilization.
5. Some just wanted the right to butcher and lord it over everyone. Caligula, Nero, Domitian, and others.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 8:08 pm to Tiger1242
I think it was ego and power. Ego because they believed they would be the one to buck the trend and live long. Also, they knew you would be reading their names millenia after their deathes. Power because they controlled a quarter of the worlds population.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 8:15 pm to NYNolaguy1
It depends. The early ones saw how the Republic was destroyed through civil wars where Augustus was literally the last man standing. He and Tiberius prized order above all else. Then Caligula came along. Claudius meant well as well. You actually study these guys and you will be surprised at how many of them took their jobs very seriously.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 8:16 pm to Tiger1242
Caesars don't fear the reaper. At least that's what Blue Oyster Cult has led me to believe.
Posted on 5/9/15 at 8:23 pm to Tiger1242
Any man can follow, but only a very special few can lead a people. Being the emporer of Rome is simply just bad arse. The guarantee of death shouldn't be a discourager because death is life's guarantee
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