After the demise of Domitian, Rome came under the rule of beneficent and wise leaders commonly referred to as the “Five Good Emperors.” The emperors namely Nerva, Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, Trajan, and Antoninus Pius maintained a period of economic prosperity and developed Roman civilization. Each emperor had his accomplishments and strengths. This essay examines the rule of the five emperors identifying what made them successful and different from their predecessors.
Nerva came in immediately after Domitian. He had the difficult task of relieving people from the oppressive rule of the previous emperor. Hence, for the brief time he sat on the emperor’s throne he remedied Domitian and the last 12 Caesars’ wrongs such as the intolerance of Christians and oppressive taxes. Nerva thus thrived on public opinion making him a successful leader. Trajan, on the other hand, sought both the attention of the public and that of the army to become successful. He served as a brave commander, a good administrator, and a knowledgeable statesman. Trajan followed in the footsteps of Nerva trying to remedy the problems brought by the Domitian Empire.
After Trajan’s death, his son, Hadrian, was requested to take over. Hadrian was accorded the throne as a succession rite but demanded that he should be elected instead. He also had a generous spirit and the desire to assist people like Trajan and Nerva. However, Hadrian was different in that he did not believe in the ideology of portraying dominance or strength by conquering other regions like his father. Instead, he believed in education as the true measure of development. Antoninus was also similar to Hadrian but more moderate and prudent. Marcus Aurelius, in his own right, was a philosopher. He schooled in Stoics and embodied the principles of philosophy. Marcus’ reign was filled with misfortunes and plagues such as the great famine and the persecution of Christians. But he faced the difficulties with patience and courage rooted in philosophical foundations.
Bibliography
Morey, William. THE FIVE GOOD EMPERORS,—NERVA TO MARCUS AURELIUS. Outlines of Roman History. Chicago: American Book Company (1901).
Platner, Samuel Ball. A topographical dictionary of ancient Rome. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Ward, Allen M., Fritz M. Heichelheim, and Cedric A. Yeo. History of the Roman People. Routledge, 2016.
