The Five Good Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, who ruled Rome from AD 96 to 180. They were all adopted and earned the throne through hard work, maintaining peace and stability in the empire. Their reigns were marked by prosperity and cultural flourishing, but the empire collapsed after Marcus Aurelius’ rule due to social, political, and economic troubles.
The Five Good Emperors were five Roman emperors who ruled consecutively from AD 96 to 180. The reigns of these emperors were marked by a period of relative peace, stability, and prosperity for the Roman Empire, and some people think of this period as a sort of golden age for Roman society. During this period, the emperors participated in a variety of projects ranging from building public facilities to reaching peaceful settlements with people in remote parts of the empire, ensuring that they left a lasting legacy.
In order, the five good emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius. These men were distinguished by being all adopted, earning the throne instead of inheriting it. Experts suggest that they won popular support by working their way through Rome’s political ranks instead of simply inheriting the empire, and their moderate policies and defensive tactics helped maintain peace and stability in the Roman Empire. As many Roman emperors who inherited the throne were notorious for their corruption and eccentricities, and their rules were marked by political intrigue and chaos as people jostled for power. By being adopted, these five men avoided many of these problems.
The term was coined by Machiavelli, who wrote about the emperors in 1503, discussing the idea that they strengthened the Roman Empire by consolidating its possession, establishing friendly relations with the Roman Senate and favoring a flourishing of arts and culture. Since 1503, numerous other historians have studied these emperors and commented on their role in Roman history.
According to Machiavelli, the government of these emperors was “good”, marking a departure from the often despotic and insane actions of previous rulers. Other historians support this idea, adding that the rule of the Five Good Emperors marked a period of virtuous and wise decisions that made the Roman Empire a more pleasant and productive place to live.
Unfortunately for the empire, the beginnings of immense turmoil marked Marcus Aurelius’ rule, and these problems only worsened after his death. Social unrest, political troubles, and economic troubles began plaguing the Roman Empire, and neighboring regions began pillaging Rome, feeling the blood in the water. In 476, the empire collapsed completely, ending 500 years of Roman rule over Europe.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
