Who is your favorite Roman Emperor?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by zzancientcoins, Jun 18, 2007.

  1. zzancientcoins

    zzancientcoins Junior Member

    Hi,

    Having read a book about the lives and deaths of the Roman Emperors,
    I am curious to know who is your favorite emperor, and the reasons
    why he is favorite? As a follow-up question, is this the reason
    that a coin of that emperor may be your favorite? or is the favorite
    coin not connected to a favorite emperor?

    Kindest regards,

    B. Leon
     
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  3. Bonedigger

    Bonedigger New Member

  4. Drusus

    Drusus Pecunia non olet

    Antoninus Pius would probably be the one I admire the most.

    The story of Maximinus (thrax) intrigued me the most though.
     
  5. andrew289

    andrew289 Senior Analyst

    There is only one Caesar ...julius Caesar that is! I also like Augustus, I just finished his most recent biography which was very well done. Trajan, Hadrian and Constantine follow inorder and then it would have to be Nero and Caligula.
     
  6. Drusus

    Drusus Pecunia non olet

    Julius wasnt an emperor...:) If we are talking greatest Romans including dictators...mine would be the greatest Roman ever!!!

    Gaius Marius.
     
  7. JeromeLS

    JeromeLS Coin Fanatic

    Augustus, Caligula, Hadrian, and a completely unknown called Hostilian who was emporer for a few months in 251

    No Abusive Language allowed please
     
  8. zzancientcoins

    zzancientcoins Junior Member

    RE: Emperors - the reasons??

    Hi,

    Thank you very much for your replies, but what are the reasons for
    each pick? Caligula was a crazy freak-o who murdered whimsically,
    and had sex with just about anything that moved. Strange how
    truth is stranger than fiction.

    What are the reasons for each of your picks?

    kindest regards,

    B. Leon
     
  9. Ardatirion

    Ardatirion Où est mon poisson

    Trajan. I think my choice is self-explanatory.
     
  10. Drusus

    Drusus Pecunia non olet

    I wouldnt mind hearing the reasons behind this one...I couldnt imagine.
     
  11. zzancientcoins

    zzancientcoins Junior Member

    RE: nothing is self-explanatory for the ignorant...

    Please don't assume that I or others know why any choice is self-explanatory. Certainly there must be specific reasons why you like Trajan as Emperor. I am ignorant of the exact reasons of why you choose him.

    kindest regards,

    B. Leon
     
  12. Bonedigger

    Bonedigger New Member

    He was the son of Decius...
     
  13. zzancientcoins

    zzancientcoins Junior Member

    Hostilian? - I find no such Emperor

    Hi,

    According to the book I read about the deaths of Roman Emperors
    called Emperors Don't Die in Bed by Fik Meijer (originally in Dutch),
    there was no Hostilian. It was:

    Philip the Arab from 244 A.D.,
    Decius from 249 A.D.,
    Trebonianus Gallus from 251 A.D.,
    Aemilian from 253 A.D. who lasted about one - two months
    Valerian from 253 A.D. who lasted about one - two months
    Gallienus from 253 A.D.

    kindest regards,

    B. Leon
     
  14. Drusus

    Drusus Pecunia non olet

    Hostilian shared rule only in name with his father (caesar) and briefly under Gallus ...its just that he didnt do much at all and died of the plague...I am just curious as to what would make him a favorite.
     
  15. AnemicOak

    AnemicOak Coin Hoarder


    http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Hostilian
     
  16. andrew289

    andrew289 Senior Analyst

  17. Aidan Work

    Aidan Work New Member

  18. willieboyd2

    willieboyd2 First Class Poster

    The best known emperors are the nasty boys and perverts.
    There is a popular CD-writing software program called "Nero".
    No one is going to market a program called "Antoninus Pius".

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Ardatirion

    Ardatirion Où est mon poisson

    Ha! I always assumed that the "Nero" software was called such because it burned cd's. I always liked the pun. :-D

    By the way, I said Trajan because the Empire reached the high water mark of its power, territorially speaking.
     
  20. Drusus

    Drusus Pecunia non olet

    so true...but Antoninus Pius was, most likely, the most level headed and fair emperor. He didnt hold treason trials and those few who lost thier life under him, did so because they were truely the worst of the worst and even then he didnt want them dead and would have nothing to do with it...he was a very wise man....so wise that his name would be adopted by many successive emperors (most who shared none of his good qualities) wishing to associate themselves with the reign of this rare good emperor.

    "His reign was mostly peaceful and well administered. Compared to the chaos that was to come, Pius' reign was a bit boring in the best sense of the word."

    Antoninus Pius
    Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (Marcus Aurelius)
    Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus (Commodus)
    Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Caracalla)
    Varius Avitus Bassianus Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Elagabalus)

    It began to be used as an add on to many emperors name, more like a title as Augustus and Ceasar...

    He didnt have sex with his sister, he wasnt a glutton...heads didnt roll...he was just a smart wise man and good administrator...:)

    [​IMG]
     
  21. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    as far as dictators go, Cincinnatus was interesting. but cant say favorate since I know very little about him.


    and far and imperials :eek:

    Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian.
     
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