The Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire (96 - 180 CE)

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Simeon Netchev
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published on 21 August 2023
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The Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire (96 - 180 CE) Download Full Size Image

An infographic illustrating the succession of Roman rulers between 96 and 180 CE, known as the Five Good Emperors (a term unknown to the ancient Romans, coined by Nicolo Machiavelli in his 1531 manuscript Discourses on Livy and made widely popular by Edward Gibbon in his 18th century The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,) Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. Those were everyone but two of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty, with Lucius Verus and Commodus not making the cut. During the time of this “kingdom of gold” (Gibbon), the Roman Empire “was governed by absolute power under the guidance of wisdom and virtue.” (Gibbon) The 84-year period is widely accepted as the high point of the Empire, with Imperial Succession ensured through adoption based on merit and acceptance rather than a strict bloodline.

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About the Author

Simeon Netchev
Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher passionate about the human stories behind past events. He believes every image should tell a story and spark interaction, while each map leads on a journey, blending imagination with education.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Netchev, S. (2023, August 21). The Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire (96 - 180 CE). World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17738/the-five-good-emperors-of-the-roman-empire-96---18/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire (96 - 180 CE)." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified August 21, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17738/the-five-good-emperors-of-the-roman-empire-96---18/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire (96 - 180 CE)." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 21 Aug 2023. Web. 29 Oct 2024.

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