A Brief History
On an unknown day c. November 275, Roman Emperor Aurelian was murdered by members of the Praetorian Guard, only to be subsequently deified by the Roman Senate.
Digging Deeper
Written some unknown time later, towards the end of the biography of Aurelian in the Historia Augusta, the ancient biographer lists Aurelian among the twelve best Roman emperors as a contrast to the more numerous number of “evil” emperors. The biographer then ponders the following: “The question, indeed, is often asked what it is that makes emperors evil; first of all, my friend, it is freedom from restraint, next, abundance of wealth, furthermore, unscrupulous friends, pernicious attendants, the greediest eunuchs, courtiers who are fools or knaves, and — it cannot be denied — ignorance of public affairs.”
Question for students (and subscribers): Based on what you have learned about various Roman emperors, do you agree with this author’s answer to his own question of what is it that makes an emperor evil? Also, what does an emperor have to do to be classified as evil? Finally, which specific emperors if any would you characterize as evil? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Magie, David, trans. Historia Augusta, Volume III (Loeb Classical Library). Harvard University Press, 2022.
White, John F. The Roman Emperor Aurelian: Restorer of the World. Pen and Sword Military, 2020.
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