Who was the greatest Roman leader?

[Peri]

To continue the 'Greatest' theme I was wondering who you thought was the greatest Roman leader/politician?

I cant post an exhaustive list so please feel free to make full use of the 'Other' option.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Hail Caesar!

He got the Roman Empire rolling as an empire.
And besides, he conquered Gaul-and what ruler wouldn't want to control a place named Gaul?

And he was such a nice guy - he left $75 for every Roman in his will.

It's too bad that Shakespeare makes him seem like such a loser.

 

[MrPresident]

Augustus. Long live the Emperor!

 

[Kafka2]

A tough choice, but I'm going for Trajan.

 

[napoleon526]

Julius Caesar was a military genius but lacked political tact, as evidenced by his assassination by members of the senate. Augustus was much more of a political ruler, truly transforming the Republic into an Empire. Trajan had the best qualities of both.

 

[test_specimen]

I voted for Julius Caesar, because he was the most important person to influence Rome, apart from the early reign (and from civ you know that the early game decides on your long-term success). Caesar was also an incredible conqueror and if you ever have latin at school you will love what he wrote, because it is more straightforward than any other author.

Augustus would not have been possible without Caesar, so I would put him in second place.

 

[Kafka2]

Originally posted by test_specimen
Caesar was also an incredible conqueror and if you ever have latin at school you will love what he wrote, because it is more straightforward than any other author.

He practically invented the soundbite. Do we praise him or blame him?

 

[Zcylen]

Numa Pompilius was considered one of the best rulers of Rome.
from the later years I'd say Julius Caesar and Augustus

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by napoleon526
Julius Caesar was a military genius but lacked political tact, as evidenced by his assassination by members of the senate. Augustus was much more of a political ruler, truly transforming the Republic into an Empire.

True, but JC could have just been ahead of his time.

If Augustus went and became the first emperor, the Senate might have killed him instead.

JC had plenty of political tact, he just went about campaigning to the wrong crowd, forgetting his target audience should have been the rich and powerful.

 

[Archer 007]

Augustus.

 

[Dark Ascendant]

Augustus, bye Republic, hello bad-ass empire.

 

[Parsifal]

What happened to Scipio, Camillus, Antoninus Pius and Justinian?

I voted Augustus BTW

 

[test_specimen]

Originally posted by Kafka2


He practically invented the soundbite. Do we praise him or blame him?

What's "soundbite"? Couldn't find it in the dictionary.

 

[Peri]

Originally posted by Parsifal
What happened to Scipio, Camillus, Antoninus Pius and Justinian?

I voted Augustus BTW

I cant post an exhaustive list so please feel free to make full use of the 'Other' option.

It is only an arbitary list. That is why the other option is there and I invited you to use it if your 'guy' wasnt on listed.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Many of the posters won't know anything about anyone other than the Julio-Claudians. They won't understand the likes of the miraculous reign of Diocletian.

And I see there are no Gore Vidal fans to vote for the good old apostate.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Sure, Diocletian was a great guy, he was the one who made all sorts of reforms and pretty much saved the empire for a while, right?

But still, I'm sticking with JC.

 

[Xen]

in spirit in was Cincinattus,a dictator of Rome who after the crisis was over over vary honorablly left the position peacefully to continue a life as farmer, when most nobles would have attempted to keep the position, but otherwise a close call between Trajan and Agustus, but i'm leaning to Trajan

 

[pi8ch]

Defenitely not Marcus Aurelius. His wars had been more a "peace war" where he tried to stregthen the borders and to make "peace". He was surely no conqueror.

BTW: His role is much misinterpreted in the movie "Gladiator" (His son Commudus gets even more misinterpreted there...)

I go for Julius Caesar.. The man who invented Imperialism.

 

[JustDontBiteIt]

well, either Diocletian, Constantine or Justinian, unless u go all the way back to 753bc, then i would hav to say Romulus, gota love the way he gave Rome that population boost through raping sabines, but im thinking either Diocletian or Constantine as the major contenders

 

[Irish Caesar]

You left Nero and Caligula off of the list.

What if someone wanted to vote for one of them?