The Five Good Roman Emperors

Everything you need to know about them and the lessons they teach us in the modern world.

The ancient world experienced its fair share of dictatorship, blatant decadence, immorality, and hedonism during the reign of several tyrannical caesars of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Modern history books are filled with the lore of their savagery and madness that was the signature of their time on the throne.

After the fall of the last reigning emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Nero, Rome was uneventful through the years of 69–96AD in comparison to the preceding years. The Empire saw Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian rule under what was known as the Year of the Four Emperors.

Vespasian stayed in rulership until 79AD and then his son, Domitian, came into power. During his reign, there was a diligent officer, Nerva, who was positioned to rise to power and launch a new era of Good Emperors under what was the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty.

The Five Good Emperors

After the death of Domitian, the empire was on its way to restoration and into the hands of wise and generous rulers. The “five good emperors,” as they are commonly referred to, were Nerva, Trajan, and Hadrian (who were related to one another only by adoption), and the two…