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Aurelius' positive aura and reputation for being a "good" emperor may stem from his good relation with the Senate, as the senatorial historians would have been
by agravier 6y ago
Aurelius' positive aura and reputation for being a "good" emperor may stem from his good relation with the Senate, as the senatorial historians would have been the main determinants of what image of him gets passed down to us (albeit indirectly). The same thing would go about other emperors.
Also, w.r.t. wars and other state matters, a ruler generally will not operate in vacuum, and had to account for the provincial gouvernements' needs and demands, the Senate, etc, ... and of course, the need to defend against aggression.
- sebmellen 6y agoHis Meditations undoubtedly also play a part in how he is perceived today, do you not think so?
- agravier 6y agoYes, I think so. But I'm talking about how his actions and decisions as Emperor have echoed through history, as opposed to how others (f.e. Nero's) are remembered.
- polytely 6y agoI think the fact that his writings were passed on also helps, don't know how good a person he was in actuality, but I was left with a very positive impression of him after reading meditations.