Who would have been a better leader?

Cornelius · Post by **Cornelius** » 2004-03-11 06:14pm

Who would have been the Better despot?

Caesar or Agustus?

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2004-03-11 07:32pm

We know that Augustus did a good job of being a despot. We don't know how good Julius might have done, but we do know that he was highly competent at everything he had done previously. I've got a weak spot for Julie, I'll vote for him.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-03-11 07:48pm

wasn't Caeser simply the title given to roman leaders upon their ascendence to the throne?

Jawawithagun · Post by **Jawawithagun** » 2004-03-11 08:00pm

it was after a certain owner of that name made it highly popular (hint: his other name was Iulius)

Johonebesus · Post by **Johonebesus** » 2004-03-11 08:49pm

Darth_Zod wrote:wasn't Caeser simply the title given to roman leaders upon their ascendence to the throne?

No, it was the name of the house to which C. Julius Caesar belonged. Even though the Romans refused to call their monarch a king, they still liked the idea of a hereditary dynasty, especially after Augustus had C. Julius deified. Augustus was the adopted heir of Caesar, and for several generations each emperor legally adopted his chosen heir, so, legally, the emperors were descendants of C. Julius Caesar. Eventually civil war broke the line, but all successive emperors in some way claimed Caesar as an ancestor, if only spiritually or symbolically. Thus, right up until the end, the emperor was recognized as a member of the house of Caesar.