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Emperors who Saved Rome
The Roman Empire bears a strange resemblance to the Starship Enterprise. Heroic leadership saved the empire in the nick of time several times, just as heroic captains save the Enterprise each week.
On many occasions, the Roman Empire used its super power of producing a capable emperor who saved its system from some crisis. Some of these hero emperors, such as Augustus and Hadrian, are well known. Others are more obscure.
History shows that the Roman meritocracy worked and often worked well. Producing the leader the empire it needed at the proper time.
Some Emperors who saved Rome include:
Aurelian (270–275 AD)
Aurelian was a brilliant soldier who defeated powerful invaders and reunified the empire.
Aurelian was a talented cavalry commander who became the empire’s top soldier. Interestingly, Aurelian was an Illyrian from the Balkans. He may have been a Dacian. Ironically, Aurelian’s father was a tenant farmer (share cropper). Hence, Aurelian was a self-made man from a poor background.
When Aurelian succeeded Claudius Gothicus, the empire faced two crises. First, several large groups of invaders were overwhelming the empire’s northern borders.
