Lucius Domitius Amelianus

Commodus is the one I would consider the topmost of "Rome's Worst Emperors". As it's been remarked and noted from so many sources and commentaries...he truly was one of the most useless, unhinged, and inept figures that held the title "Emperor". Despite being given the best in education, management, and leadership through some of the best tutors and educators of the Second Century, his utter lack of intelligibility and depraved personal ambitions (such as renaming Rome and the title of Roman citizens after himself, emulating himself as a living embodiment of "Hercules", unbound spending of the Roman treasury, and so many others)seems so incredulous and ridiculous of a reality to follow after such a figure in that of his father, Marcus Aurelius. It's something astounding that the fabric of the Roman Empire, already plagued with numerous internal and external complications of governance, was able to keep relatively grounded after dealing with Commodus for thirteen years. I would also put into the same category of "Worst Roman Emperors" that of the puppet emperors placed into power under Richimer (Libius Severus and Olybrius to be exact). Clearly tools of the political power-play of Richimer, they just seemed to "fill in the empty space" of Emperor in the same say way as someone who merely fills in seats at performances.

For a number of years now, I have undergone an intensive focus into learning more and more about Roman Civilization in all aspects of its nature (history, culture, economy, etc.) in order to help aid me with my future endeavor of becoming an educator of Roman History. My desire to better myself in Roman History was one of the key reasons I spent an entire academic year in Italy, literally only one year ago to be exact. Although I have read many different sources of information on Roman Civilization as a whole (Adrian Goldsworthy, Michael Grant, Frank McLynn, and others), I have actually never read any of the Classical Sources on the Roman Civilization (aside from The Gallic War and The Civil War by Julius Caesar, The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, and Dialogues and Essays by Seneca). I would like to know if there are any specific editions of the classical sources anyone here would recommend over others? Specifically, are there any specific translations of the classical works that have been found to be the best rendition with the most clarity in writing? Any help on this matter would be whole-heartedly appreciated. Thank you, very much. P.S. I have a list of books and sources I currently am interested in obtaining (the list itself is actually borrowed from the UNRV Website, but these are indeed some of the sources I am referring to). If there are other sources of note, or any personal recommendations anyone has that they believe would be worthwhile and enjoyable to read up on, please do add them to it! Agricola and the Germania, Cornelius Tacitus Historia Augusta: Life of Hadrian, Aelius Spartianus History of Rome, Titus Livius (Livy) History of Rome, Caius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust) Letters, Caius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (Pliny the Younger) Parallel Lives, Mestrius Plutarchus (Plutarch) Roman History, Cassius Dio The Annals, Cornelius Tacitus The Civil Wars, Gaius Julius Caesar (et al) The Gallic Wars, Gaius Julius Caesar The Histories, Polybius The Histories, Cornelius Tacitus The Jewish War, Flavius Josephus The Roman History, Appian of Alexandria The Twelve Caesars, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus War with Jugurtha, Caius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust) War with Cataline, Caius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust)