Valens Posted August 1, 2004 Report Share Posted August 1, 2004 Most Roman Emperors have very little military credit to their name, which is understandable, as their job was to rule the land, not to be a general. However, many emperors did double as generals in times of war, and many were very good generals, but which emperor would you consider to have been the best general? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted August 2, 2004 Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 There are several who come to mind right off... Tiberius Vespasian (all the emperors of 69 AD, really) Titus Septimius Severus..... I'll stop there just because it starts to get fairly muddled with usurpers and so forth after. I've always felt that Vespasian and his accomplishments as both emperor and general are overlooked. Trajan stands out immediately, of course, but I really do lean towards Vespasian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted August 2, 2004 Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 I think Trajan is a pretty good choice, followed by Septimius Severus... Constantine and Aurelius were also known for having lots of battles... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Posted August 2, 2004 Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 Aurilean and if Aluixes had become Empeoror after the his defeat of Attila. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Posted August 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 Is there anything in particular that makes Vespasian stand out more as a general than Trajan to you, Primus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 No not really. My impression of him is more based on his stabilization of the empire. Much credit often goes to the '5 good emperors', but without Vespasian, who knows if they ever would've had a chance to excel. The only knock on Vespasian... his son Domitian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Aurilean and if Aluixes had become Empeoror after the his defeat of Attila. Hello Zeke, Aurelianus (Emperor from 270 - 275), was a highly successful "soldier-emperor" who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth. During his reign, the Empire was reunited in its entirety, following 15 years of rebellion, the loss of two-thirds of its territory to usurpers and devastating barbarian invasions. His success brought an end to the Empire's Crisis of the Third Century. Attila was much later... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Posted August 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 So, let's try to narrow it down to one: Both Primus and Viggen mentioned Trajan and Severus...and others listed were: Constantine, Vespasian, Aurelius, Titus, and Tiberius. So, anyone think they could narrow it down, or possibly rank these men in order of ability as a general? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 My list would be... 1.Trajan 2.Aurelianus 3.Severus cheers viggen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 First though Valens, let's clarify. Do you mean Emperors who led armies while actually wearing the purple, or at any time during their career. Helps to limit the field a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Posted August 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 First though Valens, let's clarify. Do you mean Emperors who led armies while actually wearing the purple, or at any time during their career. Helps to limit the field a bit. Well, a list of both would be nice, but if you are only up to one, let's go with a list compiled by their whole career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Here is a list of 10. In no particular order. Julian Trajan Titus Vespasian Severus Caesar Tiberius Marcus Aurelius Hadrian Constantine the Great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeius magnus Posted August 26, 2004 Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 Its interesting to think that one of Constantines battles led to his conversion to christianity one of the most important events in world history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julius Caesar Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 In terms of emperors who successfully campaigned while emperor, and who actually took a leading role in the command decisions; Trajan -- easy choice for his successful conquest of Dacia, and transient conquest of Armenia, Mesopotamia, and Assyria. Had he lived, he most likely would have made northern Mesopotamia a permanent province, at a minimum. Severus -- won a bloody civil war, then defeated the Parthians, thus carving out a permanent province of Mesopotamia and in some respects finishing the work left undone by Trajan. Then he campaigned in Scotland. Aurelian -- defeated multiple barbarian tribes, brought back the break away Gallic empire, crushed Zenobia and her Palmyrene empire in the East, and was planning a great campaign against Persia when he was assassinated. Constantine -- defeated several other Roman armies, plus multiple barbarian tribes, and was planning a great campaign against Persia when he died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest spartacus Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 Vespasian - no doubt! Good soldier, good Emporer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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