Yeah, but I'm not sure that "avoiding pointless wars" will be history's judgment on Biden's term, given that much of the Middle East and Eastern Europe is at or near war.
Another one who actually fits the bill of a Roman Biden was eastern Emperor Anastasius I. He was already sixty when he took the throne in 491 and seemed to have been nobody's real choice, but a choice with which everyone could live with. Nor did Anastasius ever seemingly got to control the empire as well as he would have preferred, as rebelling generals even besieged Constantinople, his preferred religious doctrine was widely ignored and though he tried quite hard, Anastasius wasn't even able to nominate his own successors, his nephews, who were forced to sit in provincial commands when the old Emperor was dying in the capital.
> Now that Biden is riding into the sunset, I will review these Romans one after the other and you guys can tell me in the comments which one you think sounds more like Biden
Yes! Tell me about it. I think that's simply because the murder of Domitian was so wanton and warrantless, that they had to elevate his successor, and present him as some sort of great statesman
Some of Rome's greatest emperor's were old guys who just balanced the books and avoided pointless wars. Antoninus Pius and Anastasia come to mind.
Yeah, but I'm not sure that "avoiding pointless wars" will be history's judgment on Biden's term, given that much of the Middle East and Eastern Europe is at or near war.
But with no American boots on the ground…
True.
Another one who actually fits the bill of a Roman Biden was eastern Emperor Anastasius I. He was already sixty when he took the throne in 491 and seemed to have been nobody's real choice, but a choice with which everyone could live with. Nor did Anastasius ever seemingly got to control the empire as well as he would have preferred, as rebelling generals even besieged Constantinople, his preferred religious doctrine was widely ignored and though he tried quite hard, Anastasius wasn't even able to nominate his own successors, his nephews, who were forced to sit in provincial commands when the old Emperor was dying in the capital.
That’s a good one, yes.
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With a subtitle like: "Rome's over-the-hill statesmen who tried to hang on to power", how is Gaius Marius not on your list?
Great catch!
> History has a long cast of characters who desperately clung to power in old age, with or without reason, much like Biden is doing right now
This is strange, given that in the *previous paragraph* you write:
> He’s very old now, and was finally forced to drop out of the re-election race last month.
He's still clinging to power, since he'll be President until January
Give over- choosing not to seek reelection is the exact opposite of clinging to power.
> Now that Biden is riding into the sunset, I will review these Romans one after the other and you guys can tell me in the comments which one you think sounds more like Biden
... why?
Are there any adults in the room?
Isn't Nerva one of the 5 good emperors? What up with that?
Yes! Tell me about it. I think that's simply because the murder of Domitian was so wanton and warrantless, that they had to elevate his successor, and present him as some sort of great statesman