Antoninus Pius Oversaw One Of The Most Peaceful Eras Of Roman History
The reign of Antoninus Pius (r. 117-138 AD) is notable for just how innocuous it was. Given the turbulent politics of imperial Rome, this is actually a greater achievement.
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For 23 years, the emperor is said to have ruled well and fairly, overseeing one of the most peaceful eras in its later history. While latent issues in the empire would rear their heads during the reign of Antoninus's successor, Marcus Aurelius, and the military was not entirely free of conflict, historians credit Antoninus for his "lack of scandal, corruption and military disaster," and for leaving the government with a major surplus when he passed.
Augustus Had A Personal Fortune Of $4.6 Trillion
Emperor Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD) may have been the richest person to ever live. He inherited a vast fortune from his great-uncle Julius Caesar, but his wealth was skyrocketed after his defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC. Once Egypt's rulers were gone, Augustus claimed the entire kingdom as his personal property.
Egypt's abundant grains, watered by the fertile Nile River, made it the breadbasket of Rome. According to the Money Project, Egypt composed 25-30% of global GDP in classical antiquity, and this tremendous wealth has led some to estimate Augustus's net worth at approximately $4.6 trillion. MSN calculates that figure as "equivalent to 20% of the entire [Roman] empire's economy."
Diocletian Reorganized The Empire After A Century Of Turmoil - Then Willingly Retired
Diocletian rose to power following the Crisis of the Third Century (235-284 AD), a tumultuous period for the Roman Empire in which its territories split apart, its economy cratered, and emperors were getting assassinated every other year. (More than 20 emperors ruled during this 49-year period; by comparison, 26 emperors ruled from 27 BC to 235 AD.)
To be fair, it was Diocletian's predecessor, Aurelian, who re-unified the Roman Empire from the separate states it had fractured into. It was Diocletian, however, who maintained power, created the tetrarchy (a new form of imperial administration that did not outlive him), reimagined the office of the emperor, and stabilized the empire after decades of chaos.
Then, after 21 years of rule, Diocletian willingly abdicated in 305 AD. His retirement continued for a handful of years, even after his successors returned to the infighting and civil wars that led to the third century crisis. When the people asked Diocletian to end his retirement, he famously replied he was too busy growing vegetables:
If you could show the cabbage I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed.