Who Were the Five Good Emperors?

Definition of the glossary term Five Good Emperors

© Robin Fowler

Definition of the glossary term Five Good Emperors

The Five Good Emperors were a succession of Roman Emperors who ruled the Empire from A.D. 96 - 180, and whose less radical, tyrannical, and maniacal policies and personalities ushered in a period of peace and prosperity for Rome. Each Emperor in this line, which began with Nerva, adopted his successor as his son (with the exception of Marcus Aurelius, who named his own son Commodus, as successor, subsequently ending the prosperous streak Rome had going) in order to maintain the Roman customs, prevent political upheavals, and keep turnaround of the Empire going.

The Five Good Emperors of Rome:

Nerva - A.D. 96 - 98

Trajan - A.D. 98 - 117

Hadrian - A.D. 117 - 138

Antoninus Pius - A.D. 138 - 161

Marcus Aurelius - A.D. 161 - 180


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