Who Decides Which Emperors Are 'The Great'?

#history

Music:

Imperator: Rome Soundtrack - We The People
Imperator: Rome Soundtrack - Tyrrenum
Imperator: Rome Soundtrack - Caesarion

Footage:
The Last Legion (2007)

[hueylongdong]

How could you forget the Great The Greatest - Magnus Maximus?

[bentilbury]

"So, Alexander - how did you come to be known as 'the Great'?
"Why, I conquered half the world by the time I was in my thirties!"
"Impressive. And you Valentinian?"
"Umm... I punched a priest on the nose".

[NupidStigger]

Last time I was this early Julius caeser was still a senator

[lordofhostsappreciator]

> Be Valentinian
> Faithful Orthodox Christian
> Go sight see a pagan temple with the LARPagan Neckbeard Emperor himself
> Demonic pagan priest splashes you with fake holy water
> Punch his teeth out
> LARPagan Neckbeard Emperor sends you into exile
> Return later to become the Emperor anyways
> Gets called "The Great" by later historians for this sole act

Common Orthodox W

[jaskrip]

The only one's I'd be willing to call "The Great" are Justinian and especially Constantine. Also while obviously not an emperor, I think it's fair to remember that Pompey is very often called "Pompey The Great", and for good reason imo.

[EasternRomanHistory]

A good little video. It was also a trend in Victorian historiography to start calling people 'the Great' to highlight the really significant rulers. Ramesses the Great is somewhat more memorable than Ramesses II, when there are 11 Ramesses. This was probably influenced by several rulers closer to their time like Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great using it.

The only Roman emperor consistently called 'the Great' in later times was Constantine I. For instance, Constantine VII referred to his namesake as 'the great Constantine' because, as you rightly say, everyone knew who Constantine the Great actually was and generally agreed that he deserved that moniker. Reading Symeon the Logothete, he uses 'ho megas' to refer to Justin I

[nenenindonu]

Idrk but I know who decides which emperors are "the Bulgarslayer" -Samuel

[MrSergore]

Great video. Maybe even the Greatest.
Also, Valentinian I had severe anger issues, good thing it didn't get in the way of his competent rule. He deserves the "Harsh" or "Severe" more, imo.

[youvebeengreeked]

Leonidas the BRAVE, Alexander the GREAT, Valentinian the WRATHFUL, Sigurd the MIGHTY...
These are all pretty cool epithets, but this will forever be the coolest:
AVRELIANVS, RESTITVTOR ORBIS... Aurelian, the Restorer of the World.

[Baamtheth]

The True Greats don't need to add any Title to their Name.

That's why Napoleon is just Napoleon. That's why Cesar is just Cesar. And why Augustus is just Augustus. In fact, for the last two, their name became a Title other used and for a good reason

[iDeathMaximuMII]

Leo I is also called “The Butcher” for his murders of Aspar & his family, although that was probably Zeno’s doing most likely. I do like Valentinian’s alternate name. “The Harsh” since he would throw people to his pet Bears & got angry at the littlest thing. I think getting pissed & punching a Pagan Temple servant just for sprinkling a tiny bit of water on him is just petty & dumb. I still really like him as an Emperor though

[Constantine_Bush]

Constantine was deified by the Senate and was hold in high esteem by pagan historians, such as Eutropius, Proxagoras, Libanius, Ammianus and John the Lydian etc.This seals it for me.If your opponents write highly of you, this means you are great.Even Julian and Zosimus admitted Constantine's martial prowress.

[jorder]

Easily the best and most thought provoking videos on Roman history. You have a calming voice and topics are also very interesting. Bravo!

[ScapularSaves]

Well one thing about what you saying there was a Theodosius Maior - the Elder Count Father of Theodosius Magnus. Also side note: There were two Leo the Greats who lived at the same time. Pope of Rome St Leo I, and Roman Emperor Leo I.

[LoganBerry]

I've also heard Manuel Komnenos be referred to as the Great on numerous occasions, it also seems as though contemporaries held him in particularly high regard, though his failures are making modern historians view him in a seemingly increasing negative light

[saxtonhalegaming]

I never knew that "The Great" comes from "O megalos" (I hope I spelled that right) and was used to distinguish the first of a dynasty, rather than a person who did great things. I think that "The Great" as a moniker is too common and vague, since what it great to someone may be average to another.
For example, Frederick the Great could be Frederick the General or Frederick the Officer for his military achievements and military reformation. Alexander the Great could be Alexander the Conqueror. Louis XIV the Great of France could be Louis the Sun King or Louis the Absolute. And so on. It will add some variation and context for what each person did rather than just saying "They did vague great thing".

[phaethonchristodoulou]

Your videos have really changed my perception on some things

[specil-k]

We can all get along if we just agree to nickname Valentinian III "Inferus" and Honorius "Infimus"

[ribkan]

1:32 Maximus on Constantine
2:13 pagan, nicene, arians
3:37 great conspiracy
4:47 Procopius
5:39 megalos om city
7:03 7:18 alternative title

[TomSeliman]

Roman Emperors who deserve the title as Great:

Augustus
Constantine
Possibly Aurelian but he died too fast
Justinian
Basil the II
Alexios

Trajan, Hadrian, etc. All had the Roman empire when it was at its most stable and weren't challenged like other emperors on the list who made large scale reforms, won many military victories, and brought stability to chaotic situations. It is no fault of Trajan and Hadrian for their time, they were good emperors....just not challenged with horrible circumstances. They had to deal with the Parthians who were not near as dangerous as the Sassanids either. Heraclius could be there too but his loss to the Arabs tarnished his legacy from becoming The Great