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The Roman Caesars' Guide to Ruling

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Dec 16, 2024

Guest

Barry S. Strauss

Barry Strauss, a classicist and military historian, shares insights on the Roman Caesars and their leadership lessons. He discusses how Augustus consolidated power and contrasts him with the notorious Nero, whose urban renewal efforts challenge the 'bad emperor' narrative. Strauss highlights Vespasian's innovative rise and Marcus Aurelius’s struggles, revealing how philosophical ideals often clash with the harsh realities of governance. The conversation uncovers timeless strategies that shaped the Roman Empire and continue to resonate in modern leadership.

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INSIGHT

Augustus's PR Strategy

Augustus masked his power grab, claiming to restore the Republic.
He held Republican offices and adopted titles like "First Citizen" to avoid the image of a king.

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ADVICE

Consolidating Power: Start Hard

Start hard when consolidating power, like Octavian/Augustus.
Come down hard on rivals and enemies initially, then show generosity.

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ANECDOTE

Octavian's Social Climb

Octavian's father wasn't noble, hindering his social standing.
He strategically used Caesar's name and married Livia to gain elite status.

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Nero: Myths and Legacy

18:37 • 4min

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Nero's Celebrity Obsession: A Departure from Responsible Leadership

22:08 • 2min

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Festive Promotions: Hot Sauces, Memory Preservation, and Luxurious Gifts

23:58 • 4min

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The Rise and Legacy of Vespasian: Rome's Transformative Leader

27:40 • 6min

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The Complex Legacy of Marcus Aurelius

33:26 • 27min

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Exploring Historical Revolts and Their Impact

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The Prince

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Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.

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This magisterial history, written by Edward Gibbon, covers the peak of the Roman Empire, the history of early Christianity, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and the rise and fall of various other empires and civilizations up to the fall of Byzantium in 1453. Gibbon's work is renowned for its thorough scholarship, diverse sources, and engaging prose. He argues that the Roman Empire succumbed to barbarian invasions partly due to the gradual loss of civic virtue among its citizens and critiques the role of Christianity in the empire's decline. The work was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1789 and has remained a seminal work in historical literature despite some criticisms from modern scholars.

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Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership

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Barry Strauss's "Masters of Command" explores the leadership styles of Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, and other prominent figures from ancient history. The book analyzes their successes and failures, offering valuable insights into strategic thinking, military tactics, and political maneuvering. Strauss examines the context of their decisions, highlighting the impact of geography, culture, and political systems on their actions. The book is a compelling blend of historical narrative and strategic analysis, providing lessons applicable to modern leadership. It's a must-read for anyone interested in military history, leadership studies, or ancient civilizations.

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The Lives of the Twelve Caesars

Suetonius

This work, written in AD 121, is a comprehensive biographical account of the Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Suetonius provides detailed narratives of their lives, including their personal habits, political actions, and the moral lessons that can be drawn from their reigns. The book is notable for its candid and often unflattering portrayal of these powerful men, highlighting the corrupting influence of absolute power and the moral decadence that accompanied the decline of the Roman Empire.

The Roman caesars were the rulers of the Roman Empire, beginning in 27 BC with Julius Caesar’s heir Augustus, from whom subsequent caesars took their name, and lasting until around the fall of the Western Empire in 476 AD. The caesars transitioned the Roman Republic to autocratic rule, consolidating vast territories under centralized authority and shaping Western governance, law, and culture. Their reign marked one of history's most influential periods, laying the groundwork for modern empires and enduring legacies in political and architectural innovation.

They also left behind some instructive leadership lessons, in both what and what not to do.

Here to unpack some of the Roman Empire's most significant caesars as both histories and leadership case studies is Barry Strauss, who is a classicist, professor, military historian, fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, and the author of numerous books, including Ten Caesars. Today on the show, Barry shares how Augustus consolidated power by initially cleaning house, a redeeming quality of the otherwise infamous Nero, the strategies Vespasian and Severus used to gain legitimacy as outsiders, why Marcus Aurelius was an insightful philosopher but struggled as an emperor, the emperor under whose rule the empire began its decline, what Constantine understood about the idea that if you want things to stay the same, everything must change, and much more.

Resources Related to the Podcast

Barry's previous appearance on the AoM podcast: Episode #487 — Leadership Lessons From the 3 Greatest Ancient Commanders
Barry's forthcoming book: Jews vs. Rome — Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire
AoM Podcast #346: The Fall of the Roman Republic
AoM Podcast #969: The Making of a Stoic Emperor

Connect With Barry Strauss

Barry's website
Barry's faculty page
Barry on LinkedIn

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