New Empire

[porphyry]

Suspeneding disbelief for a moment, let us imagine that the Roman Empire is about to be restored tomorrow on a world-wide bases. Who would you like to see as the Emperor (other than yourself)? If there is any interst in the topic, I will post a couple of suggestions in the replies

Comments

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

Lee Kuan Yew, obviously.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

An interesting choice that would not have occured to me.

[tadziu.livejournal.com]

Living politicians? Yes. I concur.

[jermynsavile.livejournal.com]

No danger of my nominating myself. I would hate to be emperor, all those meetings with dreadful politician/administrator types, it sounds far too much like my life already.

Alive or dead? If dead, there are a few I'd pick from the list of original emperors who might enjoy the job. If alive, then it would have to be someone who didn't want it (all those that would are far far too dangerous to contemplate).

[leopold-paula-b.livejournal.com]

Umberto Eco's secretary.

[leopold-paula-b.livejournal.com]

(Under Eco's supervision.)

[leopold-paula-b.livejournal.com]

Because the Word is more important than the World.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you!

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

This is odd even by our standards

[madwriter.livejournal.com]

John Scalzi.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

He would go under the category, 'someone like the Dahli lama). Not a bad choice.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

I was just coming back to suggest the Dalai Lama! He understands the media.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

Nursultan Nazarbayev would probably do a good job too. Not as good as LKY though!

What about the sitting emperors?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Do you mean to say that B16 and George Jr. aren't good enough in their roles as Roman emperors?

[petrusplancius.livejournal.com]

If a dead candidate is permitted, may I suggest Benjamin Disraeli; he would enjoy it enormously, and would have too great a sense of irony to do any great harm. A clever fellow too. In real life he was only able to enjoy the vicarious pleasure of making his monarch an Empress.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I'd prefer Churchill in that case. But I think D'Israeli wouldn't be dvisive.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

This is a greater response than I would have imagined. Thanks to every one who has posted so far. I am glad to see to see that no one wanted prominent conventional politicians.

I am afraid I am going to cheat and make four nominations for the tetrarchic sysytem of late antiquity.

For the two Augusti or senior Emperors I would think two people like the Dahli Lama and Benedict XVI (Josef Ratzinger). They are both idelaistic and would balance each other ideologically. Obviosuly I am limiting my choices to Politiclaly credible figures that have some kind of public profile.

For the two Caesares or assistants / designated heirs, Prince Charles and Akihito.

No candidates would be perfect. I can readily find fault even with my own candidates. Charles and Benedict, for instance, seem to have a basic distrust of science. But you can't have everything.

If the two Augusti were, for instance, Bush and Putin, it might be time to play Cato.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

Prince Charles?!?!?!?! Prince Charles can barely run his organic farms.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. But he has good taste, especially in architechture.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

He sure doesn't have good taste in women.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

You've got a point there.

[petrusplancius.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of the Dalai Lama, he would be an emperor of a kind that has never be seen before; but I don't think that the Muslims (and Northern Irish protestants!) would be too happy to have a pope as their emperor, whatever his personal qualities. Not too sure about the Caesars. Among existing princes, Charles is certainly the most cultivated and original, but there is a certain crankiness and diffidence (even sense of personal inadequacy)in his character which might prevent him from becoming a satisfactory emperor.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Well, we can assign Joseph I the Western hemisphere.

The beauty of the Tetrarchic system (assuming it doesn't lead to civil war as in the old days) is that the Dahli Lama could train Charles for a while, and then see how he turns out.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Why, me, of course. I'd be perfect for the job. ;)

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Well, damn. I didn't follow directions. Guess I'll take myself out of the running since one can't nominate oneself.

I resign.

[petrusplancius.livejournal.com]

Augustus and many other emperors of one kind or another haven't hesitated to nominate themselves, but judging by the precedents, you have to be pretty ruthless to carry it off. Do you mind wading knee-deep in blood?

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

No, I wouldn't like wading knee deep in blood at all! I'm peaceful like flower, ha ha.

I actually wouldn't be very good in any position of power. I don't like meetings and I hate administrative work in general.

[tadziu.livejournal.com]

Living friend? Lupo.
Living politician? Lee Kuan Yew

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

Lupo is disqualified by his refusal to his manly duty and breed.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

I linked this to get you more discussion but people stubbornly stayed at my place. (http://commonreader.livejournal.com/1120330.html)

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

yes. I saw that. But thanks anyway.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

Kofi Annan.

[siamhussein.livejournal.com]

Marlon Brando, George S. Patton or his nemesis, Erwin Rommel, Borges, or Freddie Mercury.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

Actually, all of those are quite good.

[malkhos.livejournal.com]

I wonder if a Zoriastrian would be a good choice.