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

[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.