Who was the most entertainingly loopy Roman Emperor?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

The question says it all. We've alreadt the dull question about who was the greatest yadda yadda. But which one was the most barking mad? Or heroically pervy?

[Will9]

Nero, he wanted to sing to rebels to inspire them to stop revolting.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I quite liked that idea. In some ways, I think Nero was really quite charming- though he obviously loses charm points for kicking his wife to death etc.

[Cort Haus]

Caligula, surely.

[Traianvs]

In terms of entertainment for us, Caligula was top notch. I don't think his victims found it too entertaining back then however

[Ekmek]

I'm skeptical about any of these cases. Its quite possible that the images of Nero and Caligula come to us the way they are is because Senators wrote the stories. At the time there was a power struggle of sorts between Emperor and Senate. Augustus was clever enough to emply his own historian, future emperors appeared not so. So i guess this thread could also be who had the most creative criticism.

but not to take the fun out of it..caligula. Favorite horse for consul, hard to top.

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by E
I'm skeptical about any of these cases. Its quite possible that the images of Nero and Caligula come to us the way they are is because Senators wrote the stories. At the time there was a power struggle of sorts between Emperor and Senate. Augustus was clever enough to emply his own historian, future emperors appeared not so. So i guess this thread could also be who had the most creative criticism.

but not to take the fun out of it..caligula. Favorite horse for consul, hard to top.

Of course, but it's not like historians and archaeologists only rely on Suetonius for example in reconstructing the events. In all likelihood Nero was not as mad as some would make us believe, and Augustus also had his deficiencies. That doesn't mean the overall picture is incorrect. Besides why can't emperors be mad? There are tons and tons of other monarchs or leaders in history that showed mental illness so why should Roman emperors be excluded from that list

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Elagabulus is a favourite of mine. His philosophy of life was beautifully simple- if it had a pulse, he was going to have sex with it.

[Alexander I]

I'd say a tie between Nero and Caligula.

[LordShiva]

Commodus.

[Drake Tungsten]

Definitely Commodus. He allowed a mere gladiator to become more powerful than the emperor of Rome.

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Definitely Commodus. He allowed a mere gladiator to become more powerful than the emperor of Rome.

Movie = Not true.

[Kuciwalker]

You = successfully trolled.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Definitely Commodus. He allowed a mere gladiator to become more powerful than the emperor of Rome.

Exactly.

[Guynemer]

I think this would be the perfect subject for another installment of Historical Filth.