One might also count Titus, as his Emperorship was universally beloved as well, but he made a lot of enemies before becoming Emperor (including a stint as a conquering general, and then his father’s head of secret police 😬), while Antoninus Pius rose to the position without stepping on any major toes.
So you only get up to one benevolent and capable leader per empire it seems …
One might also count Titus, as his Emperorship was universally beloved as well, but he made a lot of enemies before becoming Emperor (including a stint as a conquering general, and then his father’s head of secret police 😬), while Antoninus Pius rose to the position without stepping on any major toes.