Is that the only thing? Regarding Augustus in particular, the Pax Romana is very strongly associated with him. Funny how with strong leaders who wield power and hold responsibility, even given some initial violence things can turn out pretty swell. Dr. Francia is an interesting smaller-scale example. http://books.google.com/books?id=-yeaAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA547#v... By the way, is it funny how many fairly popular (considering none have been extremely popular http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_president...) US presidents there are whose prior claim to fame is more or less being a victorious fighter?
yeah, but my point wasn't how good or bad any of them were, My point was that wartime leaders seem to get "remembered" or "revered" more so than peacetime leaders. I wasn't trying to judge great/non-great leaders. Besides, the fact that you don't like Lincoln is vastly overshadowed by the fact that he has an enormous frickin marble monument made out to him, that civilizations 2000 years from now will come and stare at in awe. Just like they do today.. it's just not a ruin yet, and his history is still relatively close in time.
