Great Rulers Succeeded by Nincompoops
It seems almost like a historical truism that the great rulers of history inevitably have been succeeded by, at best mediocrities, at worst sheer incompetent nincompoops.
It may be that at times the greatness of the former has been too much for the successor to live up to. And yet…
Chinas first Qin (Shi huangdi) while a bloody handed tyrant did much in his 30 odd year rule to pave the way for unification of the Warring States for successor dynasties, yet his own dynasty lasted for less then 4 years after his death.
Augustus followed by Tiberius, and then Caligula, for whom the term nincompoop is a mild description.
Marcus Aurelius followed by a Commodous.
Catharine the Great succeeded by Paul I (a nincompoop)
Henry II of England the first Angivine king of whom Sir Winston Churchill said:
"Henry II Plantagenet, the very first of that name and race, and the very greatest King that England ever knew, but withal the most unfortunate . . . his death being imputed to those only to whom himself had given life, his ungracious sons. . ."
A fitting epitaph shared by many a great rulers!
It seems almost like a historical truism that the great rulers of history inevitably have been succeeded by, at best mediocrities, at worst sheer incompetent nincompoops.
It may be that at times the greatness of the former has been too much for the successor to live up to. And yet…
Chinas first Qin (Shi huangdi) while a bloody handed tyrant did much in his 30 odd year rule to pave the way for unification of the Warring States for successor dynasties, yet his own dynasty lasted for less then 4 years after his death.
Augustus followed by Tiberius, and then Caligula, for whom the term nincompoop is a mild description.
Marcus Aurelius followed by a Commodous.
Catharine the Great succeeded by Paul I (a nincompoop)
Henry II of England the first Angivine king of whom Sir Winston Churchill said:
"Henry II Plantagenet, the very first of that name and race, and the very greatest King that England ever knew, but withal the most unfortunate . . . his death being imputed to those only to whom himself had given life, his ungracious sons. . ."
A fitting epitaph shared by many a great rulers!
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