[MUDDOG]

Good point!

The good emperors before Marcus Aurelius were childless, and selected able successors.

Marcus Aurelius had a son Commodus whom he selected. It didn’t turn out well.

[Little Bill]

One of the problems was old Iulie. Councils in the Republic were expected to be Proven Generals and Legislators elected by the tribes.

After Iulie they were generals elected by the Army. Hoisted on the Shield the term was. The Army had no loyalty to the center just the winner of a bunch of stupid civil wars.