Roman Emperor as the World Ruler, AD 235–284

Abstract

Viewing the notions of orbis and genus humanum as ideological and political categories allowed to launch the idea of the Roman emperor’s rule over the world in the imperial propaganda. The idea was never fully developed and it was subjected to various alterations. The motif of the barbarian showed the dynamism of the myth. In the propaganda the emperor was some times viewed as the ruler of the whole world and not only the sovereign of the Roman Empire.