339-360 CE (Superpowers)

Though Constantine's son Crispus was a court favorite for the succession, a younger Iberian named Gnaeus Aurelius Agricola was adopted in 330 CE, continuing the adoptive succession that had been in place since Nerva. Though this did upset the former emperor's son, he was too busy fighting wars in Persia for his father to be bother much by this. Though the new Emperor Agricola was a rather shy individual, both in personality and in policies, the senate quickly realized he was perfect as a peace time emperor. With the national debt at 0% since 338, it was Agricola's job to now stimulate the Roman economy, something which had been shrinking since the 310's.

Civil Events
Though an emperor's first acts after his crowning often define his reign, Agricola's first year would do exactly that in a different way. Being crowned in May, the new emperor would do virtually nothing but maintain the Empire for those 7 months. Though appearing useless, this was a genius strategic move on his part, having allowed him to carefully observe the state of his nation before he made any actions, the year acting like a control would in a scientific experiment. It was in this way that the Emperor would be regarded as throughout his reign, a scientist. Under his rule the government control over imperial administration would grow more than under any other emperor for centuries to come.

After his first year of observance, Agricola decided that he would try to keep government expenditure always at as close to 90% of its income every year. This economic theory promoting stable rate of growth, decreases in unemployment and a more equitable distribution of income, would come to be known as Oeconomica Agricola and would define the objectives that many Roman emperors would have throughout history.

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