Snake Featherston has frequently and eloquently described the flaws of the Roman imperial government. It's legitimacy was based solely on might is right; and while all premodern states (and unfortunately some modern ones) were based on this, Rome in particular was on the extreme end of the scale. There was no religious or ideological base upon which the Empire rested, no divine right of kings or mandate of heaven. There was no powerful imperial bureaucracy, no civil institutions with broad legitimacy. The senate and the discredited institutions of the Republic were impotent, and so in the end there was only the Legions and their generals. When the Emperor was strong as they were during the reign of the Five Good Emperors things went well, but when there was not, the Empire quickly devolved into an orgy of civil war. Given the nature of the system, this was sure to eventually be fatal. It is a testament to the strength of Roman society that their civilization thrived and survived so long despite this crippling handicap.
So, the challenge is this. With a POD between the battle of Actium in 31BC and the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180AD, develop a stable Roman imperial government. Theocracy (Christianity, Mithras, Sol Invictus, etc), Bureaucracy, Ideology, any method is fair game, just don't divide the Empire into East & West. And no implausible lengthening of the line of Five Good Emperors, maybe they could have six or seven but eventually the system will be plagued by a few incompetent and/or psychotic individuals in succession. The system has to be able to bear it.
So, the challenge is this. With a POD between the battle of Actium in 31BC and the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180AD, develop a stable Roman imperial government. Theocracy (Christianity, Mithras, Sol Invictus, etc), Bureaucracy, Ideology, any method is fair game, just don't divide the Empire into East & West. And no implausible lengthening of the line of Five Good Emperors, maybe they could have six or seven but eventually the system will be plagued by a few incompetent and/or psychotic individuals in succession. The system has to be able to bear it.