Challenge: Chariot racer becomes Roman Emperor

[acgoldis]

Your challenge is to have a chariot racer talented enough to win in the Circus Maximus (on his own merit and not due to rank) become Emperor of Rome.

Certainly elite athletes like this had the discipline and in some cases intelligence to rule. They also had an extensive fan base. But could they take the throne?

 

[Annonaria]

Maybe during the year of 5 emperors, you can have a chariot racer be proclaimed emperor if they have enough money to auction off the title from the Praetorian guards, although they probably will not hold on to power long as a general will soon arrive to the city and claim power for themselves. Similar to Didius Julianus, a chariot racer can get the title that way. If they have a large fanbase and they lose the throne and are executed by the next emperor, you could see large scale rioting across the city.

 

[Mad Bad Rabbit]

Marcus Quintus Celeritus, victor of the races, lauded by his admirers as the fastest man alive, maligned as a demon by his detractors. It is he whom the people of Byzantium crowned emperor, in the wake of the riots and Justinian's overthrow; now he proceeds in triumph through the Hippodrome, in his white robes and white chariot, attended by his sister Patricia, his young brother Concitulus, and his pet monkey.

 

[Simreeve]

Once the racers become organised into the rival "colours" you start to get the situation where every fanbase comes automatically with an anti-fanbase...

 

[Silver01]

i mean if basil became emperor and he was before a horse tamer and wrestler i dont see why not