Explanation: Depicted are three Emperors of the Roman Empire who commonly come up in Romaboo "What-ifs."

Julian, the last pagan Emperor of Rome, was a throwback in more ways than one - while remembered for his belief in the old gods in a time of aggressive Christian monopolization of Imperial power, he was also an avid believer in the old system of Imperial government wherein the Emperor was Primus Inter Pares - 'First Amongst Equals' - not an absolutist ruler. To that end, he treated the Senate as a partner in rulership, arguing for legislation instead of unilaterally passing it by Imperial rescript, restored religious tolerance for all faiths, did away with much of the expanding 'royal court', and received and responded to criticism in the spirit of a private citizen, treating criticism as a matter for debate rather than punishment. He died after two short years in power during a campaign in Persia.

Aurelian was an Emperor during the tumultuous 'Crisis of the Third Century', wherein the Roman Empire nearly fell apart. Achieving victory over three powerful contenders for the position of Emperor, Aurelian reunited the Empire and became known as Resitutor Orbis - 'Restorer of the World' - for his accomplishment. He was also a man of noted (if harsh) justice, an anti-corruption crusader, and a patron of the common people, expanding access to food for the working poor in the city of Rome. He was killed after five years in power because his personal secretary suspected that Aurelian was catching onto the secretary's trail of corruption, and so organized an assassination before the secretary could be found out and punished.

Titus was an Emperor during the Principate, the early empire, the Pax Romana most people think of when they think of the words "Roman Empire." He was a tireless and selfless Emperor who dedicated each day to helping as many of the Empire's citizens and subjects as he could. He was noted for his justice and his rejection of the paranoiac practices of informants and treason trials which had increasingly defined Roman politics in the Imperial era. He was generous to the people, embarked on great public works campaigns, disaster relief, and yet still had a surplus in the treasury simply because he did not fritter away the Empire's money on personal luxuries or vain military campaigns. He died after two years in power from an illness. Some attribute it to poison from his infamously vicious and paranoid brother, Domitian, who succeeded him as Emperor.

Missing is also the Emperor Pertinax, son of a freed slave, a man of great charisma and virtue who attempted to restore the Senate's power, killed by the Praetorian Guard (supposed to be the Emperor's bodyguard) for not bribing them as much as they wanted. 😭