From the Assyrians (Ashurbanipal and his libraries of wisdom) and the Egyptians (council of viziers and priests) to Alexander the Great (tutored by Aristotle), Augustus (counselors like Agrippa and Maecenas), Charlemagne (the Schola Palatina), and the Medici (patrons of artists and scientists), the pattern is clear: no emperor ruled alone.
His competitive advantage was not only his strength but also the quality and exclusivity of his "Private Council or Assembly" – an intimate circle of sages that included military strategy, diplomacy, economics, philosophy, and science. That "Imperial Oracle" was the most valuable asset for making decisions that defined the fate of his empire and family legacy.