Someone who makes a good ruler has to make right choices for the people and the country (or state), should be able to protect their people from invaders and should be capable of keeping if not increasing the country's wealth. This means making sure that the military forces are well organized and powerful, staying friendly with all the neighboring cities (but that is not a must as long as the armies are strong and competent), states and countries as well as keeping up with all the money coming in to the country from business, trade, foreign affairs and colonization (which gives access to cheap labor, favorable tax scheme, less expensive resources...). And although that may not sound too complicated one other necessary action is making sure that your people are not against you. …
