Galbatorix had an odd ruling style. Which seems to be basically 'whatever keeps you all from annoying me in my pillow-castle while I read ancient texts'.
He has no images of himself around. Not even on coins. Eragon sees him for the first time in the final battle. His banners are red, not black or even purple which are colors that would be more closely associated with him. Galbatorix doesn't go against any religions (except perhaps the draumar, considering how nothing of them is ever heard in the main books and since he and Bachel parted ways on bad terms, and send soldiers her way, he likely didn't tolerate them around). He burns one monk, and only because that guy wrote an account of history that Torix didn't particularly like (curious to note that Heslant's Order is later revealed to have known about the draumar but never mentions them in the book). Galbatorix is said to not leave Uru’bâen much. There are no celebrations or festivities known which are either for him or the forsworn overthrowing the Order/the Broddring kingdom. Galbatorix doesn't care about losing cities in the war and what light it throws on the empire's military strength.
The whole war was either just the longest suicide note ever, or Torix was planning something no one knew of (thanks to paolini again for the "as far as everyone knows he's dead") and him wearing a crown for a bunch of years was simply a useful tool. Because he really didn't do the whole king role well in either direction.
