Roman Historia

The world of Roman politics had never been short of intrigue, plots and shadowy business. Throughout its history, the Roman Republic would see dodgy dealings and behind the scene plotting as part and parcel of politics within the city. However, in 63 BC a plot was hatched by a group of conspirators that aimed at an act so heinous that it shock Rome to its foundations. Driven by ambition, greed and bitterness, a group of nobles sought to forcibly overthrow the state and undertake a coup against the Senate. Led by Lucius Sergius Catilina, the conspirators rejected Roman democracy and instead looked to utilise open violence and seize control of the Senate. The affair would become notorious not just for the level of violence and destruction that almost engulfed Rome, but also for the reputation that was made by the hero of the hour – none other than Marcus Tullius Cicero. Bad Reputation For Catiline, this would not be his first brush with controversy. Under the dictatorship o...

To anyone entering the arena of Roman politics, the need to forge and maintain political alliances was a key skill to master. Whether it was for a bitterly fought election over the Consulship, or the direction of a senatorial debate, the use of political alliances has remained a constant theme throughout Roman history. Within the sphere of Roman politics, various different factors could be used to bring individuals together under the banner of a political faction – such as family ties, financial commitments, personal friendships or simply just mutual interests.  For any young senator looking to advance through the cursus , it was vital that they were able to navigate through the centuries old traditions of faction building to ensure that they could gain the required political support. Whilst these traditions were often highly complex, an insight into the art of alliance building can be gleamed from a highly publicised event in the history of the late republic – ...

By 52 BC, Rome found itself in a state of chaos. Endless bouts of street fighting between the mobs of two political heavyweights – Milo and Clodius – had paralyzed the city and left the Senate House in flames. Governmental business had ground to a standstill, consular elections were suspended, and the city had become unsafe as the rival mobs wreaked havoc. To many in Rome, the republic appeared to be under direct threat, and urgent action was demanded in the Senate. Under these circumstances, an extraordinary step was taken to tackle the situation – Pompey the Great was established as a sole consul for the year, giving him an absolute level of power to restore authority in the city. With the constraints of a consular colleague removed, Pompey was tasked with confronting these bloodthirsty gangs head on and bringing justice to the people of Rome. However, whilst such a command may appear truly incredible within the context of the Roman Republic, as we shall see, this step did...

Above: Cicero addresses the Senate Throughout Roman history, the skill of oratory had always remained a highly valued part of society. Whether it was the fierce political speeches given by Senators, or the pleas of innocence made in the law courts, Roman society relied upon the ability of its speakers to lead the republic and provide a sense of direction for its citizens. Oratory – which broadly involved the giving of speeches, debating, and the handling of legal trials – was a fiercely competitive industry, attracting political hopefuls and great legal minds alike to test their ability. Whilst Rome was particularly renowned for its great speakers, no one stands out more for their ability in the field than Marcus Tullius Cicecro (106-43 BC). Best known for his role in the republics eventual collapse, alongside his vain attempt to protect traditional Roman values, Cicero was able to ascend to a position of political power on the back of his great oratorical skill. But for Cicer...

Arminius after the battle of Teutoberg Forest Under the reign of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor, the people of Rome had witnessed an unprecedented number of conquests and victories. From the Balkans to Egypt, vast new territories had been added to the empire at breakneck speed - and nowhere was this more apparent than in Germany. Between the Rhine and the Elbe, the legions of Augustus were able to seize new territories within Germany, with their native populations pacified and at times even Romanized. By 9 AD, it appeared as though Augustus would prove to be the grand conqueror of the Germanic people. However, that year, as winter set in and the air began to cool, Roman control over Germany would find itself shattered into pieces. Augustus in Germany The northern Germanic peoples of Europe had long remained a foe of Rome. The thought of giant, long haired and uncivilised barbarians was enough to inspire both fear and disgust in the Roman mind, with the region ...

Above: Julius Caesar receives the surrender of Vercingetorix For Julius Caesar, the conquest of Gaul would prove to be his greatest triumph. Spanning a multitude of barbarian tribes and local factions, Gaul had long invoked fear within the Roman psyche. The thought of giant, long haired and unruly Gallic chieftains marauding across Rome had remained a longstanding fear within the city, with the tribes of Gaul themselves becoming an almost mythical being in the Roman imagination. Caesar’s conquest of Gaul – encompassing parts of modern day France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg – would immortalise his name in Roman history as one of the all time great conquerors. However, on the battlefield outside of Alesia (modern day Dijon), Caesar’s troops, alongside his legacy, faced its biggest challenge. The Great Uprising As the January cold settled across the Gallic landscape, in 52 BC Caesar was well on his way to completing his conquest of Gaul. Having...

This is part two of the First Triumvirate series. To view part one, click here ! As Caesar ended his Consulship and departed for his new role as governor of Gaul, the three triumvirs - Pompey, Crassus and Caesar - appeared unstoppable. Between the wealth and contacts of Crassus, the heroic stature and military legacy of Pompey and the political daring of Caesar, those conservatives within the Senate that once opposed the trio now found themselves at their mercy. However, despite their initial successes, all was not well between the three. It would be the impact of the ensuing split within this political alliance - and the resulting factions that would rise from its ashes - that would eventually lead the Republic into a bloody civil war. Growing Tensions It was within Rome itself that the first signs of tension between the three leaders could be seen. By 57 BC, political clashes within the capital had become endemic. Mobs of supporters, led by opposing charismatic lea...

In the highly competitive and vicious world of Roman politics, the art of alliance building was a well established tradition. Whether it be the competing factions of Marius and Sulla or the tightly knit alliance of conservatives in the Senate (known as the Optimates) led by Cato, both clientelism and patronage were accepted as part and parcel of political strategy. Despite this, the alliance between Pompey, Crassus and Caesar that formed in 60 BC sent shockwaves across the Roman world – and would eventually bring the Republic to its knees. To understand what made this alliance just so powerful, we must first look to how it came about. Forming the Triumvirate By 60 BC, tensions were rising within the world of Roman politics. Pompey, having successfully waged a war in the East against Mithridates, was looking to consolidate his gains and have the veterans that served under him given land as a reward for their services. Whilst Pompey saw this as a fair and reasonable demand...

By March 44 BC, Julius Caesar had established himself as the undisputed master of Rome. After surviving the breakup of the Triumvirate and the ensuing civil war, which spanned across three different continents, Caesar had seen off all challengers and had cemented his position as dictator. Within Rome itself, concerned citizens looked on and pondered their own fate. Would Caesar eventually lay down his position and retire from public life, as Sulla had done as dictator a generation ago? Or would Caesar look to bring down the ailing Republic once and for all, and re-establish a monarchy in Rome.   As the Ides of March approached, the Roman people would not have to wait any longer for their answer.  The Background After defeating Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus (48 BC), Julius Caesar would spend the next few years bringing a bloody civil war to a close. Darting from Greece to Egypt, Rome to Spain, Caesar would stamp his authority on the state and destroy the remai...

By the first century BC, Rome had managed to establish itself as the uncontested master of the Mediterranean - controlling the sea from Spain (Hispania) to the Aegean and beyond. Although Roman military might had successfully fought its way through all challengers, Rome faced a very different proposition when it came to that of its latest challenge in the 60s BC - piracy. Piracy in the Roman World Piracy was nothing new to the Romans. Pirates had remained a constant threat in the Mediterranean throughout various points in history - disrupting trade, taking slaves and holding prominent prisoners for ransom. However, in the 2nd century BC, Roman conquest in the eastern Mediterranean had left a power vacuum that pirates were able to exploit and subsequently expand their operations. The conquest of Rhodes by Rome, a state that had previously acted as a counter to piracy in the region, had allowed piracy to pick up pace during this period. In particular, Cilicia (in modern day ...

The late Roman Republic has long been a source of fascination - whether for the great historical figures it produced (think Caesar or Cicero) or for the resulting empire that would emerge from its ruins. Although the generation of Caesar and Pompey became synonymous with the republics fall, we must look further into the past to see the start of its deterioration. The role of the Gracchi brothers provided the first spark of revolution that would continue  over the next century.  By the late 2nd century BC, Rome had established itself as the dominant force in the Mediterranean world - conquering Carthage, large parts of Spain (Hispania), Macedonia and Greece (among others). However, despite the vast wealth generated from these conquests, not all within Rome were content with society back home. The Gracchi Born c. 168 BC, Tiberius Gracchus made a name for himself through a spell of successful military service. He participated in the Siege of Carthage (146) and held the Quae...