61- What, me Claudius?
Claudius became Emperor after the assassination of Caligula in 41 AD. Far from a bumbling fool, Claudius turned out to be capable and dedicated ruler.
July 05, 2009
June 28, 2009
60- No Better Slave, No Worse Master: The History of Rome
Caligula was insane. Luckily for the Romans, he wielded absolute power.
June 21, 2009
59- To the Tiber with Tiberius: The History of Rome
Tiberius's final years were consumed with treason trials and private licentiousness. After he died in 37 AD, the infamous Caligula ascended to the throne.
June 14, 2009
58- Partner of my Labors: The History of Rome
After the death of Tiberius's son Drusus, Praetorian Prefect Lucius Sejanus's influence grew exponentially. Sejanus was the defacto ruler of Rome from 26 AD until his fall from power 5 years later.
June 05, 2009
57- Germanicus: The History of Rome
The early years of Tiberius's reign were defined by his growing jealousy of his nephew/adopted son Germanicus. After winning victories on the far side of the Rhine, Germanicus was sent east, where in 19 AD he died under mysterious circumstances.
Pics from the British Museum by Justin. Thanks Justin!
May 31, 2009
56- The King is Dead, Long Live the King
After putting his affairs in order and ensuring that the transition of power to Tiberius would be smooth, Augustus died on August 17, 14 AD.
May 17, 2009
55- Teutoburg Nightmares: The History of Rome
The Julio-Claudian family was rife with conflict, but nothing compared to the battle fought against the Germans in the Teutoburg Forest.
Pics by Carolyn. Thanks Carolyn!
May 10, 2009
54- All in the Family: The History of Rome
Augustus promoted his steps sons Tiberius and Drusus to high office long before they were technically eligible. He hoped they would share power with him until Gaius and Lucius Caesar came of age, but Drusus died young and Tiberius went into self-imposed exile.
May 03, 2009
April 26, 2009
52- Caesar Augustus: The History of Rome
The Senate bestowed upon Octavian the title Caesar Augustus during the constitutional settlement of 27 BC. Four years later Augustus and the Senate altered their power sharing agreement.
April 19, 2009
51- Actium: The History of Rome
On Sept 2, 31 BC Octavian defeated Antony at the Battle of Actium. Antony and Cleopatra fled back to Alexandria where they committed suicide the next year, following Octavian's invasion of Egypt.
April 12, 2009
50- The Donations of Alexandria: The History of Rome
After Antony failed to conquer Parthia, the Triumvirate partnership broke down, leading to a declaration of war.
April 05, 2009
49- Apollo and Dionysus: The History of Rome
After winning the Battle of Philippi Antony and Octavian divided the empire into two halves. Antony took control of the east where he formed an alliance with Cleopatra, while Octavian commanded the west.
March 22, 2009
48- The Second Triumvirate: The History of Rome
In 43 BC Marc Antony, Octavian and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate. After initiating proscriptions to raise funds and purge their enemies, the Triumvirs headed east, where they defeated Brutus and Cassius at Philippi.
March 15, 2009
47- Octavius-Octavian: The History of Rome
Caesar posthumously adopted his great nephew Gaius Octavius and the 19-year-old was thrust into the center of Roman politics. In the months following the assassination Octavian and Mark Antony will vie for the support of the legions.
March 08, 2009
46- Sic Semper Tyrannis: The History of Rome
In the last months of his life, rumors swirled about Caesar's monarchical ambitions. On the Ides of March 44 BC, a group of Senators put the issue to rest by assassinating Caesar during a session of the Senate.
March 01, 2009
45- The End Of The War- The History of Rome
Caesar took the overland route back from Egypt back to Rome and along the way pacified what little resistance he came across. After a brief stay in Italy he sailed for North Africa where he defeated the regrouped Republican army. Having emerged from the Civil War triumphant he returned to Rome and began his ambitious reform programs.
February 22, 2009
44- Caesar Triumphant: The History of Rome
Following a setback at Dyrrachium, Caesar decisively won the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. After defeating Pompey, Caesar sailed for Alexandria, where settled a civil war by placing Cleopatra on the throne.
February 08, 2009
43- Insert Well Known Idiom Here: The History of Rome
In 49 BC Caesar led a single legion across the Rubicon River, sparking a civil war that would lead to the death of the Roman Republic.
February 01, 2009
42- Meanwhile, Back in Rome: The History of Rome
While Caesar was fighting the Gallic Wars, events in Rome and beyond exacerbated the political tensions that would eventually lead to Civil War.
January 25, 2009
41b- The Gallic Wars: The History of Rome
From 57-52 BC Caesar slowly conquered Gaul. Along the way he crossed into Germania twice and led the first Roman expedition to Britain. Finally, the last Gallic army was forced to surrender at Alesia.
January 18, 2009
41a- The Gallic Wars: The History of Rome
After beginning his proconsulship of Cisalpine Gaul in 58 BC Caesar was asked to halt the advance of a migrating Celtic tribe. He managed to turn them around, but was immediately called to face an even deadlier threat at the banks of the Rhine River.
January 11, 2009
40- In the Consulship of Julius and Caesar: The History of Rome
In 59 BC Julius Caesar served a controversial year in the consulship. He pressed for land and administrative reforms the conservative Senate opposed.
January 04, 2009
39- The Young Julius Caesar Chronicles: The History of Rome
Julius Caesar had an eventful career on his way up the Cursus Honorum. He won the Civic Crown in Asia, was captured by pirates on his way to Rhodes, and served as Governor of Hispania Ulterior.
December 21, 2008
38- The Catiline Conspiracy- The History of Rome
In 63 BC an embittered two-time consular candidate named Catiline conspired to overthrow the Roman government. He was stopped by Rome's greatest politician and orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero.
December 14, 2008
37- Go East Young Man: The History of Rome
After clearing the Mediterranean of pirates in 67 BC Pompey was put in charge of the war with Mithridates. He promptly conquered his way to Jerusalem.
December 07, 2008
36- I Am Spartacus!: The History of Rome
From 73-71 BC a gladiator named Spartacus led a slave revolt in southern Italy. Despite defeating the Romans on numerous occasions, the slave army was eventually defeated by Marcus Crassus (with an unsolicited assist from Pompey).
November 30, 2008
35- Crassus and Pompey: The History of Rome
After Sulla's death two men emerged as the vanguard of Rome's new political generation: Marcus Crassus who would become Rome's richest man and Pompey the Great, who would become Rome's greatest general. In a few years these two men would join forces with Julius Caesar to form the first Triumvirate.
November 28, 2008
34- No Greater Friend, No Worse Enemy: The History of Rome
Sulla returned from the east and after winning a short Civil War was made Dictator for Life. After purging his enemies and reorganizing the consitution he inexplicably stepped down in 80 BC.
15a-17: The Second Samnite War; The Third Samnite War; Pyrrhiic Victories
15a- The Second Samnite War
After a decade of peace, the Romans and Samnites returned to war. The early years of fighting went well for Rome, but in 321 BC they were handed a humiliating defeat at Caudine Forks.
15b- The Second Samnite War
After a five year break, hostilities resumed between the Romans and Samnites. Despite early setbacks, Rome eventually emerged victorious in 304 BC. During these years a controversial politician, Appius Claudius, initiated a series of ambitious public works projects that advanced Roman civilization.
16- The Third Samnite War
Rome battled a combined army of Samnites, Etruscans, Umbrians and Gauls for control of Italy. At Sentinum, the two sides fought the largest battle in Italian history up to that point.
17- Pyrrhic Victories
The Greek cities of southern Italy called on King Pyrrhus of Epirus to
protect them from Roman encroachment. Though Pyrrhus was undefeated in
battle, his victories were so costly that he was forced to withdraw
from Italy in 275 BC, leaving Rome in control of Magna Graecia.
15a-17: The Second Samnite War; The Third Samnite War; Pyrrhiic Victories
12-14b: The First Samnite War; The Latin War; A Phalanx with Joints
12- The First Samnite War
From 343-341 BC Rome fought a brief war against the Samnites, a powerful hill tribe who would plague the Romans for the rest of the century. The Romans won an inconclusive victory, but the war was only the opening salvo in a long running struggle between the two peoples.
13- The Latin War
The Romans fought a final war against their Latin neighbors from 340-338 BC. The Romans won a decisive victory and the Latin League was abolished once and for all.
14a- A Phalanx With Joints
For hundreds of years the Roman Army used the Greek phalanx, but during the Samnite Wars they were forced to develop a new distinctly Roman system.
14b- A Phalanx With Joints
The Roman army abandoned the Greek phalanx in favor of a new system based on a three line deployment organized by age and experience.
12-14b: The First Samnite War; The Latin War; A Phalanx with Joints
