🟡 ILLYRIAN SPOILS “The Illyrians were a nation formidable both by land and sea, who felt secure in their strong fortified positions, and Anicius had thoroughly subjugated them in a few days and captured their king and all his family. Many captured standards were carried in the procession, together with other spoils, and the furniture of the palace, 27 pounds of gold, and 19 of silver, besides 13,000 denarii and 120,000 silver pieces of Illyrian coinage. Before his chariot walked Gentius, with his wife and children, Caravantius his brother, and several Illyrian nobles. Out of the booty each legionary received 45 denarii, the centurions twice, and the cavalry three times as much. Anicius gave to the Latin allies as much as to the Romans, and to the seamen of the fleet as much as the soldiers received. The soldiers marched more joyously in this triumph, and the general himself was the subject of many laudatory songs. According to Antias, 200,000 sesterces were realised from the sale of that booty, besides the gold and silver deposited in the treasury, but as it is not clear to me how this sum was realised, I quote his authority instead of stating it as a fact. By resolution of the senate, Gentius, with his wife and children and brother, were interned in Spoletium; the rest of the captives were thrown into prison in Rome. As the Spoletians refused to be responsible for their safe-keeping, the royal family were transferred to Iguvium. The remainder of the Illyrian spoils consisted of 220 swift barques. These Q. Cassius was ordered by the senate to distribute amongst the Corcyraeans, the Apolloniates and the Dyrrhachians.” Livy, history of Rome

When Scipio captured Carthage by assault, some soldiers brought him a beautiful captive maiden. He reportedly said, "I would gladly take her if I were a private and not a commander."

A mirror for all of us.

🟤 CASSIUS DIO ON THE NORTHERN BRITONS Cassius Dio speaks of Severus' campaign in northern Britain and the tribes of that land. "There are two principal races of the Britons, the Caledonians and the Maeatae, and the names of the others have been merged in these two. The Maeatae live next to the cross-wall which cuts the island in half, and the Caledonians are beyond them. Both tribes inhabit wild and waterless mountains and desolate and swampy plains, and possess neither walls, cities, nor tilled fields, but live on their flocks, wild game, and certain fruits...They dwell in tents, naked and unshod, possess their women in common, and in common rear all the offspring. Their form of rule is democratic for the most part, and they are very fond of plundering; consequently they choose their boldest men as rulers....They can endure hunger and cold and any kind of hardship; for they plunge into the swamps and exist there for many days with only their heads above water, and in the forests they support themselves upon bark and roots, and for all emergencies they prepare a certain kind of food, the eating of a small portion of which, the size of a bean, prevents them from feeling either hunger or thirst" (LXXVII.12.1-4). Cassius Dio

🔺 THE DEATH OF A GLADIATOR “Spartacus saw the necessity that was upon him, and drew up his whole army in order of battle. In the first place, when his horse was brought to him, he drew his sword, and saying that if he won the day he would have many fine horses of the enemy's, but if he lost it he did not want any, he slew his horse. Then pushing his way towards Crassus himself through many flying weapons and wounded men, he did not indeed reach him, but slew two centurions who fell upon him together. Finally, after his companions had taken to flight, he stood alone, surrounded by a multitude of foes, and was still defending himself when he was cut down.” (Spartacus 103-71 BC was a Thracian gladiator who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic known as the Third Servile War 73-71 BC). Plutarch

“You always say you have headache, come here.”

🔘 THE FIRST AND NOT THE LAST “Constantine was also the first Christian emperor, with the exception of Philippus who seemed to me to have become a Christian merely in order that the one-thousandth year of Rome might be dedicated to Christ rather than to pagan idols. But from Constantine down to the present day all the emperors that have been chosen were Christians, with the exception of Julian, whose disastrous life forsook him in the midst of the impious plans which it was said that he was devising. Moreover, Constantine made the change in a just and humane fashion; for he issued an edict that the temples should be closed without any shedding of pagan blood. Afterwards he destroyed the bravest and most populous of the Gothic tribes in the very heart of the barbarian territory; that is, in the lands of the Sarmatians.” The Anonymus Valesianus

🔵 THE HEIRS OF SEVERUS Caracalla, whose full name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, and Geta, whose full name was Publius Septimius Geta Augustus, were Roman emperors who ruled jointly from 211 to 212 CE. Caracalla, the elder brother, was born in 188 CE. He and Geta were the sons of Emperor Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. While their father was still alive, both brothers were made co-emperors in 209 CE. Their joint reign was marked by intense rivalry and suspicion. Caracalla, known for his cruelty and extravagance, craved sole power. In 212 CE, he orchestrated the assassination of Geta, his own brother, while Geta was seeking refuge in their mother's arms. Following Geta's murder, Caracalla unleashed a brutal purge, eliminating anyone suspected of supporting his brother. He ordered the destruction of all images and mentions of Geta, effectively erasing his brother from history. Caracalla continued his reign as sole emperor, but his rule was short-lived. In 217 CE, he was assassinated while traveling in Edessa, Mesopotamia. His reign is remembered for the brutal murder of his brother and his extravagant spending, which included the construction of the Caracalla Baths, one of the largest and most impressive bath complexes in ancient Rome.

🟣 PLINY ON THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS “My uncle was stationed at Misenum, in active command of the fleet. On 24 August, in the early afternoon, my mother drew his attention to a cloud of unusual size and appearance. He had been out in the sun, had taken a cold bath, and lunched while lying down, and was then working at his books. He called for his shoes and climbed up to a place which would give him the best view of the phenomenon. It was not clear at that distance from which mountain the cloud was rising (it was afterwards known to be Vesuvius); its general appearance can best be expressed as being like an umbrella pine, for it rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches, I imagine because it was thrust upwards by the first blast and then left unsupported as the pressure subsided, or else it was borne down by its own weight so that it spread out and gradually dispersed. In places it looked white, elsewhere blotched and dirty, according to the amount of soil and ashes it carried with it.” “Then the flames and smell of sulphur which gave warning of the approaching fire drove the others to take flight and roused him to stand up. He stood leaning on two slaves and then suddenly collapsed, I imagine because the dense, fumes choked his breathing by blocking his windpipe which was constitutionally weak and narrow and often inflamed. When daylight returned on the 26th - two days after the last day he had been seen - his body was found intact and uninjured, still fully clothed and looking more like sleep than death.” Pliny the younger

“All warfare is based on deception”. Sun Tzu

He was born in militairy camp in Germania (cologne) and was wearing a tiny legionaire outfit at like 2 years old, the soldiers really liked this and called him Caligula, meaning Little Boots. He was kind of their mini mascotte. He was the third emperor of Rome but didn’t end well. His actual name was Gaius, a son of the famous Germanicus.

Some people think Rome’s biggest adversary was Carthage, but no, this dude was.

⚪️ ORIGINS OF THE CELTIBERIANS “In ancient times these two peoples, namely, the Iberians and the Celts, kept warring among themselves over the land, but when later they arranged their differences and settled upon the land altogether, and when they went further and agreed to intermarriage with each other, because of such intermixture the two peoples received the appellation given above. And since it was two powerful nations that united and the land of theirs was fertile, it came to pass that the Celtiberians advanced far in fame and were subdued by the Romans with difficulty and only after they had faced them in battle over a long period.” “And a peculiar and strange custom obtains among them: Careful and cleanly as they are in their ways of living, they nevertheless observe one practice which is low and partakes of great uncleanness; for they consistently use urine to bathe the body and wash their teeth with it, thinking that in this practice is constituted the care and healing of the body.” Diodorus Siculus

I prayed today because i’m a sinner.

🟢 AGRIPPA, AUGUSTUS, WATER MANAGEMENT “Marcus Agrippa, after his aedile­ship (a post he held exceptionally, having already been consul), assumed responsibility for the works and benefactions he had himself provided and became thereby, so to speak, the first permanent water commissioner. Now that there was an adequate supply, Agrippa apportioned this water to public works, to streetside basins, and as grants to private persons. He had also a personal work crew for maintaining the conduits as well as delivery-tanksand basins. When Augustus inherited this crew from Agrippa, he transferred its owner­ship to the state. After Agrippa's death [12 B.C.E.], in the consul­ship of Quintus Aelius Tubero and Paulus Fabius Maximus [11 B.C.E.], resolutions were passed in the Senate and a statute was promulgated to deal with the matter of routine administration, for hitherto this had been handled in only a semi-official way and there had been no specific legal basis. Augustus also, by an edict, established what right those persons should enjoy who had water according to Agrippa's records, for the entire scheme of distribution had been left to the emperor's own pleasure. He also established the pipe-sizes of which I have spoken; and to be responsible for a comprehensive and rigorous administration he appointed Messala Corvinus as a chief commissioner, to be assisted by Postumius Sulpicius, an ex-praetor, and Lucius Cominius, a junior senator.” Sextus Julius Frontinus, De Aquis

During the Second Punic War (Rome vs Carthage) in the west, the Greek Empires of the east often fought with each other. This video shows the battle of Raphia, fought at the same time that Hannibal was invading Italy.

⚫️ THE LAST HOURS OF OTHO “His face was calm, his words showed no fear; but he checked the unseasonable tears of his friends. He gave orders that boats and carriages should be furnished those who were leaving. Every document or letter which was marked by loyalty towards him or by abuse of Vitellius he destroyed. He distributed money, but sparingly and not as if he were about to die. Then he took pains to console his nephew, Salvius Cocceianus, who was very young, frightened, and sad, praising his duti­ful affection, but reproving his fear. He asked him if he thought Vitellius would prove so cruel as not to grant him even such a return as this for saving the whole house. "By my quick end," said he, "I can earn the clemency of the victor. For it is not in the extremity of despair, but while my army is still demanding battle that I have saved the state this last misfortune. I have won enough fame for myself, enough high rank for my descendants. After the Julii, the Claudii, and the Servii, I have been the first to confer the imperial rank on a new family. Therefore face life with a brave heart; never forget or too constantly remember that Otho was your uncle." Tacitus, Histories

🟡 THE DOWNFALL OF SEJANUS Sejanus's last days were a dramatic and swift descent from the pinnacle of power. Tiberius, despite initially trusting Sejanus, grew increasingly wary of his powerful prefect. He began to observe Sejanus's actions with suspicion, noticing signs of arrogance and ambition. Tiberius subtly began to undermine Sejanus's power base, appointing Macro, a loyal commander, as prefect of the watch, effectively counterbalancing Sejanus's control over the Praetorian Guard. Sensing his grip on power slipping, Sejanus attempted to consolidate his position. He began to plot against Tiberius, seeking to seize control of the empire. He reportedly sought to marry Livilla, Tiberius's sister, a move that would have solidified his claim to power and further alienated Tiberius. Tiberius, having anticipated Sejanus's move, acted swiftly. He sent a secret message to the Senate, accusing Sejanus of treason. The Senate, relieved to be rid of the oppressive prefect, readily condemned Sejanus. Sejanus, unaware of Tiberius's actions, was summoned to the Senate. Upon arriving, he was immediately arrested and thrown into prison. The Praetorian Guard, now under Macro's command, swiftly suppressed any attempts at resistance. Sejanus was executed shortly thereafter, likely by strangulation. His associates were also arrested and executed, and his family was stripped of their wealth and titles.

Say hello to my little fren. GN