⚫️ NERVA ADOPTS TRAJAN “Casperius Aelianus, who had become commander of the Praetorians under him as he had been under Domitian, incited the soldiers to mutiny against him, after having induced them to demand certain persons for execution. Nerva resisted them stoutly, even to the point of baring his collar-bone and presenting to them his throat; but he accomplished nothing, and those whom Aelianus wished were put out of the way. Nerva, therefore, finding himself held in such contempt by reason of his old age, ascended the Capitol and said in a loud voice: "May good success attend the Roman senate and people and myself. I hereby adopt Marcus Ulpius Nerva Trajan." Afterwards in the senate he appointed him Caesar and sent a message to him written with his own hand (Trajan was governor of Germany): “May the Danaans by thy shafts requite my tears." Thus Trajan became Caesar and later emperor, although there were relatives of Nerva living. But Nerva did not esteem family relation­ship above the safety of the State, nor was he less inclined to adopt Trajan because the latter was a Spaniard instead of an Italian or Italot, inasmuch as no foreigner had previously held the Roman sovereignty; for he believed in looking at a man's ability rather than at his nationality. Soon after this act he passed away, having ruled one year, four months and nine days; his life prior to that time had comprised sixty-five years, ten months and ten days.” Cassius Dio

🟡 CEASAR IN AFRIKA “Labienus rode bare-headed up and down the front line, encouraging his own men the while and occasionally accosting Caesar's legionaries in such terms as these: What are you up to, recruit? Quite the dashing little fellow, aren't you? Have all of you too been made fools of by that fellow's words? So help me, it's a very dangerous situation he has driven you into. I feel sorry for you.' 'I'm not a recruit, Labienus,' replied one soldier, 'but a veteran of the Tenth legion." To this Labienus retorted: 'I don't recognise the standards of the Tenth.' Then said the soldier: 'You'll soon see what I'm made of.' As he spoke the words he flung the helmet from his head so that the other could recognise him and, thus uncovered, brandished his heavy javelin with all his force, as he aimed it at Labienus: then plunging it violently full in the horse's chest he said: 'That will teach you, Labienus, that it's a soldier of the Tenth who is attacking you.' All the troops, however, were demoralised, particularly the recruits, for they kept looking round for Caesar and contented themselves with dodging the enemy javelins.”

🟤 THOUSAND YEAR ANNIVERSARY Philip the Arab, Roman Emperor from 244 to 249 AD, presided over Rome's one thousandth anniversary. In 248 AD, he orchestrated a grand celebration known as the Ludi Saeculares, a series of rare and infrequent games held to commemorate significant periods in Roman history, often associated with the passing of a "saeculum," a period of 100 or 110 years. The Ludi Saeculares were not ordinary games. They were rooted in Roman religion, involving elaborate rituals and sacrifices to appease the gods and ensure the continued prosperity and longevity of the Roman state. These festivities were a spectacle of imperial power, showcasing the Emperor's authority and his commitment to the well-being of the Roman people. They included a wide array of public entertainment: chariot races, gladiatorial combats, theatrical performances, plays, pantomimes, musical performances, and lavish public feasts and distributions of food and wine for the Roman populace. Elaborate processions featuring priests, officials, and citizens paraded through the streets, offering sacrifices and prayers.

🔶 THE CITY OF LEPTIS MAGNA “The town of Lepcis was founded by Sidonians, who are reported to have left their homes because of civil discord and come to that region in ships. It lies between the two Syrtes, which derive their name from their nature; for they are two bays situated almost at the extreme end of Africa,⁠ of unequal size but alike in character. Near the shore the water is very deep, elsewhere it is sometimes deep and sometimes shoal, just as it happens;⁠ for when the breeze causes the sea to swell and rage, the waves sweep along mud, sand, and great rocks, so that the aspect of the place changes with the winds. From this "sweeping"⁠ the Syrtes get their name.” “Only the speech of this city has been affected by intermarriage with the Numidians; its laws and customs are for the most part Sidonian, and these the inhabitants retained the more easily because they passed their life at a distance from the Numidian capital. For between them and the thickly settled part of Numidia lay an extensive desert.” Sallust

Say hello to my little fren!!

Yes.

🔺 THE TRIBULUS The tribulus, or caltrop, was a simple yet effective anti-personnel weapon made of iron or wood with sharp spikes arranged so one always pointed up. Romans used them to hinder enemy troops, especially cavalry and chariots, by injuring feet and hooves. Easy to deploy defensively or offensively, they created battlefield chaos. Called "murex ferreus" (jagged iron) by Romans, the name "tribulus" comes from Greek for "three spikes," though Roman versions usually had four. They are even being used in modern times. “Ukraine Drops Ancient Roman Weapons From Drones To Stop Russian Trucks” -Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2024/04/12/ukraine-teams-ancient-and-modern-weapons-to-stop-russian-trucks/

🔘 THE YOUNGER SCIPIO MOCKS PTOLEMY PHYSCON “He was sent out by the Senate a third time as an inspector of cities, peoples, and kings; And when he arrived at Alexandria and, after disembarking, was walking with his toga covering his head, the Alexandrians quickly surrounded him, and insisted that he uncover and show his face to their yearning eyes. And so he uncovered amid shouting and applause. The king could hardly keep up with them in walking because of his inactive life and his pampering of his body, and Scipio whispered softly to Panaetius, "Already the Alexandrians have received some benefit from our visit. For it is owing to us that they have seen their king walk." Plutarch, Sayings Of The Romans

I made things today.

🔵 PROPHECY ABOUT THE LAST SEVERAN “Alexander's contempt for death is clearly shown both by the intrepid spirit with which he always put down the soldiery, and also by the following incident. When Thrasybulus the astrologer, with whom he was on the most friendly terms, told him that it was his destiny to fall by the sword of a barbarian, he first expressed his joy, thinking that he was fated to die in battle in a manner worthy of an emperor; then, speaking at length he pointed out that all the noblest men had died a violent death, mentioning Alexander himself, whose name he bore, then Pompey, Caesar, Demosthenes, Cicero, and other men of note, none of whom had met with a peaceful end. And such was his courage that he thought that he ought to be likened to the gods, were he to perish in battle. But the result deceived his hopes; for he did, indeed, fall by the sword of a barbarian and by the hand of a barbarian guard, but it was not in battle, though during the course of a war.” Historia Augusta

Ate some high quality caviar today. Disgusting as expected.

🟣 BETWEEN THE PYRENEES AND THE RHINE “Again, the Romans conquered these people much more easily than they did the Iberians; in fact, the Romans began earlier, and stopped later, carrying on war with the Iberians, but in the meantime defeated all these — I mean all the peoples who live between the Rhenus and the Pyrenees Mountains. For, since the former were wont to fall upon their opponents all at once and in great numbers, they were defeated all at once, but the latter would husband their resources and divide their struggles, carrying on war in the manner of brigands, different men at different times and in separate divisions. Now although they are all fighters by nature, they are better as cavalry than as infantry; and the best cavalry-force the Romans have comes from these people. However, it is always those who live more to the north and along the ocean-coast that are the more warlike.” Strabo

⚪️ MOTIVATED BY COMPASSION “For two years the subject of Metellus' banishment was debated in assemblies. His son traversed the forum with his beard and hair overgrown, and in a tattered garment, while with tears in his eyes he prostrated himself at the feet of every citizen, entreating them to recall his father. Although the people were very reluctant to make a precedent for exiles to return home in defiance of the laws, yet, in compassion to the young man, and being moved by the earnestness of his entreaties, they recalled Metellus from banishment, and surnamed the son Pius, on account of the singular affection and care that he had for his father.” Diodorus Siculus

🟢 CHIEFTAIN OF THE DACIANS “Scorylo, a chieftain of the Dacians, though he knew that the Romans were torn with the dissensions of the civil wars, yet did not think he ought to venture on any enterprise against them, inasmuch as a foreign war might be the means of uniting the citizens in harmony. Accordingly he pitted two dogs in combat before the populace, and when they became engaged in a desperate encounter, exhibited a wolf to them. The dogs straightway abandoned their fury against each other and attacked the wolf. By this illustration, Scorylo kept the barbarians from a movement which could only have benefited the Romans.” Frontinus: The Strategemata

GN.

⚫️ THE LEGEND THAT IS NERVA “Nerva ruled so well that he once remarked: "I have done nothing that would prevent my laying down the imperial office and returning to private life in safety."  When Calpurnius Crassus, a descendant of the famous Crassi, had formed a plot with some others against him, he caused them to sit beside him at a spectacle (they were still ignorant of the fact that they had been informed upon) and gave them swords, ostensibly to inspect and see if they were sharp (as was often done), but really in order to show that he did not care even if he died then and there.” Cassius Dio

🟡 SLOTH AND GLUTTONY “The Gauls filled themselves to repletion with wine and other luxuries, being intemperate by nature, and inhabiting a country which yielded only cereals, and was unfruitful and destitute of other productions. Thus their large bodies became delicate, distended with fatness, and heavy by reason of excessive eating and drinking, and quite incapable of running or hardship; and when any exertion was required of them they speedily became exhausted by perspiration and shortness of breath.” “He (Camillus) showed them naked to the Romans and said: "These are the creatures who assail you with such terrible shouts in battle, and clash their arms and shake their long swords and toss their hair. Behold their weakness of soul, their slothfulness and flabbiness of body, and gird yourselves to your work." Appian, the foreign wars

🟤 (CRISIS OF THE) THIRD CENTURY EMPERORS LIST. Roman Emperors between Alexander Severus and Diocletian, along with their regnal years: Maximinus Thrax (235-238 AD) Gordian I (238 AD) Gordian II (238 AD) Pupienus (238 AD) Balbinus (238 AD) Gordian III (238-244 AD) Philip the Arab (244-249 AD) Decius (249-251 AD) Hostilian (251 AD) Trebonianus Gallus (251-253 AD) Aemilian (253 AD) Valerian (253-260 AD) Gallienus (253-268 AD) Claudius II Gothicus (268-270 AD) Quintillus (270 AD) Aurelian (270-275 AD) Tacitus (275-276 AD) Florian (276 AD) Probus (276-282 AD) Carus (282-283 AD) Carinus (283-285 AD) Numerian (283-284 AD) Diocletian (284-305 AD)

🔶 HOSTILE HOSPITALITY IN NORTH AFRICA “The Vagenses, in whose town Metellus had placed a garrison at first, at the time when Jugurtha was suing for peace, yielded to the entreaties of the king, towards whom they had always been well disposed, and the leading men of the town entered into a conspiracy. As to the commons, they were of a fickle disposition, as is usually the case and as is particularly true of the Numidians, prone to rebellion and disorder, fond of change and opposed to peace and quiet. Then, after arranging matters among themselves, they appointed the third day from that time, because it was observed as a holiday all over Africa and promised entertainment and festivity rather than danger. However, when the appointed time arrived, they invited the centurions and military tribunes and even the prefect⁠ of the town himself, Titus Turpilius Silanus by name, to their several homes. There all except Turpilius were slain while feasting. The conspirators then fell upon the common soldiers, who were strolling about unarmed, as was natural on such a day, when they were off duty. The commons joined in the massacre, some at the instigation of the nobles, others inspired by a natural fondness for such conduct; for although they knew neither what was being done nor its purpose, they found sufficient incentive in mere revolution and disorder.” “The Roman soldiers, being bewildered by this unexpected peril and not knowing what to do first, were thrown into disorder. They were cut off from the citadel of the town, where their standards and shields were, by a hostile force, and from flight by the gates, closed beforehand. Moreover, women and boys from the roofs of the houses were busily pelting them with stones and whatever else they could lay hands on. It was quite impossible to guard against the double danger⁠ and brave men were helpless before the feeblest of opponents. Side by side valiant and cowardly, strong and weak, fell without striking a blow.” Sallust