🌁 Early Republic Flashcards
Who pretended to be a slow-witted man, but lept into action to help Collatinus overthrow the Tarquins?
(Lucius) Junius Brutus
Why did Brutus and Collatinus overthrow the Tarquins?
rape of Lucretia
Whose rape led Brutus and Collatinus to overthrow the Tarquins?
Lucretia
Who became the first two consuls?
(Lucius) Junius Brutus & Collatinus
What position was given to Junius Brutus and Collatinus at the start of the Republic?
consuls
What Etruscan king tried to capture Rome at the beginning of the Republic?
Lars Porsenna
Whose assualt on Rome was twarted by the bravery of Hortaius Cocles at the Pons Sublicius?
Lars Porsenna
Who single-handedly defended the Pons Sublicius from the assault of Lars Porsenna?
Horatius Cocles
What bridge did Horatius Cocles single-handedly defend from the assault of Lars Porsenna?
Pons Sublicius
What does “Cocles” mean?
one-eyed
Who swam in his armor back to Rome after defending the Pons Sublicius from Lars Porsenna?
Horatius Cocles
What does “Scaevola” mean?
Left-Handed / Lefty
What Roman held his right hand in a fire to show Lars Porsenna the resolve of the Roman people?
Mucius Scaevola
How did Mucius Scaevola earn his cognomen?
held his left hand in a fire to show Lars Porsenna the Romans would not surrender
What Roman woman escaped from Lars Porsenna by swimming across the Tiber?
Cloelia
How did Cloelia escape from Lars Porsenna?
swam across the Tiber (or rode on horseback)
What happened to Cloelia after she was returned to Lars Porsenna so that a treaty would not be broken?
he let her go
What mythical twins were the sons of Zeus and the brothers of Helen?
Castor & Pollux
At what battle in 496 B.C. did the Romans defeat the Latins?
Lake Regillus
What two mythical brothers urged the Romans to victory at Lake Regillus in 496 BC?
Castor & Pollux
What Roman general was victorious at the Lake Regillus?
Postumius
Who built a temple for Castor & Pollux after the Lake Regillus?
Postumius
What temple did Postumius build after the Lake Regillus?
Temple of Castor & Pollux
What Roman noble was expelled from Rome and came back leading an army of Volscians?
Coriolanus
What tribe did Coriolanus lead against the Romans?
Volsci
How did Gaius Marcius receive the cognomen Coriolanus?
led a Volscian tribe from Corioli
Who led an army of Volscians against the Romans?
Coriolanus
Name the wife and mother of Coriolanus who persuaded him to turn back from his assault.
Veturia (mother) & Volumnia (wife)
What farmer was called from his plow to be dictator during an invasion of Aequi?
Cincinnatus
What tribe’s invasion force the Romans to appoint the farmer Cincinnatus as dictator?
Aequi
When was a dictator appointed?
when one or both consuls were killed
How long did a dictator serve?
6 months
What dictator returned to his plow after defeating the Aequi in only 16 days?
Cincinnatus
How long did it take for Cincinnatus to defeat the Aequi?
16 days
What did Cincinnatus do after defeating the Aequi?
returned to his plow
What did the Romans call the aristocrats?
patricians
What did the Romans call the commoners?
plebeians
What is the term for when the plebeians left the city because of unrest between them and the patricians?
Secession of the Plebs
Who delivered a speech about the “belly and the limbs” to convince the plebeians to return to the city?
Menenius Agrippa
What did Menenius Agrippa deliver a speech about to convince the plebeians to return to the city?
the belly and the limbs
What tribune, in 462 BC, first requested a code of written laws?
Terentilius Harsa
What bronze tablets of Roman law were inscribed in 450 BC and posted in the Forum for all to see?
Twelve Tables
What commission of 10 men chosen to write the Twelve Tables?
Decemviri
What were the Decemviri appointed to do?
create a code of laws
Who was the leader of the Decemviri?
Appius Claudius
Which decemvir abused his power by trying to take advantage of the maiden Verginia?
Appius Claudius
What maiden did the decemvir Appius Claudius try to take advantage of?
Verginia
What happened after Appius Claudius tried to take advantage of Verginia?
she killed herself
What law was passed in 445 BC which legalized marriage between patricians and plebeians?
Lex Canuleia
Which law made plebiscite (laws passed by the Concilium Plebis) legally binding?
Lex Canuleia
What law of 287 BC removed the restriction that plebian laws be approved by the Comitia Centuriata?
Lex Hortensia
What law of 367 BC required at least one consul to be plebeian?
Sexto-Licinian Law
What was the major effect of the Sexto-Licinian Law?
at least one consul had to be plebeian
Who was the first plebeian consul?
Lucius Sextius
What office was Lucius Sextius the first plebeian to hold?
consul
Who was referred to as “The Second Founder of Rome”?
Camillus
What honorific title was given to Camillus?
The Second Founder of Rome
Which Roman led the capure of Veii in 396 BC?
Camillus
What nearby city did Camillus capture in 396 BC?
Veii
How did Camillus capture Veii?
tunneled under its walls
Who tunneled under the walls of Veii to capture the city in 396 BC?
Camillus
What Gallic chieftain sacked Rome in 390 BC?
Brennus
At what battle in 390 BC did Brennus and the Gauls defeat the Romans?
Allia River
Who defeated the Romans at the Allia River in 390 BC?
Brennus
Where did the Romans retreat to when Brennus captured the city?
Capitoline Hill
Who alerted Marcus Manlius that the Gauls were climbing the Capitoline Hill?
sacred Geese of Juno
Who was alerted by the sacred geese that the Gauls were trying to capture the Capitoline Hill?
Marcus Manlius Capitolinus
Which goddess’ sacred geese alerted the Romans that the Gauls were ascending the Capitoline?
Juno’s
What did Brennus say when the Romans complained about false weights on the scale for his ransom money?
Vae Victis (“Woe to the Conquered”)
Who said “Vae Victis” when the Romans complained about false weights on the scale used to weigh his ransom money?
Brennus
What were the years of the First Samnite War?
343-341 BC
What war did the Romans fight from 343-341 BC?
First Samnite War
What were the years of the Second Samnite War?
327-304 BC
What war did the Romans fight from 327-304 BC?
Second Samnite War
What were the years of the Third Samnite War?
298-290 BC
What war did the Romans fight from 298-290 BC?
Third Samnite War
What war was a minor conflict in the vicinity of Capua from 343-341 BC?
First Samnite War
What war was fought over a dispute at Neapolis from 327-303 BC?
Second Samnite War
The 2nd Samnite War was fought over a dispute at what city?
Neapolis (Naples)
What is the modern day name of Neapolis?
Naples
What is the ancient name of Naples?
Neapolis
At what battle in 321 BC did the Samnite force a Roman army to walk under the yoke?
Caudine Forks
In what year did the Samnites defeat the Romans at the Caudine Forks and force them to walk under the yoke?
321 BC
What sign of complete surrender did the Samnites force upon the Romans after the Caudine Forks?
walk under the yoke
At what battle in 315 BC was Fabius Rullianus defeated by the Samnites?
Lautulae
What Roman commander was defeated by the Samnites at Lautulae in 315 BC?
Fabius Rullianus
Who built a road from Rome to Capua which helped the Romans win the 2nd Samnite War?
Appius Claudius Caecus
What does the cognomen “Caecus” mean?
blind
What road did Appius Claudius Caecus build from Rome to Capua during the 2nd Samnite War?
Via Appia
At what battle in 295 BC did Decius Mus spur the Romans to victory by commiting a devotio?
Sentinum
Who committed a devotio at Sentinum which spurred the Romans on to victory?
Decius Mus
What is a devotio?
self-sacrifice
Who was a famous censor in 312 BC?
Appius Claudius Caecus
What is a censor?
an official responsible for editing the rolls of citizens and building roads & aqueducts
Which official was responsible for editing the rolls of citizens and building roads & aqueducts?
censor
How many censors served at once?
2
How long did censors serve?
18 months
How often were censors elected?
every 5 years
What famous road and aqueduct did Appius Claudius build when he was censor?
Via Appia & Aqua Appia
To what city was the Via Appia eventually extended?
Brundisium
Why did Decius Mus sacrifice himself in battle?
had a dream that the army which lost its general would be victorious
What Greek mercenary from Epirus was hired by Tarentum to fight Rome?
Pyrrhus
What region of Greece was Pyrrhus from?
Epirus
What city hired Pyrrhus to fight the Romans?
Tarentum
Who reportedly said “How easily I could conquer the world, had I the Romans for soldiers, or they me for king”?
Pyrrhus
Who won battles over the Romans at Heralcea and Asculum but with huge losses of his own men?
Pyrrhus
At what battle in 280 BC did Pyrrhus defeat the Romans at a high cost?
Heraclea
At what battle in 279 BC did Pyrrhus defeat the Romans at a high cost?
Asculum
What is the term for a victory which costs more than it is worth?
Pyrrhic Victory
What ambassador of Pyrrhus called the Roman senate an “assembly of kings”?
Cineas
What did Cineas call the Roman senate?
an assembly of kings
Who was Pyrrhus’ ambassador?
Cineas
At what battle in 275 BC did the Romans defeat Pyrrhus?
Maleventum / Beneventum
What Roman general defeated Pyrrhus at Beneventum in 275 BC?
Curius Dentatus
Where did Curius Dentatus defeat Pyrrhus in 275 BC?
Maleventum / Beneventum
What Roman, noted for his austerity and refusal to accept bribes, was the most famous to oppose Pyrrhus?
Fabricius
Who was the first enemy to use elephants against the Romans?
Pyrrhus
What military innovation was Pyrrhus the first to use against the Romans?
elephants
How did the Romans combat Pyrrhus’ elephants?
used fiery missiles to scare them
