rome test 3 Flashcards
Sulla
Grandson of Publius Cornelius Sulla
Son of Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Dictator of Rome from 88-82bce
Won the first large scale civil war in Roman history + was the first man to seize power of Rome through force rather than political influence.
Assumed the name FELIX in 82 - in belief of his own luck.
Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Born 115 bce, second son to Publius Licinius Crassus (consul of 97)
Roman politician and Governer of Syria in 54. Alongside Pompey and Caesar, he was a member of the first triumvirate.
He died at the battle of Carrhae a particularly gruesome death. In Roman fashion, liquid gold was poured down his throat as a mockery to his wealth. Moreover, according to a passage from Plutarch, after he was beheaded, his head was sent to the Parthian King - Orodes II - it was then used as a prop in Euripes, Bacchae, during a performance to the king.
Pompey
Born in 106bce, to Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo - coming from senatorial nobility
Also known as Pompey the Great
A great Roman general, who later joined forces with Caesar and Crassus to form the first triumvirate. Later, after the disintegration of the political force, Pompey became an enemy to Caesar.
Held consulship in 70, 55, and 52bce
Cicero
Born 106, Son of Marcus Tulius Cicero (Novus Homo) - wealthy family of ARPINUM
Most notable case: against all odds, secured the conviction of Gaius Verres for extortion during his governorship of Sicily
Supporter of Pompey
Popular figure with a high reputation
Remembered as Romes greatest orator and the innovator of Ciceronian rhetoric
Clodius
Patrician: Publius Clodius Pulcher - son of the consul of 79
Suffered a huge scandal during his time as Quaestor in 62 - attended secret nocturnal rites in honour of Bono Dea (good goddess) - dressed as a woman as males were strictly forbidden from entering the ceremony
It is thought that he did this because he either had or desired an adulterous relationship with Caesars wife, Pompeia
This ultimately led to the divorce of the two
Antony
Distant cousin and closest confidant to Caesar. Member of the second triumvirate alongside Octavian and Lepidus
Married to Octavia - sister of octavian to solidify the alliance
A lover to Cleopatra as well - his affair with the woman led to a final civil conflict or external depending on how you look at it - with egypt .
Octavian
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavius - adopted son of Julius Caesar
First citizen of Rome - first emperor of rome and the beginning of the Julio-Claudian emperor line
Known as Augustus meaning honoured or great one - rejected all other titles such as emperor or king
Established Pax Romana - a largely peaceful period of 2 centuries after extreme civil and political unrest and infighting
Reshaped the entire Roman republic
Conspiracy of Cataline
Also known as the Catilinarian conspiracy
An attempted coup by Lucius Sergius Catalina to overthrow the Roman consuls: Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida
Catalina plotted the assassination of several elected officials and the burning of the city as well.
Cicero was able to avoid the attempt as he was informed of it through wife and mistress gossip
First Triumvirate
A political alliance formed among three prominent political figures from 60-53 bce
Gnaeus Magnus Pompey, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Gaius Julius Caesar
Caesar brought the two estranged politicians together after mass senatorial fear of Caesars growing political and military power
Second Triumvirate
A second political alliance formed after the death of Julius Caesar in 43 bc
Formed by Marcus Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus
Main goal was the persecution of the contributers of the March of Idees and the establishment of Octavians rule
The group fell apart when MArc Antony left his marriage to Octavians sister and ran away to Egypt with Cleopatra
Crossing of the Rubicon
In 49 Bce, Caesar brought his troops across the Rubicon river beginning a civil war that signalled the end of the Roman Republic. The Rubicon formed a boundary between Caesars province of Cisalpine Gaul and Italy - he had no authority to bring troops across it - by doing so he sent a clear message to the people. In modern times, the idiom ‘ Crossing the Rubicon’ can often meaning passing a point of no return.
Conquest of Gaul
In the years 58-50 Caesar was extremely preoccupied with the captured and containment of Gaul and other Northern territories. Caesar went on a total of 8 campaigns there - 7 of which have surviving documentation written by himself.
Caesar succeeded in pushing back the settlements and establishing Gaul as a Roman province - however uprisings were frequent and preoccupied much of Caesars time in suppressing them.
It is estimated that of the 3 million Gauls who fought against Caesar, around 1 million passed in battle.
Actium
The battle of Actium took place September 2nd, 31 bce
Both sides - Antony and Octavian met in a naval battle in Actium - just off the coast of Greece. The battle ended in a Roman victory but saw Cleopatra and Antony escape.
The lose of this battle led to the suicide of Marc Antony
The Roman victory of the battle of Actium ended decades of civil war and resulted in the rise of the first Roman emperor (or principate)
Imperium Maius Proconsulare
Supreme authority in Romes affairs - granted to one man, the emperor - it gave him authority to command troops, give death penalties etc. all without consulting the senate or other officials. It could also override the authority of governors in their own provinces
Maius - meaning greater, meant it outranked that of all other holders of government
This was first granted to Augustus for life term
Princeps Senatus
Leader of the Senate
Informal title used for the senator whose name was placed first in the role of senators when they were reviewed by the consuls. Essentially a spokesperson for the senate.
After the establishment of emperor or first citizen, the emperor always became the princeps senatus - held complete power over the senate
