Sextus Tempanius

i dont think that the defeat of the Gauls by Caesar was due to a lessening of the warrior ethos. I think instead that it was a failure to organize into a sustained fighting force utilizing unity of command and a system of supply. Caesar was largely able to take the field at will and maneuver where he wanted through organic and local supply means. He also had his imperium and authority where ever he went in the region. He represented Rome. The collapse of the monarch in Gaulish society and establishment of councils took away that central authority that could mobilize the whole tribe and allies in times of war as well as to provide for a large army in the field. Throughout the Commentaries the Gauls are able to assemble large bodies of soldiers for short times, but unable to effectively bring their numbers to bear or to supply them for long periods of time. Even Vercingetorix is not able to mobilize all the tribes to effectively provide a united front against Roman advances. Throughout the period Caesar is able to divide and conquer while often able to undermine an alliance by claiming that the leaders desired to be kings or cutting a tribal council a better deal. Sex. Tempanius

Sorry for your loss. Just a thought here, but if I remember correctly Romans tended to bury the dead outside of the city walls along the roads out of the town. Many inscriptions ask the passerby to remember the dead. Perhaps a wooden plaque in the entryway to the house. With the carving of a suitable looking roman or a Romanized version of your fathers name would be fitting, perhaps a Latin quote underneath? That way you would honor your father and his memory would be preserved by those recalling him in their coming and going from your home. A modern twist on older traditions.

Who's to say they cut off both thumbs instead of just the sword arm?

Oh, that's a good point. Vain tyrant never saw it coming. Happy? Actually according to the soothsayers he did see it coming. I suppose you might say that the vain tyrant did see it coming and martyred himself. I have seen in two places that I can recall at the moment that this theory of Caesar the martyr has been proposed. One was on a television show were some Italian Detective investigated the murder of Caesar. Not very scientific but interesting. The other was a book called The Roman Revolution, which I believe was written in the 1930's. The name of the author escapes me, but the point was about the same. That Caesar in failing health and unsure of what course to take is aware that a conspiracy is brewing from somewhere, but allows himself to follow the course of events that lead to his death. I can

Well to add a modern connection to it: How many pictures or statues of Lincoln do you see him without a beard? I think that the previous post about recognition is spot on. Octavian became emperor and that image of him is frozen in time as the image of Caesar.

I started reading it but have not finished it yet. I think that it was great book that tried to derrive parralles from the Roman Empire to teh modern United States and in that sense i can see your point about poli-sci. I dont there ever was a primary source on the national aims and management techniques of the empire. I think that the system developed out of events and was circumstance driven. One of the things that i did find very interesting was the discusion on client states and how they were intergral to the defense of the empire. That total roman domination of the region was not always the best solution.

I believe one of the reasons for the failure of this system has a lot to do with the fact that the army was responsible, or I should say have the authority to proclaim their own Augusti. The validity of this as a legitimate means of gaining power decentralized the authority of the ruling Augusti. Take for instance the example of Julian the Apostate. According to Amminius he was reluctant to claim any authority other than that given to him by the Emperor, but did so out of fear that the soldiers would kill him and appoint another in place. This power of the military was a huge factor in the stability of the empire and guaranteed that at any given time during the reign of one of the emperors one of his generals would become an enemy. This arena of paranoia that ones best general would march against you at any given moment led to some poor leadership and military decisions because of fear of revolt.

I beleive that the Crown Jewels were pawned to the Ventians at some point. the exact date and emperor escapes me at the moment.