Gaius Paulinus Maximus

It just goes to show that as good as the TV series was it was after all just a TV series and not historical fact therefore it should be enjoyed but where the truths concerned should be taken with a pinch of salt. But also I must point out that when it comes to the truth, Suetonius was as guilty as a modern day journalist for stretching and distorting the truth, so I guess that although Suetonius is one of the great classic historians, his writings did sometimes read a bit like a novel. We all know that Claudius wasn't just some bumbling favorite uncle type of Emperor, he couldn't have survived and reigned for the length of time that he did with out having a vicious, ruthless streak that was possessed by all the other great men before and after Claudius'. Does any of the other Classic historian mention the deed mentioned by Suetonius in their writings I wonder?

Taken from the encyclopedia of Roman Emperors........ The fire began in the southeastern angle of the Circus Maximus, spreading through the shops which clustered there, and raged for the better part of a week. There was brief success in controlling the blaze, but then it burst forth once more, so that many people claimed that the fires were deliberately set. After about a fortnight, the fire burned itself out, having consumed ten of the fourteen Augustan regions into which the city had been divided. Nero was in Antium through much of the disaster, but his efforts at relief were substantial. Yet many believed that he had been responsible, so that he could perform his own work comparing the current fate of Rome to the downfall of Troy. All his efforts to assist the stricken city could not remove the suspicion that "the emperor had fiddled while Rome burned." He lost favor even among the plebs who had been enthusiastic supporters, particularly when his plans for the rebuilding of the city revealed that a very large part of the center was to become his new home. As his popularity waned, Nero and Tigellinus realized that individuals were needed who could be charged with the disaster. It so happened that there was such a group ready at hand, Christians, who had made themselves unpopular because of their refusal to worship the emperor, their way of life, and their secret meetings. Further, at this time two of their most significant "teachers" were in Rome, Peter and Paul. They were ideal scapegoats, individuals whom most Romans loathed, and who had continually sung of the forthcoming end of the world. I personally don't believe that Nero started the fire, in a city such as Rome the danger of Fire was always present and was fairly common, but obviously not to this extent. If a fire starts at the right time with favorable winds then it can easily spread and in my opinion this was one of those instances, an accidental fire that raged out of control.

NO! I'M SPARTACUS (sorry couldn't resist)

Hi Claudia, I think you will find that the majority of the time in historical novels, T.V. and the movies will be loosely based on fact and the truth will probably be manipulated in order to make the story either more entertaining or more scandalous than it really was.

I'm 100% sure because I bought a copy. And was it any good MPC? Would you recommend it?

Thanks for bringing this to our attention DC, I've read 'Imperium' by Harris but I've not read 'Pompeii' as yet although by all accounts it's very good. Let's just hope the film does it justice.

Thanks for that Frankq. It really is an excellent guide to everything you need to know about the late Republican/Principate army, it makes a perfect companion for De Re Militari by Flavius Vegetius Renatus written in 390AD. http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~madsb/home/war/vegetius/

Why on earth would Livia want to poison her own son? Drusus along with his older brother Tiberius were extremely popular Generals, they had everything going for them, they were crushing the Barbarians in Germania and were all set to take over from Augustas when (or if) the time eventually came. It was in her best interest that they stay alive. It's well known or should I say suspected (wouldn't want to offend The Augusta ) that she maybe used some underhand tactics to keep Tiberius in the running for the top job but that's another story.

I visited Rome back in March and posted a similar topic to this one. Take a look....... http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6272 Hope this helps, it certainly gave me a few good tips and idea's on where to go and what to do. I don't know how your fixed for accommodation but there's also a link for an excellent hotel in there too, it gets 10/10 in my book!

I was under the impression that Drusus' death was caused by a fall from his horse whilst campaigning in Germania.

I've just watched the second part of "The Assassins of Rome" with my Daughter and I quite liked the actor who played Titus, I thought he was quite convincing, but on the other hand I didn't rate the actor who played Domitian in the first part, he just didn't come across how I would have expected Domitian to be, I think he looked like a sweaty, drunken slave, a bit of a loser, instead of a sinister ruthless character like I would have imagined him. I know you don't get as much input into the show as you would like Flavia, so what do you think about the whole Titus / Domitian thing. I personally would like to see the scene you mention with Titus instead of his sleazy brother.

Hi Flavia. This passage is from the encyclopedia of Roman Emperors. Domitian's role in the 70's was determined largely by Vespasian's choice of Titus as his successor. To him fell a series of ordinary consulships, the tribunician power, the censorship, and the praetorian prefecture. Domitian, on the other hand, was named six times to the less prestigious suffect consulship, retained the title of Caesar, and held various priesthoods. He was given responsibility, but no real power. Nothing changed when Titus acceded to the throne, as Domitian received neither tribunician power nor imperium of any kind. The brothers were never to become close, and as Titus lay dying in September 81, Domitian hastened to the praetorian camp, where he was hailed as emperor. On news of Titus'imperium, the title Augustus, and tribunician power along with the office of pontifex maximus and the title pater patriae, father of his country.

I found your original scramble, GPM, and have hippified you. You are now: Ivan Angelfyre Hey man, welcome to the Summer of Love! -- Nephele Cool man Peace!

I'm not old enough for the summer of love either but I'll still have a hippie name if that's alright Nephele? I'm still working on a childhood pic, they're all still at my parents house, who by the way never pass up an opportunity to show them off, much to my embarrassment!

Lucius Vitellius was one of the most successful public figures of the Julio-Claudian period, He was a three-time consul and a fellow censor with the emperor Claudius. He was also the father of Aulus Vitellius who had a short reign as Emperor in 69AD.

Lets not forget that 'I Claudius' was a TV show after all so was probably responsible for manipulating the truth a little. Your right about the sources, Suetonius is quiet clear that Claudius gave the order, where as Tacitus hints at it being the work of Narcissus but doesnt totally deny that Claudius had any knowledge of the murder of his wife. Throughout history Claudius has always been made out to be a bumbling idiot but personally I don't think he was. He managed to stay alive throughout the murderous reign of his nephew Caligula, partly because Caligula saw him as no threat due to his apparent stupidity and then he proceeded to rule the empire for another thirteen fairly successful years. Not a bad achievement for a so called fool.

Great work as always JP ! He looks like the guy who works in my local kebab shop!

I don't think Cicero deserved his fate, he was one of the greatest and most gifted Romans of the Republic, but the fact was that he'd crossed swords with Antony too many times and with the formation of the second Triumvirate, it was inevitable that he was going to die.

I think Caligula was certainly a sandwich short of a picnic, but totally mad? I don't think so, I think Caldrail hit the nail on the head when he said that Caligula had a very wicked sense of humour. He'd been pampered all his life, from being a small boy if he'd have said "jump" people would have asked "how high?" He was worshipped by whole legions for god's sake, so who growing up with that sort of adoration who wouldn't have formed some sort of God complex throughout their rise to adulthood and to become ruler of the whole Empire at 25yrs old he must have thought to himself "I can do whatever I want now and no one can stop me so lets have some fun!" Maybe his illness did have some effect and maybe it did cause his sense of humour to take a darker, more sinister turn for the worse because according to the sources he did perform some pretty horrendous atrocities but again how much of this can we take as fact and how much of it was purely gossip mongering? Mad?....... I don't think so....... Disturbed?.......Definitely!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INGSOC!!!! Have a good one!

My guess is that Brutus got so drunk that he fell asleep behind a bush and totally missed his starring role in the arena and is now hiding away in some filthy drinking hole, too embarrassed to show his face at a party as classy as the Doc's! Anyway speaking of classy....."Who's up for a game of naked Twister!! "

I'm glad you're in a good place at the moment LW. When you say that you're "going to initiate yourself" What exactly is involved in this process if you don't mind me asking ?

In my opinion it was inevitable that the Patrician clans would eventually die out, the Patricians believed that their blood was so much better than the so called lower class of citizen such as the Plebeians and because of this many of the Patrician families refused to inter marry with the Plebeians, preferring to marry their off spring to other noble Patrician families. As these Patrician families slowly started to disappear then the choice of suitable spouses grew thinner and thinner until eventually they were left with a choice of either lowering their standards or eventually expiring altogether. I suppose you could call it "class suicide".

According to the Cambridge Dictionary...... original sin noun in the Christian religion, the idea that all human beings are born with a tendency to be evil mortal sin noun [C usually singular] in the Roman Catholic religion, an action that is so bad that you will be punished forever after your death, if you do not ask for forgiveness from God. venial (sin) adjective FORMAL describes a wrong action that is not serious and therefore easy to forgive: a venial sin/error

I'm just wondering if they do long distance contracts.... Like Leeds, England maybe??? Do you think it's worth contacting them.....Just for their lawn mowing skills obviously.