P.Clodius

"I'm Brian!" "No I'm Brian and so's my wife!"

If you google his name you'll probably find Meditations on the web for free. Most of the primary resources can be found for free.

I would like to have seen the look on Cato the Censor's face (and the rest of the senate's for that matter) when Tiberius Gracchus (grandfather of the famous one of the same name) tore up the charge sheets against Scipio Africanus and threw them on the senate floor. Roots of future dissension perhaps?

I woudn't try to change any of it because it makes fasinating study. But I would start my speech, "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears. Except for Flaccus, his are too big!"

Amcrazyus, haven't seen you before. Welcome!

Ursus said it all!!!!

Single individual? Probably Jugurtha.

Also, remember that there were campaigning seasons. They generaly took a break in winter.

Remember folks, any physical or mental affliction was seen to be the fault of the individual afflicted. Rome was a tough place to live.

I got 8 out of 10 http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4232665.stm

I'm originaly from Manchester, UK. Travelled around a bit, went to NYC, got drunk and never went back!!!

Agreed. It was the Romans sending a message to the rest of those who thought they might try something similar. Behave or else!!

Not sure what you're looking for, other Scipio's? I believe Caesar fought a Scipio at Thapsus

In the last year of Caesar's life he did exhibit signs he was winding down. His epeleptic episodes were becoming more frequent and there is evidence he may have suffered a serious illness (but what, we don't know). His planned departure for the Parthian campaign on the 18th of March is indicative of his desire (or frustration with), to leave Roman pollitics. His appointments of magistrates for the subsequent 5 years could be construed as descent into despotism. And his last words perhaps illustrate the idea that he may have been out of touch with his political peers, "What's this, violence against Caesar!" In the end Caesar's legacy is enormous. All the future kings of europe could be seen as his "offshoots". And he changed the Roman sociopolitical world from mediteranean centric to euro centric. Though it was left to his nephew Augustus to provide a lasting and acceptable political solution.

...Of the death of Publius Clodius Pulcher. Was "Pretty Boy" significant? Post your comments

The Roman army's biggest weakness was her cavalry arm as Primus Pilus alluded to already, but I am of the opinion that yes, the Roman army WAS all it was cracked up to be. It was simply unstoppable at all it put its mind to providing it was properly led. Sure Hannibal kicked ass, hats off to him and to the Parthians too for that matter, but these defeats can be attributed to poor leadership above all else. While Hannibal was superior in cavalry so was Pompei at Pharsalus but Caesar countered this by hiding light infantry to surprise the enemy cavalry once they tried to attack the right wing of the 10th Legion. The result was a route. Do not get the quality of the legions mixed up with leadership of the legions. One historian described the Roman legion system as a system

Exactly my point, the time table was dictated by the Romans not by Hannibal. And yes, it was 16 years but really only 8 campaining seasons

Hannibal was defeated by the Romans on their terms, not his. First they hemmed him up in the area of the heel of Italy, then they took away his empire, then they threatened to take his homeland. In short, he was a victim of his own lack of millitary/strategic intelligence in that he failed to appreciate the strength of the alliances with the Socii. He was as unable to take Rome after Cannae as he was before it, or at any other time in his life. Hannibal was a tactical genius, but what does that make the men that beat him? (Fabius, Marcellus, Scipio, et al)

The Phalanx was a single entity 18 deep with a frontage of maybe 1000 + meters, the Roman legions were devided up into Maniples, and later Cohorts which gave the legions greater flexibility. At Pydna, a junior commander called a Tribune detached about 10-15 Maniples on his own initiative to exploit one of the flanks of the Phalanx which had yet to form correctly, once his Maniples had destroyed the unformed wing of the Phalanx he wheeled his Maniples round and attacked the rear of the Phalanx. This battle more than any highlighted the difference between two and underscored the superiority of the Roman system.

I too would like to learn it, I've bought a book called Latin Via Ovid but have yet to get stuck into it

Happy Saturnalia

You could also lookup Pydna, the Romans white washed the Macedonian phalanx.

" I think it was caused by oriental cults form within (meaning christianity in its infancy), barbarian armies from without, and stupid emerors and feckless imperial officials." The Republic fell before Jesus was born and before there were any emperors. The emperorship was an alternative form of government formulated by Octavian. This was done after the fall of the Republic. Those responsible for the fall are none other than the Senate with its constant infighting and the immediate self gratification of its members

Well, there are of course the obvious ones such as the months July and August named after guess who! There is the Julian Calender that was put in place by Caesar and was slightly modified by Pope Gregory. Every monarchy in western Europe was derived from the rule of the Caesars. And this little snippet that is less well known. During the consulship of Cicero a conspiracy based around a man called Catalina was put together but was succesfully surpressed by Cicero after the senate voted to give him the power of Senatus Consultum Ultimum, or The Ultimate Decree. This decree gave Cicero the power to do whatever was necessary to save the state. He at once had the conspirators arrested and executed, and was subsequently hailed as the saviour of the state by some. Following his consulship he made an enemy by testifying against Publius Clodius Pulcher who was to run for the office of Tribune. In order to attack Cicero, Clodius introduced a bill that forbade any roman from being arbitrarily punished without due process, a move that would enable Clodius to prosecute Cicero for his actions in surpressing the Catalinairians. Cicero subsequently left Rome to escape the attentions of Clodius. The point being the right to due process garanteed in the Bill of Rights, derived from Magna Carta, may be derived from Clodius' desire for revenge against Cicero.

It didn't, the language you're speaking right now has some very deep rooted latin roots.