Germanicus

http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/Consuls.List.html this lists the consuls of the republic.

Thanks Skenderbeg, Wow, the hastitii must have been pretty accurate to generate that kind of fear in an enemy. The pictures are great as is your infomation. Were the commands the general was giving relayed by word of mouth or by some sort of flag system like in later warfare ? Word of mouth doesn't seem plausible ? Germanicus

I read the Gates of Rome also, and if I knew nothing of the historical record regarding Julius Caesar, may have found it entertaining. As it was, like primuspilus, I couldn't get past the glaring inaccuracy. It's more like formula written fantasy than a historical novel. Just a few months research on the topic and the author could have made it worth reading.

It's interesting that the article mentions that Romans had no tradition of decapitation - I know they chopped off heads to use the heads themselves as proof of death. I've also heard that Trajans soldiers are suspected of engaging in head hunting during the Dacian campaigns, as evidenced by some of the reliefs on his colunmn. But then, 49 people in a cemetary??

haven't seen ultimate fighting, but I have heard about it, sounds dangerous - do people die in the ring or get permenantly maimed ?. People often comment that competative sport replaces combat for todays males, but unless that sport is full contact and violent, I can't see how one can fill in for the other. In one you are under iminant threat of violence and death, in the other you or your team are in danger of losing the match. Not really the same thing.

I have not read a lot of general military books, and while passingly familiar with tactics/formations used by the Roman military, mostly from major historical battle descriptions, I have no idea what sort of advantage the Legions had over "barbarian" nations in terms of the hardware they used. I know the gladius was suited to their way of fighting, but was the steel in it, and the armour superior ? How did the Gallic sword match up ? Also, with regard to artillery, did the Gauls employ catapults and scorpions like the Romans ? I can't recall Caesar mentioning it in his commentary and would like to know.

Sorry, no I don't live near any Roman sites, decidedly younger. I'm in Australia.

I find it interesting to think about what came first, and I think you're right Ursus in what you say about Etruscan origins. I also think that Roman society was highly militaristic, with, particularly after the Marius reforms, a high percentage of male citizens having been in the army. I am no shrink, but judging by the way the semi detatched(comparitively) combat of today can effect soldiers and indeed, the way violence can effect anyone long term, I think all these factors contributed to create a society that could watch 300 days of gladatorial games per year and hundreds if not thousands of lives end in a bloody mess on the arena floor, without flinching. All that being said, sad as it may seem, I can envisage there being a market in our own time for just such entertainment....hell there probably are such things going on, right now

As I understood it there were actually a few treatys if not "pacts" between Rome and Carthage before the showdown ? I could be wrong, but feel the two were somehow linked in the destruction of Syracuse. Feel free to correct me here. I would agree with you Spartacus on the count that if these pacts had been perhaps more amicable and longer lasting, the outcome of a number of Romes wars could have been very different, with undoubted major expansion as a result. There is however one point I connot agree with :- I can't envisage this ever happening back then, just as I can't see it happening in my lifetime. I guess it depends on your definition of "virtually" eh ?? :punk:

FYI Jetjon, Hannibal didn't lose and get executed. He lost and somehow ended up serving a foreign king as an advisor. Can't remember which king though.

Yes Jetjon, I think that's a better question too. I think, and even hope, that your opinion is closely aligned with my own, in that Caesar was not a despotic man intent upon kingship or dictatorship in the long term. He was ahead of his time in his recognition of the plebians as a potentially powerfull political force to be nurtured, rather than stamped out and stood over, as the Senate continually sought to do through assassination of the brothers Grachi and the proscription lists of Sulla to name a couple. It was Caesar who restored the office of tribune of the plebs to it's rightful position, rolling back Sullas Patrician focused reforms, he did this despite facing massive opposition from, among others , Cicero. To the actual question:- I guess if Caesar had never lived we would have been waiting a long time for an accurate calendar. As PP suggests, Augustus, who I believe did not follow or was not aware of Caesars actual intentions for the republic would probably never have come to power, but I think the vacuum left without Caesars presence during that time would have been filled by a member or members of the optimate faction. The tribunate would never have regained the powers originally lost to Sulla. The republic, as it was, would have failed anyway, to be replaced by a dictatorship or military junta of sorts.(whether Empire, Kingdom etc etc). Control would have been entirely in the hands of the patrician class.....again. With regard to Gaul, who can say ? I can't think of too many other Generals with the daring and intelligence to accomplish what Caesar did at Alesia ??? All just my opinion of course, and I have a lot more reading to do......

Hi Spartacus, yes, familiar with the term and point taken - and thats what I mean. One is largely responsible for ones own circumstances - no spirit or ancestors involved.

Ancestor worship seems to me to be the thing that drove all the greats of Rome to such heights. But no, I can't say I believe there's anyone, spirits or angels watching over me. If there were, I'd have to wonder why I am stuck in an office cube 9 hours a day, those lousy spirits should be sorting out a nice, cushy, well paid job for me. Maybe it was them that put me onto this site......

Awesome Spartacus, you truly are a king among slaves ! Once I've got the itinery worked out I will get you to fill me in as you suggest, thankyou !

I and am an office worker in Australia. I have been getting increasingly interested in all things Roman over the last two years, and like primuspilus, try to read anything I can get my hands on. I live in Melbourne. No kids. 30 years old. I found the forum when searching for something I don't already know about Caesar(the first ), and pleasantly found that there's still plenty to learn. I've been trying to wean myself off Rome Total War, as all my spare time was dissappearing into it. I like the friendly nature of most of the posts I've seen, and living in Australia, it's a great way to speak to people who actually live near Roman sites I've only dreamt about seeing.

I am heading to the UK followed By Italy in the Summer. I'll stay in Rome of course, but would like to know if anyones been to Hadrians Villa ? And Spartacus - Is Bath worth a visit ?? I'm in the UK for two weeks.

Yes, Tiberius was an excellent General, and Augustus relied on him quite a bit, he was just not very good at relationships with relatives and the Senate.

I have to agree with Spartacus here. Enjoy life while you can, for tommorrow we may die. Does anyone have or know of any historical writings that blame the expiry of the Western Empire on the Romans failure to pay tribute to their traditional Spirits/Gods ? That is - the Empire failed quite soon(ish) after the turn to Christianity. I guess any such writing with this opinion would have been stamped out and destroyed by the Catholic Church, when they destroyed all those other priceless artifacts and writings.

Thats ok Spartacus, I'll dig it for you. I suppose there would have been a lot of instances where they had to make/build a camp in a hurry, expecting attack any minute ?

RW, do you leave Marius' defeat of the Cimbri and Tuetones out of that favourite period then ? I guess you'd have to......

I think reading Pliny the Youngers letters to and from Trajan might offer some insight. I seem to remember a discussion between the two on how Pliny should treat Christians under his Governorship in (was it Syria?).

Tutors in Rome were often Greek, and were often educated slaves. There was a word for them other than Tutor, which I can't remember now.

I believe the first task was for the engineers to lay out those straight lines you are talking about. both roads through the camp, and lines for the walls/breastworks.

I am sorry to say that I am new to UNRV,not sure where I should put this, but a good book on the subject you are discussing is "The Battle that stopped Rome" by Peter S Wells. It presents all the latest evidence regarding the Varus ambush and subsequent massacre, along with detailing the attempts to re-establish the provence beyond the Rhine by Tiberius and Germanicus. It also discusses the possible reasons expansion was halted in that direction shortly after. And raises the contention that "conquest of Germany to the Elbe" was perhaps more a nice peice of political propaganda from Augustus, to please the population and Justify Drusus and Germanicus' positions as heirs. Regarding the actual topic, I admire Trajan, but also think Septimus Severus was an excellent general, ruthless, cunning and continued to general troops right up to the end in Britain. The two he defeated for the throne, Albinus and Niger were no lightweights !

Thanks primuspilus, and noted on your second point. Pleased to find such an outlet for ones interest.