The Barbarians

[Donna]

^{COULD SOMEONE SHARE WITH ME WHICH BARBARIAN GROUP FOUGHT FIRST WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE. I KNOW THERE WERE THE VANDELS AND THE CELTS, BUT WHICH GROUP CAME FIRST? I'M NEW AT THE SIGHT AND I LOVE THE HISTORY OF THE ROMAN EMIPIRE. ALSO WAS THE FILM CLADIATOR BASED ON HISTORICAL FACT? I SAW THE FILM AND IT'S AN AMAZING FILM. I LOVE THE MUSIC FROM THE FILM. I HAVE THE CD.}

 

^DONNA

Edited April 5, 2007 by Donna

[CiceroD]

^{COULD SOMEONE SHARE WITH ME WHICH BARBARIAN GROUP FOUGHT FIRST WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE. I KNOW THERE WERE THE VANDELS AND THE CELTS, BUT WHICH GROUP CAME FIRST? I'M NEW AT THE SIGHT AND I LOVE THE HISTORY OF THE ROMAN EMIPIRE. ALSO WAS THE FILM CLADIATOR BASED ON HISTORICAL FACT? I SAW THE FILM AND IT'S AN AMAZING FILM. I LOVE THE MUSIC FROM THE FILM. I HAVE THE CD.}

 

^DONNA

 

If you wanted to be technical the first "Barbarians" the Romans faced was in 390 BC the Gauls under Brennus Sacked early Rome. The subsequent destrucion of records makes the history before that point to the founding of Rome a bit fuzzy. Many also believe that defeat and a cultural fear of that happening again was what pushed the Romans toward their conquests.

 

As far as Gladiator it has some of the Trappings of historical accuracy for instance Marcus Aurelius and Commodus were real emperors. And Commodus really did fight in the arena. However Maximus was entirely invented and Commodus if I remember correctly was stangled by a Greek wrestler at the behest of his wife.

[Pantagathus]

Donna,

 

I guess it depends on where you draw the line with the term 'Barbarian.'

 

Would the early archaic latin speaking Romans have considered a rough and tumble tribe of Oscan speakers from Campania or Umbrian speakers from the Apennine mountains to be barbarians by the definition adopted from the Greeks? Maybe, maybe not; I personally think not.

 

Also, we certainly aren't left with the impression that the early Romans considered Etruscans to be barbarians.

 

So I think the safe answer is to say that the Celtic tribes like the Senones and the Boii that pushed into Etruscan territory around the 4th Century BC were indeed the first true barbarians that the Romans fought against. Because even though the Ligurians were always closer to Roman territory proper, Rome didn't start really clashing with them until more into the 3rd Century BC (mid to late).

[Kosmo]

At first the roman themselves were the barbarians, at least for the greeks that were those called the names early.

[Primus Pilus]

However Maximus was entirely invented..

 

The great bulk of the movie character was clearly invented, but he may have been at least inspired by a historical figure of the same name.

 

Cassius Dio (Book 73)

Commodus likewise killed the two Quintilii, Condianus and Maximus; for they had a great reputation for learning, military skill, brotherly accord, and wealth, and their notable talents led to the suspicion that, even if they were not planning any rebellion, they were nevertheless displeased with existing conditions. And thus, even as they had lived together, so they died together, along with the son of one of them. They had offered to most striking example ever seen of mutual affection; and at no time had they ever been separated, even in the offices they held. They had grown prosperous and exceedingly wealthy, and were wont to hold office together and to act as assistants to each other.