Introduction In the ancient Roman legend of the kingdom era, the Horatii were triplet warriors who lived during the reign of Tullus Hostilius. The accounts of their epic clash with the Curiatii and the murder of their sister by Publius, the sole survivor of the battle, appear in the writings of Livy. War with Alba… Read More
Introduction The sudis (plural sudes) was a stake carried by Roman legionaries for employment as a field fortification, sometimes also called vallus. It is frequently, but incorrectly, called a pilum murale (“wall spear”). Typically, two such stakes were carried by each soldier. Refer to Cheval de Frise, Czech Hedgehog, Caltrop, Dragon’s Teeth, and Makibishi. Construction… Read More
Introduction As with most other military forces the Roman military adopted an extensive list of decorations for military gallantry and likewise a range of punishments for military transgressions. Decorations, Awards, and Victory Titles Crowns Imperial Titles Synonyms for “Emperor” Victory Titles Victory titles were treated as Latin cognomina and were usually the name of the… Read More
Introduction Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Latin: [ˈŋnae̯.ʊs pɔmˈpɛjjʊs ˈmaŋnʊs]; 29 September 106 BC to 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey the Great (/ˈpɒmpiː/), was a leading Roman general and statesman. He played a significant role in the transformation of Rome from Republic to Empire. He was also (for a time) a student of… Read More
Introduction The Marian reforms were reforms of the ancient Roman army implemented in 107 BC by the statesman Gaius Marius, for whom they were later named. The reforms originated as a reaction to the military and logistical stagnation of the Roman Republic in the late 2nd century BC. Centuries of military campaigning throughout the Mediterranean… Read More
Introduction The Battle of Lake Trasimene was fought when a Carthaginian force under Hannibal ambushed a Roman army commanded by Gaius Flaminius on 21 June 217 BC, during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). It took place on the north shore of Lake Trasimene, to the east of Cortona, and resulted in a heavy defeat… Read More
Introduction The Year of the Five Emperors was 193 AD, in which five men claimed the title of Roman emperor: Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimius Severus. This year started a period of civil war when multiple rulers vied for the chance to become Caesar. The political unrest began with the murder… Read More
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