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Often appears with: forms of government · assemblies, councils, and senates · strategy and the aims of war · revolution and the fall of states · mobilization and recruitment · conquest, plunder, and captives · war decision · venetian oligarchy · troop transfer iberia to libya · treason and sedition · the passions and the emotions · the nature and attributes of God
Usually: narrative (4) · detachment (3) · argument (2) · commentary or gloss (2) · the fall of the great (2) · record or table (1) · reflection (1) · confronting death (1) · injustice endured (1) · curiosity (1)
“Accordingly, soon after the final defeat of Perseus by Aemilius Paulus in B.C. 168, and the consequent dismemberment of Macedonia, the Senate proceeded to execute its vengeance upon those citizens in every state in Greece who were believed to have been opposed to the Roman interests.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) · observation
“Not only had they no resources for it of reasonable sufficiency; but without any resources for it at all, and without having ever entertained an idea of naval war,—for it was the first time they had thought of it,—they nevertheless handled the enterprise with such extraordinary audacity.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) · observation
“It was on this occasion that, the Carthaginians having put to sea in the Strait to attack them, a decked vessel of theirs charged so furiously that it ran aground, and falling into the hands of the Romans served them as a model on which they constructed their whole fleet.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) · vivid
“Meanwhile Hannibal, upon going into winter quarters at New Carthage, first of all dismissed the Iberians to their various cities, with the view of their being prepared and vigorous for the next campaign.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) · observation
“Yet we have reason,” said he, “to thank the gods, for that they spared the commonwealth, and did not take vengeance upon the army, for the madness and folly of the general.” Plutarch, Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans · insight
“That never was any subject introduced into the senate at a juncture more unseasonable than the present, when a question had been touched upon which would still further irritate the minds of the allies, who were already hesitating and wavering in their allegiance.” Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Books 09 to 26 · observation
Livy recounts efforts to repair Rome’s weakened institutions by refilling the senate after years of losses, disputes over granting Latin senators freedom, and the decision to create a censor-like dictator.
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, in the room of Publius Scantinius deceased, and of Lucius Aemilius Paulus the consul, and of Quintus Aelius Paetus, who had fallen in the battle of Cannae. 22. The fathers having repaired, as far as human counsels could effect it, the other losses from a continued series of unfortunate events, at length turned their attention on themselves, on the emptiness of the senate-house, and the pauci…
Publius Cornelius Scipio reports to the Roman senate and is elected consul with Lucius Licinius Crassus, while Saguntine ambassadors thank Rome and request permission to honor Scipio in the Capitol.
sent to Carthage, and then hauled their ships on shore for the winter. After Mago had left the coast of the ocean, the people of Gades surrendered to the Romans. 38. Such were the transactions in Spain under the conduct and auspices of Publius Scipio. Scipio himself, having put Lucius Lentulus and Lucius Manlius Acidinus in charge of the province, returned to Rome with ten ships. Having obtained an audience of the s…
Plutarch recounts Cato’s clash with Caesar in the Senate over a supposed German massacre, Caesar’s reproachful letter, and Cato’s calm rebuttal; later Ariminum’s capture makes Cato’s warnings seem prophetic.
his manners, which an honest man ought not to alter for their sake; nor yet would a wise man attempt the same thing again, while liable to the same prejudices. Caesar was at this time engaged with many warlike nations, and was subduing them at great hazards. Among the rest, it was believed he had set upon the Germans, in a time of truce, and had thus slain three hundred thousand of them. Upon which, some of his fr…
Machiavelli explains Roman religion’s role in civil society by contrasting Romulus and Numa, describing how Numa used divine authority to discipline people and secure public oaths.
Though Rome had Romulus for her first founder, and as a daughter owed him her being and nurture, nevertheless, when the institutions of Romulus were seen by Heaven to be insufficient for so great a State, the Roman senate were moved to choose Numa Pompilius as his successor, that he might look to all matters which Romulus had neglected. He finding the people fierce and turbulent, and desiring with the help of the pea…
Mill claims the historical governments noted for sustained ability were aristocracies of office-holders, especially Rome and Venice, where governance was trained, lifelong, and tied to public responsibilities.
little more than select the chiefs. I am speaking of the regular course of their administration; for the will of the master of course determines many of their particular acts. The governments which have been remarkable in history for sustained mental ability and vigor in the conduct of affairs have generally been aristocracies. But they have been, without any exception, aristocracies of public functionaries. The rul…
After Perseus’s defeat (168 BCE), the Roman Senate orders investigations and trials that exile or detain suspected Achaean and other Greek opponents until about 151 BCE; Polybius remains at Rome and tutors Scipio Aemilianus.
[Sidenote: B.C. 167.] Careful, however, as he had ever been to avoid giving just offence to Rome, he and his party had long been marked by the Senate as opponents of that more complete interference in the details of Achaean politics which it wished to exercise. This was partly owing to the machinations of Callicrates; but it was also the result of the deliberate policy of the Senate: and it was doubtless helped by t…
The Roman Senate rejoices at news from Agrigentum and resolves to expel the Carthaginians from Sicily, concluding that they must build a navy and fight at sea to secure decisive advantage.
[Sidenote: B.C. 261.] +20.+ Great was the joy of the Roman Senate when the news of what had taken place at Agrigentum arrived. Their ideas too were so raised that they no longer confined themselves to their original designs. They were not content with having saved the Mamertines, nor with the advantages gained in the course of the war; but conceived the idea that it was possible to expel the Carthaginians entirely f…
In winter quarters at New Carthage, Hannibal dismisses Iberians, instructs Hasdrubal to govern and prepare against Rome if separated, and swaps soldiers between Iberia and Libya while stationing troops and supplies.
[Sidenote: Winter of 219-218 B.C. Hannibal’s arrangements for the coming campaign.] Meanwhile Hannibal, upon going into winter quarters at New Carthage, first of all dismissed the Iberians to their various cities, with the view of their being prepared and vigorous for the next campaign. Secondly, he instructed his brother Hasdrubal in the management of his government in Iberia, and of the preparations to be made aga…
With Romulus gone, the senate and factions manage an interregnum by dividing rule among decuries and limiting authority in rotation, then allowing the people to choose a king whose election the senate ratifies.
he made the announcement, and how much the regret of the common people and army for the loss of Romulus was assuaged when the certainty of his immortality was confirmed.[15] Meanwhile[16] contention for the throne and ambition engaged the minds of the fathers; the struggle was not as yet carried on by individuals, by violence or contending factions, because, among a new people, no one person was pre-eminently distin…
Livy describes how Appius Claudius and the decemvirs push through a levy by suppressing junior patricians’ speech, then assign decemvirs to command or accompany campaigns, with Appius for maintaining city order.
that the levy should be held at the very earliest opportunity; that the decemvirs should lead the armies, whither each thought proper: and that no other matter should take precedence. The junior patricians almost succeeded in getting this resolution passed on a division. Accordingly, Valerius and Horatius, rising again with greater vehemence, loudly demanded that it should be allowed them to express their sentiments…