Augustus Gaius Julius Octavius – Augustus Born on 23 September 63 BC in Rome, son of Gaius Octavius and Aita, niece of Julius Caesar, who adopted him as his heir. Consul 43, 33, 31-23 BC. Effectively became emperor in 27 BC, with extended powers in 23 BC. Married (1) Claudia, (2) Scribonia (one daughter; Julia), …
Carthage is indisputably of key importance to Roman history. The first great imperial opponent of Rome, they took the Romans to the very brink of defeat. The battles in the titanic struggle between the two powers helped forge the Roman legions and navies into the supreme fighting force in the Mediterranean. But the annihilation which …
Like the Magna Carta, the US Constitution, or the Rights of Man, the Twelve Tables are rightly considered one of the foundational bits of legislation for Western law and legal practice. Spawned from a class conflict that was raging in Republican Rome, they outlined the rights of every citizen of the ancient state. What Were …
The Roman Republic, founded in 509 BC after the ousting of the last Roman king, marked a shift from monarchy to a republic, introducing a system where power was shared among elected representatives and institutions. This era, extending until 27 BC with the establishment of the Roman Empire, is characterized by its innovative governance structures, …
According to the traditional Roman narrative, the foundation of Rome occurred on April 21, 753 BC, and it was founded by the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. The story goes that these brothers were abandoned by the banks of the Tiber River as infants and were subsequently nurtured by a she-wolf. As they grew older, …
The “Five Good Emperors” is a term used to refer to Roman emperors who are recognized for their relatively stable and prosperous rule and their efforts to improve governance and administration. They have been depicted as model rulers throughout history, from writers around the time (like Cassius Dio), to famous figures in the Renaissance and …