Key Events and Figures in Roman History

PELEUS

Father of Achilles.

THETIS

Mother of Achilles.

DISCORDIA

Roman goddess of discord, equivalent to Greek Eris.

JUPITER

Roman king of the gods, equivalent to Greek Zeus.

JUNO

Roman queen of the gods, equivalent to Greek Hera.

MINERVA

Roman goddess of wisdom, equivalent to Greek Athena.

VENUS

Roman goddess of love, equivalent to Greek Aphrodite.

MERCURY

Roman messenger god, equivalent to Greek Hermes.

PARIS

Trojan prince who abducted Helen.

HELEN

Wife of Menelaus, known for her beauty.

MENELAUS

King of Sparta.

AGAMEMNON

King of Mycenae.

AENEAS

Trojan hero and son of Anchises.

ANCHISES

Father of Aeneas.

PALLADIUM

Sacred statue of Athena, believed to protect Troy.

CREUSA

Aeneas' lost wife.

KING LATINUS

King of the Latins.

LATIUM

Region of central Italy, home to the Latins.

LAVINIA

Daughter of King Latinus.

ROMULUS

Legendary founder of Rome.

REMUS

Brother of Romulus.

RAPE OF THE SABINE WOMEN

Event in Roman history where Roman men abducted women from Sabine families.

SEVEN HILLS

The hills on which Rome was founded: Palatine, Aventine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian.

DECEMVIRI

The group of ten men who governed Rome during the early Republic.

APPIUS CLAUDIUS

A prominent Roman politician and member of the Decemviri.

VIRGINIA

A woman involved in a significant legal case during the Decemviri's rule.

VIRGINIUS

Father of Virginia.

SENONES

A Gallic tribe that invaded Italy.

CISALPINE GAUL

Region of Gaul located on the Italian side of the Alps.

TRANSALPINE GAUL

Region of Gaul located on the other side of the Alps.

RIVER ALLIA

Site of a significant battle between the Romans and the Gauls.

MANLIUS CAPITOLINUS

A Roman general known for his role in the early Republic.

BRENNUS

A Gallic leader known for his conquest of Rome and the phrase 'Vae Victis'.

'VAE VICTIS'

A Latin phrase meaning 'woe to the vanquished', attributed to Brennus.

SERVIAN WALL

An ancient defensive wall built around Rome attributed to Servius Tullius.

SAMNITES

An ancient Italic people who fought against Rome in the Samnite Wars.

CIVITAS OPTIMO IURE

A term referring to a city-state with full rights in the Roman system.

CIVITAS SINE SUFFRAGIO

A term for a city-state that has no voting rights in the Roman political system.

CIVITATES FOEDERATAE

Allied city-states that had treaties with Rome.

APPIUS CLAUDIUS CAECUS

A Roman censor known for constructing the Via Appia.

VIA APPIA

An ancient Roman road that connected Rome to Capua.

PYRRHUS of EPIRUS

A Greek king known for his battles against Rome, leading to the term 'Pyrrhic victory'.

PYRRHIC VICTORY

A victory that comes at such a significant cost to the victor that it is almost tantamount to defeat.

HANNIBAL BARCA

A Carthaginian general known for his military tactics during the Second Punic War.

C. CORNELIUS SCIPIO AFRICANUS

A Roman general who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama.

CYNOSCEPHALAE

A battle in 197 BC where the Romans defeated the Macedonians.

M. PORCIUS CATO

A Roman senator known for his conservative values and the phrase 'Carthago delenda est'.

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

A Latin phrase meaning 'Carthage must be destroyed', associated with Cato the Elder.

LATIFUNDIA

Large agricultural estates in ancient Rome that relied on slave labor.

C. MARIUS

A Roman general and statesman known for his military reforms.

Q. LUTATIUS CATULUS

A Roman general who played a significant role in the defeat of the Cimbri and Teutones.

IMPERIUM PROCONSULARE MAIUS

A term referring to a greater proconsular authority granted to certain Roman officials.

PARTHIANS

An ancient group of people from Parthia, known for their conflicts with Rome.

CARRHAE

The site of a significant battle in 53 BC where the Parthians defeated the Romans.

ALESIA

A fortified city in Gaul where Julius Caesar defeated Vercingetorix in 52 BC.

VERCINGETORIX

The chieftain of the Arverni tribe who led a revolt against Roman rule.

RUBICON

A river in Italy famously crossed by Julius Caesar in 49 BC, signaling the start of civil war.

IACTA ALEA EST

Latin phrase meaning 'the die is cast,' attributed to Julius Caesar upon crossing the Rubicon.

DYRRHACHIUM

An ancient city in Albania, significant in the Roman civil wars.

PHARSALUS

The site of the decisive battle in 48 BC where Julius Caesar defeated Pompey.

PTOLEMY XIII

The Pharaoh of Egypt during the time of Julius Caesar.

ALEXANDRIA

A major city in Egypt, known for its library and as a center of learning.

CLEOPATRA

The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, known for her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

PHARNACES

The King of Pontus who was defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Zela.

ZELA

The location of the battle where Caesar famously said 'Veni, Vidi, Vici' after a swift victory.

VENI VIDI VICI

Latin for 'I came, I saw, I conquered,' a phrase used by Julius Caesar.

CAESARION

The son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, also known as Ptolemy XV Caesar.

DICTATOR PERPETUUS

The title meaning 'dictator in perpetuity' granted to Julius Caesar.

M. IUNIUS BRUTUS

One of the leading conspirators in the assassination of Julius Caesar.

C. CASSIUS LONGINUS

Another prominent conspirator involved in the assassination of Julius Caesar.

M. ANTONIUS (ANTONY)

A Roman politician and general who was an ally of Julius Caesar.

C. OCTAVIUS

The adopted heir of Julius Caesar, later known as Augustus.

CAESAR ASSASSINATED

The event on 15 March 44 BC when Julius Caesar was murdered.

AMNESTY FOR ASSASSINS

The declaration made on 17 March 44 BC regarding the conspirators of Caesar's assassination.

SECOND TRIUMVIRATE

The political alliance formed in 43 BC between Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus.

TRIBUNICIA POTESTAS

The powers of a tribune, granted to Augustus and renewed yearly.