Roman History

Back story of Romulus and Remus

• Twin brothers who were the sons of Princess Rhea and the god of Mars in 753 BCE

• Abandoned on the Tiber river by their great uncle King Amulius

• Found by wolves and looked after them until a shepherd and his wife found them and realises they are his grandsons and adopts them as they are heirs to the throne

• Pair both kill Amulius and founded Rome

• Pair argued about this that lead to Romulus killing Remus

Who was the first king of Rome

500 BCE - Romulus

Who was the 7th King

Tarquinius Superbus - Exiled

Story of Lucreta

• Raped by Tarquinius Superbus Son

• Committed suicide after this for bringing shame to her family

• Lead to the downfall of the Roman Monarchy

Who was Tarquinius Superbus

• Not a nice guy

• Killed for power

What happened in 509 BCE

• Roman Monarchy was overthrown and the republic was established

• Was set up so no 1 person had all the power

• There would be 2 people in the (Consuls) and were elected every year by the committee (people of Rome)

• Treaty was signed between Rome and Carthage

What the laws called made by the senate

Tribunius Plebis

What were the 3 wars

• Punic Wars with Carthage (Queen Dido)

• 300BC-146BC

What happened in 60BC

First Triumvirate:

Caesar + Crassus + Pompey

Their ambitions were blocked by the Senate

Who were the optimates

The rich who like the rich people, own a lot of land

Who were the Populares

Rich, have the poor people in favour

Who was Julius Caesar

Populares, becomes a general and in 59 BCE becomes a Consul

Timeline of the first Triumvirate

Caesar becomes consul - 59BC

Violence happens in Rome - 53BC

Caesar and Pompey fall out 53-49 BC and Caesar and the Senate begin to disagree

Caesar crosses the Rubicon with a legion which declares war on Rome - January 49 BC

What did Sulla do

Wrote a list of names of people he did not like on a prescription and had them killed that was put on front of the senate. Was a Dictator

Which River did Caesar cross

Rubicon

• threw a dice which declared war

Civil War

49 - 46 BC

Caesar vs Pompey and the senate

Caesar becomes dictator in 48 BC and is seen as king

Caesar’s dictatorship

46 BCE - Caesar made dictator for 10 years and legally appointed magistrate with specific powers, increased the size of the senate and included people from Gaul, had many buildings made in Rome and a lot of work done

44 BCE - Caesar declares himself dictator for life and put himself on coins

15th March 44 BCE - Ides of March - Caesar is stabbed 23 times by Brutus which causes another civil war

Who was in the second triumvirate

Marc Antony + Octavion + Lepidus

Who was Octavion

Caesars Great nephew and was adopted by Caesar and put as the heir to the throne

Comes together with Marc Antony to kill Brutus and Cassius

Octavion + Marc Antony partnership

Come together to kill Brutus and Cassius

Clashed in the Battle of Mutina and Octavian won and was named imperator by his troops

Octavian marches on Rome and seizes the state treasury that he shared among his men

The second triumphing meet and sit down and introduce a triple magistracy for 5 years which has consequences

What happened in 31 BCE

Actavion was master of Rome but the republic was broken

How did Octavion transform to Augustus

A gradual process of gaining power and creating a new political system

Senate gave him the title of Augustus after defeating Marc Antony and Cleopatra to symbolise him becoming the first Roman Emperor

Who was Augustus known as

Father of the people

What happens in 27 BCE

Makes constitutional change in the Senate, built the peace building, senate vote a new name

What is Auctoritas

authority, someone will do something if they respect them or are superio

What is Potestras

Ability through a role to show power

What happens in 23 BCE

Augustus becomes Princep (above everyone but not legally)

Makes the republic work again and puts laws in to ban affairs while having one

Brings back Roman values

Exiles his daughter

Voted Pontifex maximus and is known as the father of the people after making sure all the plebs are taken care of and makes sure the middle class can vote

What does Augustus do before he dies

There is no successor

Adopts people as public heirs

1st - Marcellus (dies mysteriously)

What does Augustus do to maintain his reign

Impresses people

Down to earth

Creates peace

Augustus death

Dies in 14 BCE

reigns for 45 years of the Roman Empire

Who was Maecenas

Augustas friends, sponsors poets such as Virgil