2. 50 BC: CAESAR OWNED GAUL, LIKE
STALIN OWNED EASTERN EUROPE IN
1945
ROMAN HISTORIAN SUETONIUS:
“ SOME THINK THAT HABIT HAD GIVEN HIM (CAESAR) A LOVE OF
POWER & THAT WEIGHING THE STRENGTH OF HIS ADVERSARIES
AGAINST HIS OWN , HE GRASPED THE OPPORTUNITY OF
USURPING THE DESPOTISM WHICH HAD BEEN HIS HEART’S DESIRE
FROM EARLY YOUTH. CICERO TOO WAS SEEMINGLY OF THIS
OPINION, WHEN HE WROTE IN THE THIRD BOOK OF HIS DE
OFFICIIS, THAT CAESAR EVER HAD UPON HIS LIPS THESE LINES OF
EURIPIDES, OF WHICH CICERO HIMSELF ADDS A VERSION:
‘ IF WRONG MAY E’ER BE RIGHT, FOR A THRONE’S SAKE
WERE WRONG MOST RIGHT – BE GOD IN ALL ELSE FEARED”
(LECTURER’S NOTE: A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM IN MODERN POLITICS,
DON’T YOU THINK? )
3. JANUARY, 49 BC. CAESAR CROSSES
THE RUBICON: “…THE WHOLE ISSUE
IS WITH THE SWORD”
5. EARLY ROMAN MAP OF GAUL
SHOWING NAMES OF TRIBES &
ROMAN COLONIAL SETTLEMENT
6. 15 MARCH 44 BC: 60 SENATORS
STABBED CAESAR, DICTATOR OF
ROME, 23 TIMES, IN THE SENATE
SUETONIUS’ EPITAPH FOR JULIUS CAESAR:
“ HE DIED IN THE FIFTY-SIXTH YEAR OF HIS AGE, &
WAS NUMBERED AMONG THE GODS ONLY BY
FORMAL ADVICE. FOR AT THE FIRST GAMES
WHICH HIS HEIR AUGUSTUS GAVE IN HONOUR
OF HIS APOTHEOSIS, A COMET SHONE FOR
SEVEN SUCCESSIVE DAYS, RISING ABOUT THE
ELEVENTH HOUR, & WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE
SOUL OF CAESAR, WHO HAD TAKEN TO HEAVEN,
& THIS IS WHY A STAR IS SET UPON THE CROWN
OF HIS HEAD IN HIS STATUE.”
7. CAESAR AUGUSTUS & THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROMAN
PRINCIPATE (27 BC – 14 AD)
8. ANALYSIS OF CAESAR AUGUSTUS,
“FIRST MAN IN ROME”, IMPERATOR
CAESAR DIVI FILIUS
NORMAN DAVIES’ ANALYSIS OF AUGUSTUS’ REIGN:
“ THE REPUBLIC HAD BEEN ABOLISHED ….DESPOTISM RULED,
SUPPORTED BY VIOLENCE & CONFISCATION. THE BEST
MEN WERE DEAD OR PROSCRIBED. THE SENATE WAS
PACKED WITH RUFFIANS. THE CONSULATE, ONCE THE
REWARD OF CIVIC VIRTUE, NOW BECAME THE
RECOMPENSE OF CRAFT OR CRIME. ‘NON MOS, NON
IUS’….THE CAESARIANS CLAIMED THE RIGHT & DUTY OF
AVENGING CAESAR….OUT OF THE BLOOD OF CAESAR THE
MONARCHY WAS BORN….THE REST WAS EPILOGUE. ALL
CRIED LIBERTY, & ALL LONGED FOR PEACE. WHEN PEACE
CAME, IT WAS THE PEACE OF DESPOTISM.”
9. THE ROMAN PRINCIPATE
(27 BC -565 AD)
THE ACCUMULATION OF POWERS ( AND
CONSEQUENTLY THE WEALTH WHICH IT
FUNNELLED INTO ROME’S COFFERS
THROUGH AUGUSTUS). THE TERM,
‘PRINCIPATE’, HAS BEEN DEVISED BY HIM, &
FOLLOWED BY OTHERS THROUGH TO ROME’S
DECLINE & FALL
10. CURIA JULIA (ROME FORUM). HOME
OF IMPERIAL SENATE: MAKER OF
POLICY & DRAFTER OF LAWS ONLY
13. BEFORE HE DIED, AUGUSTUS GAVE A
35 PAGE ACCOUNTING: “THE DEEDS
OF THE DIVINE AUGUSTUS”
INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT WERE 4 APPENDICES
ADDED BY THE SENATE AFTER HIS DEATH: THREE
LISTED THE CONSTRUCTIONS HE HAD BUILT; THE
PUBLIC SPECTACLES HE PROMOTED & THE ACTS OF
CHARITY, GIVEN WITH HIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
THE FOURTH: “ ALL THE EXPENDITURES WHICH HE GAVE
EITHER INTO THE TREASURY OR TO THE ROMAN
PLEBS OR TO DISCHARGED SOLDIERS (SESTERCES:
2,400,000)”
IF WE ACCEPT , EVEN PARTIALLY , THAT AUGUSTUS WAS
A “TRILLIONAIRE” ($4.6 TR.BY ONE ESTIMATE) IN
MODERN DOLLARS, THEN THE SENATE ESTIMATE IS A
MINUTE PORTION OF THE WEALTH HE LEFT TO HIS
SUCCESSORS.
14. THE PRINCIPATE IN DYNASTIC RULE:
(14 AD – 96 AD) EMPEROR DOMITIAN
MURDERED IN HIS BED (96 AD)
15. THE “INDIAN SUMMER” OF THE
ROMAN EMPIRE (96 AD - 182 AD)
NORMAN DAVIES:
“ YET ROME’S INDIAN SUMMER STILL LAY AHEAD.
IF A MAN WERE CALLED TO FIX THE PERIOD IN
THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, DURING WHICH
THE CONDITION OF THE HUMAN RACE WAS
MOST HAPPY & PROSPEROUS’ HE (EDWARD
GIBBON IN HIS ‘DECLINE & FALL OF THE ROMAN
EMPIRE’) WOULD WITHOUT HESITATION , NAME
THAT WHICH ELAPSED FROM THE DEATH OF
DOMITIAN TO THE ACCESSION OF COMMODUS.”
18. EMPEROR HADRIAN (SOLDIER) (117 –
138) BUT NOT A CONQUEROR (EXCL.
PUNITIVE JUDEAN WAR, 133-135)
HISTORIA AUGUSTA. “LIFE OF HADRIAN”:
“ (14) IN POETRY & IN LETTERS HADRIAN WAS GREATLY
INTERESTED. IN ARITHMETIC, GEOMETRY & PAINTING HE
WAS AN EXPERT. OF HIS KNOWLEDGE OF FLUTE-PLAYING
& SINGING HE EVEN BOASTED OPENLY. HE RAN TO EXCESS
IN THE GRATIFICATION OF HIS DESIRES, & WROTE MUCH
VERSE ABOUT THE SUBJECTS OF HIS PASSION. HE
COMPOSED LOVE-POEMS TOO. HE WAS ALSO A
CONNOISSEUR OF ARMS, HAD A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE
OF WARFARE, & KNEW HOW TO USE GLADIATORIAL
WEAPONS. HE WAS, IN THE SAME PERSON, AUSTERE &
GENIAL, DIGNIFIED & PLAYFUL, DILATORY & QUICK TO
ACT, NIGGARDLY & GENEROUS , DECEITFUL &
STRAIGHTFORWARD, CRUEL & MERCIFUL, & ALWAYS IN
ALL THINGS CHANGEABLE. “
19. BAR – KOCHBA REVOLT PUT DOWN BY
HADRIAN. 580,000 KILLED, 1035
TOWNS & VILLAGES BURNED
20. EMPEROR ANTONINUS PIUS (138 -
161). FURNISHED “ VERY FEW
MATERIALS FOR HISTORY”
BUT IN THIS EMPEROR’S REIGN WE SEE THE FIRST
EVIDENCE OF A DECLINE IN ROME’S ECONOMIC
STRENGTH: THE GOLD & SILVER IN THE COINS
USED IN THE MAIN TRADING PORTS OF THE
MEDITERRANEAN & ASSAYED BY MONEY
CHANGERS IN ALEXANDRIA WAS BEING
SIGNIFICANTLY DEBASED WITH COPPER, NICKEL,
ANTIMONY & IRON. THIS COINCIDES WITH
GREAT EXPENSE OF RENEWED WARS WITH
PARTHIA & THE MASSIVE BUILDING PROGRAMS
OF TRAJAN & HADRIAN.
21. THE DUAL PRINCIPATE OF BROTHERS
MARCUS AURELIUS & LUCIUS VERUS
(161 – 180)
SINNIGEN & BOAK “HISTORY OF ROME”:
“VERUS WAS WEAK & INDOLENT. HIS CHIEF MERIT WAS
THAT IN GOVERNMENTAL MATTERS AT LEAST HE
LOYALLY DEFERRED TO HIS BROTHER’S JUDGMENT”.
168/169 ANTONINE PLAGUE (SMALLPOX) HIT 4 LEGIONS
SENT AGAINST PARTHIANS. 50% SICK (BECAUSE OF
TIGHT BATTLE FORMATIONS)
165 -189. PLAGUE SPREAD TO LEGIONS IN GAUL &
RHINE KILLING 15% THEN SPREAD TO ROME & OTHER
CITIES KILLING 25%.
23. THE FRAYING OF THE ROMAN ARMY:
169 AD IN THE REIGN OF MARCUS
AURELIUS
IMPERIAL MATTERS WERE IN DIRE STRAITS. IT IS
RECORDED THAT ROMAN FUNDS TO FINANCE
MILITARY SPENDING WAS SO SHORT, THE
EMPEROR HAD TO SELL OFF IMPERIAL
TREASURES. THERE WAS ALSO A SEVERE
MANPOWER SHORTAGE FOR THE VOLUNTEER
ARMY AS THE ATTRACTIONS OF MILITARY
SERVICE (GOOD PAY, SPOILS OF WAR &
VETERANS’ BENEFITS) HAD DWINDLED OR
DISAPPEARED (NO MORE EASY CONQUESTS!). A
RAGTAG OF RECRUITS, INCL. SLAVES &
GLADIATORS WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE RANKS.
25. CLEARER SIGNS OF ROMAN EMPIRE’S
DECLINE
1. SILVER DENARIUS (3RD HIGHEST VALUE COIN)
SILVER CONTENT IN 3.8 GRAM COIN FROM 98%
(85 AD) TO 74% (192 AD).
2. PROLONGED BORDER WARS IN NORTH AFRICA
& BRITAIN & TENUOUS PEACE IN OTHER PARTS
OF EMPIRE.
3. SERIOUS BRIGANDAGE HAD DEVELOPED IN
GAUL & ITALY WHERE ARMED GANGS TOOK
OVER ENTIRE CITIES.
4. SOME LEGIONS WERE MUTINYING.
26. THE DECLINE & FALL (1)
NORMAN DAVIES’ COMMENTARY:
“ BY THE MID-THIRD CENTURY THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS SHOWING
ALL THE OUTWARD SYMPTOMS OF AN INNER WASTING DISEASE.
POLITICAL DECADENCE WAS APPARENT IN THE LACK OF RESOLVE
AT THE CENTRE, AND IN DISORDER ON THE PERIPHERY. IN THE
NINETY YEARS FROM AD 180 NO FEWER THAN EIGHTY SHORT-
LIVED EMPERORS CLAIMED THE PURPLE BY RIGHT OR BY
USURPATION. ‘THE REIGN OF GALLIENUS’ WROTE GIBBON ‘
PRODUCED ONLY NINETEEN PRETENDERS TO THE THRONE….THE
RAPID & PERPETUAL TRANSITIONS FROM THE COTTAGE TO THE
THRONE, & FROM THE THRONE TO THE GRAVE, MIGHT HAVE
AMUSED AN INDIFFERENT PHILOSOPHER. THE ARMY DICTATED TO
ITS CIVILIAN MASTERS WITH IMPUNITY. THE BARBARIANS
FLOODED OVER THE LIMES, OFTEN UNCHECKED. THE RAIDS OF
THE GOTHS TURNED INTO PERMANENT OCCUPATIONS. IN 268
THEY SACKED ATHENS.”
27. THE DECLINE & FALL (2):
“THE CRISIS OF THE THIRD CENTURY”
235 AD – 285 AD
IN THIS TIME THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS RULED
BY 26 EMPERORS:
• 10 LASTED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS.ONLY 2
WERE NOT MURDERED BY THEIR OWN
TROOPS.
• 2 DIED BY SUICIDE
• THE REST DIED IN BATTLE.
28. THE DECLINE & FALL (3)
285 AD – 395 AD.
EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN
• DENARIUS NOW HAD ONLY 13% SILVER CONTENT & AUTHORITIES WERE CONFISCATING
HOUSEHOLD SILVER/GOLD.
• ROME NEEDED 55 LEGIONS (600,000 SOLDIERS & SAILORS) TO SECURE ITS BORDERS.
• 293 AD: ESTABLISHED TETRARCHY: EMPIRE OF WEST ( CONSTANTIUS) & EMPIRE OF EAST
(GALERIUS)
• OTHER REFORMS:
1. STANDING ARMY/NAVY OF 1 MILLION
2. PROVINCES INCREASED TO 120, THEN 12 DIVISIONS OF 10 PROVINCES, CALLED DIOCESES.
3. A SECRET SERVICE TO REPORT ON OFFICIAL CORRUPTION
4. NEW TAX SYSTEM BASED ON POPULATION NUMBERS & LANDHOLDINGS.
5. DIOCLETIAN STAYED IN IMPERIAL OFFICE ANSWERING PETITIONS & LEGAL MATTERS.
6. INITIATED THE “GREAT PERSECUTION” OF 6 MILLION CHRISTIANS (303 AD – 311 AD);
CHURCHES BURNED; MANY MARTYRED /MUTILATED.
• DIOCLETION ABDICATED IN 305 AD. CONSTANTINE IN WEST HAD TO GO TO WAR WITH
PRAETORIAN GUARD SUPPORTING MAXENTIUS. BATTLE OF MILVIAN BRIDGE WON BY
CONSTANTINE. OCTOBER 311 AD.
• CONSTANTINE’S ALLY IN BATTLE WAS VALERIUS LICINIANUS LICINIUS. BECAME EMPEROR OF
EAST & CONSTANTINE EMPEROR IN WEST. BUT NOW THERE COULD BE ONLY ONE MAN AT THE
TOP. LICINIUS CHALLENGED CONSSTANTINE & LOST & WAS HANGED.
