Roman Empire News
12 Byzantine Rulers: Part 3 - Constantine - Part 1
From the chaotic background of the tetrarchy, a vulnerable staff officer would navigate the treacherous waters of the empire and eventually emerge as Emperor. How could such an unlikely man unify the empire under one ruler? In this lecture, Lars Brownworth explores the rise to power of one of Western History's most pivotal figures: Constantine.
The Afterlife
| ... the nature or substance of the soul seems neither to have been a natal day, nor to be exempt from death. Again, whether do any atoms of the soul remain in a dead body, or not? For if any remain and exist in the body, it will not be possible for the soul to be justly accounted immortal; since when she took her departure she was diminished by some lost particles. but if, when removed, she fled with all her parts so entirem that she left no atoms if her substance in the bodym whence do dead caracasses, when the viscera become putrid, send forth worms? |
Caligula
The Roman historian and lawyer Suetonius wrote a biography of the mad Emperor Caligula. Even as a young man, Caligula was cruel and vainglorious. His character was evident during a campaign against the Britons.On arriving at the camp. in order to show himself an active general and severe disciplinarian, he cashiered the lieutenants who came up late with the auxiliary forces from different quarters. In reviewing the army, he deprived of their companies most of the centurions of the first rank, who had now served their legal time in the wars, and some whose time would have expired in a few days, alleging against them their age and infirmity; and railing at the covetous disposition of the rest of them, he reduced the bounty due to those who had served out their time ... Though he only received the submission of Adminius, the son of Cunobeline, a British king, who being driven from his native country by his fatherm came over to him with a small body of troops, yet, as if the whole island had been surrendered to him, he dispatched magnificent letters to Rome, ordering bearers to proceed in their carriages directly up to the forum and the Sentate-house, and not to deliver the letters but to the consuls in the temple of Mars, and in the presence of a full assembly of senators. |
12 Byzantine Rulers: Part 9 - Justinian - Part 3
With the reconquest of Italy seemingly complete and the Persian threat momentarily neutralized by the plague, Justinian could at last afford to rest. But the empire's enemies were everywhere- the plague abated and a charismatic new Gothic king arose in Italy. The empire could ill afford to keep its greatest general in disgrace, and Justinian would once again turn to the man he could never quite bring himself to trust. The final decade of his life would see the fruition of his epic dreams of reconquest, as well as the restoration of the building that still stands as the greatest testament to his reign. It would be the final act of a cast of characters the likes of whom the empire would never see again. Join Lars Brownworth for the conclusion of the reign of Justinian, the last of the Roman Emperors.
Review; Swords Against The Senate
This book charts the rise of the Roman army and how it played a decisive role in the eventual demise of the Roman Republic. It tells the story of how it evolved from an army of wealthy landowners fighting for the glory of Rome, into a professional army fighting not ...