[Rome's Biggest Military Disaster]

I'll have to go with the Varus disaster. Although I don't kow a lot about Adrianople. It really depends on your definintion of disaster - lives lost ? Borders compromised ? Empire collapsed ? Emperor killed ? Standards taken ? I've decided to go with lives lost, and the psychological effect of that loss on Romans.

[Pontic Empire]

All I know is that Mithadates killed all his relatives for the throne, and was kept in check by Marius, and then Sulla, until using the social wars of Rome as a disstraction and invading Greece. There is a great bust of him complete with lions pelt on his head in the louvre.

[The Fairy Emperor]

I'd just settle for a few choice slaves........

[Conquest]

Very good point Ursus. It could kind of be two questions. Most important before Italia would have to be Italia, most important after would have to be Carthage. Spain was also important though wasn't it ? In terms of financing later wars ?

[Roman Documentary On Pbs]

Pay special attention to the numbers of Roman troops Vs the Brits, and the formation used to defeat them, it was a kick ass victory for Rome.

[Optimates Or Populares]

PM, I would have thought you were an Optimate for dissapproving of Caesars march on Rome, because he had popular support, but anyway, I am a populare

[Do You Know What Triggered Your Love For History?]

I have always been more interested in other times, as a matter of fact, in things outside my own exsistance in general. My parents played a role too, by encouraging my interests and taking me places I could indulge them when young. It just never stopped.

[Unconstitutional]

The senate, the boni/optimate faction in particular. Also for what they did to the Gracchi, and their other violations of Tribunes.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I think the notion that he would give up power is a matter of opinion, despite the honorific Dictator for life. But as I mentioned - not many would agree with me, I was expecting that kind of response.

[Justified Admiration]

Can't accept that challege, you make a really good point !

[Roman Republic/empire, Exploitative Or Protective?]

I think the exploitation / protection varied a lot depending on the particular Emperors administration. Reading Pliny, one can see that he was only in Bythnia and Pontus at Trajans orders because the last two Governors had been charged with extortion and other offences while in the post. Trajan realised something was wrong in the provence - and dispatched good old Pliny to sort it out. Most of Trajans replies to Pliny seem very concerned for the happiness of the province and it's people. I dare say that may not have been Domitians or Commodus greatest concern.

[America. An Empire Or Not?]

The media reports and recent round of Mike Moore docos do all they can to convince us that the US is no longer a democracy.

 

I guess I should be happy our government chose to be "with" the US. As Texas Bush said "If you ain't with us, you're against us"

[Emperor Vespasian]

They are poles apart, Nero was a possibly psychotic despot, and Marcus was a kind, philosopher emperor, considered to be the last of the "five good emperors". Marcus Aurelius only real failing was leaving his freak son as heir. I guess another similarity is that they probably both composed verse - Aurelius "Meditations" of stoic thought, and Nero endless poetry and music which he forced his court to sit through for days on end, putting to death any senator that happened to nod off. Thats really where the similarity ends though.

[Subterfuge And Infiltration]

Having read the Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCulloch, I was interested by the chapters she has written detailing recon work done by Sulla and Quintus Sertorius at the order of Marius, to find out and infiltrate the Cimbri and Tuetones prior to their arrival and subsequent defeat. I wonder what factual basis there is for this conjecture. She goes so far as to say that they both learned the languages and had families with their germanic wives, and became quite respected by the two tribes, gaining some social standing. There is even an implication that Caesar meets a germanic son of Sulla on the banks of the Rhine during his incursions into Germania.

 

Can anyone advise if this has been included in the books due to factual evidence ? Is there much writing detailing reconissance/spy work carried out by units within the legions ? Were there units formed and dedicated to such a purpose ?

[Need Major Help!]

Part of the problem was this ever increasing cost though, was it not ? Not that the military kept expanding, but the donatives payed by successive emperors to each soldier to retain their loyalty and the throne undermined many of the principles the rebublic and then the emipre were founded on ? But once again, just one of a large number of factors.

[Book Club]

I'll join in, I just printed out a copy.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I agree wholeheartedly with you PP, that the offer by Marc Antony of the diadem was staged, I think Caesar knew to an extent just how much the Romans loathed kingship, and he wanted them to know he did not intend to rule as a king. I believe it was offered two or three times on the same occasion - definatly a show for the crowd. Caesar did not want to be king, and it's my unfashionable belief that he would have actually followed the example of Sulla in another way if given the eventual opportunity, that of stepping down from the dictatorship.

[Germanic Weaponry]

yes they did use small pick style axes to some extent, and I believe they also sometimes used Roman weaponry after military and trading contact.

[Code Of Conduct For Re-enactors]

Maximus, whatever rules you decide on - you have to call the document "the twelve tablets" , give it some instrinsic authority.

[Second Marcomannic War]

Hi PP - could you tell me where you got this info - is it on UNRV somewhere ? Is there a listing of conflicts - legions involved ?

That would be great.

[Hobbies]

I go walking in the bush, and I like fishing in the local river.

 

I play computer games.

 

I read as much as I can.

 

I do a lot of oil painting. and draw every day.

 

I listen to music, mostly 80s, and the recent surge of neo 80s music is exciting to me.

 

I love the beach and surf when I can, but am happy just to beach comb.

 

I am also fascinated by space, and all things astronomical.

[Religious Incorporation]

Ursus - can't remember what string it was in, but there was a discussion some time ago about how the Romans incorperated foriegn deities into their pantheon because, being superstitious, and considering their contractual relationship with their own gods, they simply did not want to run the risk of offending potentialy powerfull foreign gods, and hence payed them a certain amount of respect in many cases - like Mithras and Isis. It didn't mean they were only doing it to "Pacify" the natives, but that they had their own reasons ?

[Need Major Help!]

Wow, that point you mention Ursus regarding the troop numbers involved is so true - and really interesting. Am I right in thinking around 25 standing legions ? I guess in varied slightly throughout the empires history.

[After The Charge!?]

Yes - and also the main strength of the legions was in organisation - working together. Their weapons and sheilding was designed so as to work when groups were locked together, covering each others flanks. Most of their training drills I assume revolved around learning to obey commands for formations, in small groups these attacking/defending formations would have been impossible. In a lot of ways the barbarian enemies of Rome were more suited to fighting one on one, thats why when they came up against a disciplined legion with a good commander who could get his troops into the formations he wanted, the barbarians were trashed.

[Need Major Help!]

lovelyme, you might actually have to do some research on this one. There are many differing opinions, and you're going to have to make up your own mind. Maybe just start by reading some of the information on this site.