Men and Women of the Roman Empire

 

Introduction

Men and women of the Roman Empire aims to bring together not only the great political names of the history of Rome but also all those who, in one way or another relate to the Eternal City in classical times: poets, writers, geographers, architects, philosophers, teachers, prominent women, and so on.

I preferred to organize each mini biography in chronological order and not as it am usually done, in alphabetical order, as would be expected in a work like this.

In my humble opinion, organized chronologically, each person occupies his or her true place in the course of history, which helps us to understand the evolution and development of events.

 This is the life of the men and women of the Roman Empire, from its foundation to the fall of Rome in the 5th century AD.

                     MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

                                                                Part 1

                                       MONARCHY AND REPUBLIC

 Romulus and Remus -753- 716 BC-Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome, and the first king of the city. The legend of twins abandoned by their parents and fed by a wolf spread in Rome around the 3rd century BC. During the city's founding ceremony, Remo would have violated certain sacred norms which forced his brother Romulus to order his execution. Romulus is credited with the first political and military institutions as well as the first victories over the neighboring villages. Apparently Romulus killed the king of Dinner in individual combat. The famous abduction of the Sabine women provoked a conflict with that people, who ended resolved with the imposition of a double monarchy uniting Romans and Sabines: Romulus ruled next to Titus Tatius until his death, when Romulus assumed the individual government uniting both peoples definitively. According to Plutarch, Romulus would have come into conflict with the patricians, who opposed the warlike activity of their king, who should devote himself exclusively to religion and respect for the gods. Different legendary versions suggest that the pater-families would have killed Romulus, deforming the facts as a divine act, to avoid possible consequences within the city, which remained peaceful and accepted the new king.

HERSILIA-8th century BC- Roman lady of the Rome founding traditions considered by some classical authors to be the Romulus wife, and by others wife of Hostio Hostilio, (King Tulo Hostilio ancestor). She acted as mediator between the antemnates and Romulus to request that they be forgiven and included in Roman citizenship. However, other traditions tell us that she was one of the abducted Sabines (or that she followed her daughter when she was abducted) and that she was the leader of the Sabine women who asked for reconciliation between the Sabines and the Romans.

TARPEIA-8th century BC- She was, according to legend, a young woman of Etruscan origin who betrayed the city of Rome by opening its doors to the Sabines in exchange for the promise of a reward in the form of jewels. Instead it was crushed to death by the shields of the warriors and their body thrown from the rock Tarpeya, local that came to be used for the execution of condemned and that received its name.

NUMA POMPILIUS (753-673 BC) Of Sabine origin, he was elected as the second king of Rome by the patrician Senate in 716 BC.  Peaceful in character, he abandoned military activities to concentrate on his religious duties, maintaining excellent relations with the patrician, who considerably increased his powers during his reign. He is considered the author of the first religious services and the Roman calendar; he instituted the Festival of the Quirinals and the Festival of the Agonals in honor of Janus. He unified the Sabine, Latin and Etruscan cults and instituted the Procession of the Seven Hills. He implemented the cult of Fornace, goddess protector of wheat. One of his main works was the creation of the magistracy of the Pontiff Maximus. He instituted the Ambravalias, religious feasts that were celebrated before each harvest; he founded the Salios and fecial priests colleges.

 TULIUS HOSTILIUS (710- 642 BC) He was of Sabine origin, and the third king of Rome, from 673 to 641 BC, succeeded Numa Pompilius. He abandoned the peaceful policy of his predecessor, restarting military activities and this confronted him from the senatorial class. During his reign, a war broke out against Alba (the Horatii legend). He encouraged the immigration of foreigners, who founded a colony on Mount Celio, causing a serious crisis with the Senate, which only ended when a group of patrician conspirators murdered the king and his entire family, proclaiming Anco Marcio as their successor.

ANCUS MARCIUS (678- 616 BC) Grandson of Numa Pompilius, he was the last king of Sabine origin; he reigned from 642 to 616 BC. At the beginning he conquered the Latin city Politorium and moved all its inhabitants to Rome. He built the first wooden bridge over the Tibre, incorporating the Mesia forest into Rome, which gave rise to a several wars against his Latin neighbors and initiated rivalry with Veyes. He founded the Roman colony of Ostia, controlling the Tibre River mouth. In the middle of his reign, for unknown reasons, he abandoned military activities and began a period of good relations with the patricians until his death in 616.

LUCIUS TARQUINIUS PRISCUS (656- 578 BC) Of Etruscan origin, he migrated to Rome in 627 where he acquired great notoriety as a soldier and adviser, because the city was controlled by his people during this period. Apparently he was imposed as king by the Etruscans in 616, during his reign the city prospered, the Circus Maximus and the Sewer Maximus were built. He waged some wars in support of the Etruscans and fought against the influence of the patriarchy. He introduced the Triumph ceremony and organized Rome into three tribes. He was killed by a patrician conspiracy.

TANAQUIL was the queen of Rome by marriage to Tarquinius Priscus; she’s the first woman mentioned in the roman history. After her husband murder she fought to place her son Servius Tulius on the throne, facing the Senate. She was born in the Etruscan city Tarqüinia, where she was famous for her religious and divinatory knowledge. In Rome she exerted a strong influence on the people, who always supported her husband and son. Some Roman historians have called her Gaia Cecilia, mythical name that originated the ceremonies of the Roman weddings in later times. She is also remembered as a skilled wool weaver in her time.

SERVIUS TULIUS He ruled for 44 years, between 578 and 534 BC. During his reign there was a notable economic development of the city, a new wall was built enclosing the seven hills, olive cultivation was introduced and trade expanded, the first coin, the AES RUDE, circulated in bronze. Servius distributed land among the plebs, in spite of the senatorial opposition, and admitted plebeian contingents in the army after the military reform that introduced the Greek phalanx and legion. Servius defeats the Latins in Lake Regillus and assumes leadership in Lazio. The king breaks the patrician tradition by allowing the plebs to worship their own divinities in the city. In 546 BC Servius Tulius instituted the Lustrali: expiatory ceremonies to be performed every five years.  He was killed by patrician conspirators.

TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS (..? - 496 BC) The seventh and last king of Rome reigned between 534 and 509 BC. Little do we know about the first years of his reign, in 521 he initiated a policy contrary to senatorial interests, perhaps favoring the plebs as his predecessor. Work began on the temple of Capitoline Jupiter. Around 510 BC all Lazio rose up against the Etruscans, within that context, Tarquinius was dethroned and the Roman Republic was proclaimed the following year, the king went into exile in Cumae, and did not return when the Etruscan Porsena occupied Rome for a short period; died at Cumae in 496 BC.

LUCIUS JUNIUS BRUTUS (545-509 BC) He was one of the Roman Republic founders and his memory was venerated throughout the history of Rome. From a patrician family, we do not know most of his life, wrapped in legends. We suppose that she participated in the patrician rebellion against king Tarquinius, after Lucrece suicide, stupefied by the son of the king. Possibly Brutus participated in the rebellion in an outstanding position, because when fleeing the king was elected consul along with Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus and shortly after with Publio Valerius Publícola. According to Plutarch, Brutus' sons took part in a conspiracy. Once the plot was discovered, the consul did not hesitate to order the execution of his own children, witnessing the execution in situ. In a new monarchic insurrection, a few months later, Brutus dies in combat.

MARCO HORATIO PULVILUS- consul in 509; consecrated the Capitoline Temple.

LARS PORSENA- 6th century BC, he was an Etruscan king of Clusio. He came into conflict with Rome after the revolution that overthrew the monarchy in this city. Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome, appealed to Porsena to end the Roman republic and the latter agreed to help him. He presented himself with his army at the gates of Rome, and at this point, there is divergence in historical sources. According to the mainstream, including Titus Livius, Porsena, impressed by the Romans fierce resistance opted for peace and withdrew. According to other sources, he attacked and captured the city, and the Etruscans could only be expelled later. In any case, no source suggests that Tarquinius could regain the throne. If Lars Porsena really managed to conquer Rome, it was for his own benefit.

LUCRETIA- 6th century BC- She was the Tarquinius Collatinu's wife. According to Titus Livius, she was a wealthy, honest and beautiful woman. It is known that her beauty and honesty deeply impressed Sextus Tarquinius, a Tarquinius Superbus son. In order to satisfy his frantic desires for her, he asked Lucretia for hospitality when her husband was absent. Taking advantage of the night darkness, he entered Lucretia's room and raped her, without her resisting or shouting, believing her husband. The next day Lucretia called her father and her husband, and told them of the outrage she had received. She asked them for revenge against Sextus Tarquinius and sank a dagger in her chest after pronouncing the phrase: "No woman will be authorized by the example of Lucretia to survive her dishonor". Her relative Lucius Junius Brutus was the leader of the revolt that was organized against King Tarquinius Superbus and then proclaimed the Republic, in the year 509 BC. From these facts, no more kings were elected. Instead, they were elected to govern the Praetors, who would later be called consuls. It was the Roman Republic beginning.

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