Roman Historia

Above: Cicero addresses the Senate Throughout Roman history, the skill of oratory had always remained a highly valued part of society. Whether it was the fierce political speeches given by Senators, or the pleas of innocence made in the law courts, Roman society relied upon the ability of its speakers to lead the republic and provide a sense of direction for its citizens. Oratory – which broadly involved the giving of speeches, debating, and the handling of legal trials – was a fiercely competitive industry, attracting political hopefuls and great legal minds alike to test their ability. Whilst Rome was particularly renowned for its great speakers, no one stands out more for their ability in the field than Marcus Tullius Cicecro (106-43 BC). Best known for his role in the republics eventual collapse, alongside his vain attempt to protect traditional Roman values, Cicero was able to ascend to a position of political power on the back of his great oratorical skill. But for Cicer...

Arminius after the battle of Teutoberg Forest Under the reign of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor, the people of Rome had witnessed an unprecedented number of conquests and victories. From the Balkans to Egypt, vast new territories had been added to the empire at breakneck speed - and nowhere was this more apparent than in Germany. Between the Rhine and the Elbe, the legions of Augustus were able to seize new territories within Germany, with their native populations pacified and at times even Romanized. By 9 AD, it appeared as though Augustus would prove to be the grand conqueror of the Germanic people. However, that year, as winter set in and the air began to cool, Roman control over Germany would find itself shattered into pieces. Augustus in Germany The northern Germanic peoples of Europe had long remained a foe of Rome. The thought of giant, long haired and uncivilised barbarians was enough to inspire both fear and disgust in the Roman mind, with the region ...

Above: Julius Caesar receives the surrender of Vercingetorix For Julius Caesar, the conquest of Gaul would prove to be his greatest triumph. Spanning a multitude of barbarian tribes and local factions, Gaul had long invoked fear within the Roman psyche. The thought of giant, long haired and unruly Gallic chieftains marauding across Rome had remained a longstanding fear within the city, with the tribes of Gaul themselves becoming an almost mythical being in the Roman imagination. Caesar’s conquest of Gaul – encompassing parts of modern day France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg – would immortalise his name in Roman history as one of the all time great conquerors. However, on the battlefield outside of Alesia (modern day Dijon), Caesar’s troops, alongside his legacy, faced its biggest challenge. The Great Uprising As the January cold settled across the Gallic landscape, in 52 BC Caesar was well on his way to completing his conquest of Gaul. Having...