The Roman nobility overthrew the last Etruscan king in 509 BC and instituted their own republican constitution, which included two representatives. An assembly dominated by the nobility elected these representatives. The Roman republic also had a Senate that advised the representatives and ratified major decisions, normally in the favor of the nobility that elected them (The Roman Army). Rome had very little protection in the early years of its sovereignty. Its military was more like a militia made up of Roman men who were basically unarmored, poorly armed, and wore only leather helmets for protection.
When Maximian, in dispute with his son, fled to Constantine, Constantine received and sheltered him until Maximian, in an attempt to regain the throne, undertook a revolt against Constantine's rule in Gaul. Unsuccessful against Constantine, Maximian was forced to commit suicide. Constantine, having already declared against Maxentius and ignoring the fact that Galerius had recognized Licinius in the East, now considered himself emperor. When Galerius died in 310, still another claimant to the imperial throne appeared in Maximin, who allied himself with Maxentius against the alliance of Licinius and Constantine. While Licinius attacked Maximin, Constantine moved into Italy against Maxentius.
Introduction: • Gaius Octavius was born in 63BCE and was the great nephew of Julius Caesar. Caesar took Octavius under his wing, having him elected to the College of Pontiffs and enrolling him in to the Patrician Aristocracy. When Octavius learned Caesar had been assassinated he also found out that Caesar has adopted him and named him his heir. Octavius took on Caesar’s name and became Gaius Julius Caesar Octavius but was known simply as Octavian. • The situation in Rome toward the end of the Republican period was that the country’s senate had lost majority of its power.
In 509 BCE, a group of Roman nobles drove the Etruscan king, Tarquin, from power[1]. Rome had no king, causing the nation to become a republic. Power was passed to Rome’s aristocratic council of elders, the Senate[2]. The term “Roman Empire” was coined as the city of Rome grew. Rome gained absolute power over those they had conquered.
The Life and Times of Marcus Junius Brutus The Roman Republic reached the conclusion of its existence starting with the reign of Julius Caesar around 50 BCE. The transition period that ended with the rule of Octavian was marred by civil war and political upheaval. The civil war began with Julius Caesar boldly crossing the Rubicon in defiance of Pompey and the Republicans. Throughout the war that would ultimately end with Pompey and the Optimates being crushed at Pharsalus in 48 BCE, Marcus Junius Brutus, descendent of the great Lucius Junius Brutus, sided with his former enemy Pompey in defense of the Republic. Despite this treason, he was granted full pardon from Julius Caesar who had always held him in high esteem.
When Philip was subsequently murdered in 317 B.C., and young Alexander was killed about seven years later, Alexander’s once vast empire was to change dramatically from the death of the king. Alexander’s leading generals became regents of various areas after fighting amongst themselves for control of the empire. By 300 B.C., Alexander's empire had split into a number of independent states. The three most powerful states were led by Alexander's generals Antigonus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus. In order to legitimise their monarchies
In the next twenty years it’s clear to see the effects of Augustus’s victory on Roman society. Through powerful propaganda Augustus attempted to restore the republic to its former glories. Promote an era of peace and return roman society to it’s earliest tradition. Roman society was to be affected, for the first time a line of kings had been founded and consequently society was at the mercy of one man’s monarch. A century of political upheaval, civil wars, proscriptions and economic devastation had come to an abrupt end.
Patricians: These were the wealthy aristocrats who monopolized political power in the early Roman republic. They were the descendants of the original members of the Senate at the time the Etruscans were overthrown in the late 6th century B.C. Plebeians: These were the middle and lower class commoners of Rome who struggled for more than 200 years to gain politically equality with patricians. They won this conflict because they were important to Rome militarily. Conflict of the Orders: This was the long struggle between the patricians and plebeians in the early Roman republic.
Civil war broke out in 133 BCE, as Tiberius Gracchus was elected tribune. Though the rise of popular tribunes was once an aspect that made the Republic strong, in this
Julius Caesar Summary How It All Goes Down When the play opens, Julius Caesar has just returned to Rome after defeating the sons of Pompey in battle. Before we go any further, let's pause for a brief Roman history lesson. Pompey (a.k.a. "Pompey the Great") was a member of the "first triumvirate," and he and Caesar used to share power over Rome. Then Caesar and Pompey got into a big fight.