Curiosities of ancient Rome (Events)

Fact that Claudius took the power in 41 CE meant that his freedmen and advisors, Narcissus, Callistus and Pallas, would be involved in ruling in Rome. They were slaves who shared power in such a way that they did no get in the way each other. Narcissus in particular had enormous support from emperor and had a really big influence on his decisions. He often acted on his behalf and represented him.

The tyranny and mad rule of Caligula caused that Roman people and elites honestly hated the Emperor and feared for their lives. The most important people in the state were humiliated: for example, the consul Publius Pomponius Secundus was to shoe the emperor’s shoes while watching the spectacle. The emperor at every step also mocked high-ranking officers. Among them was i.e. Cassius Chaerea and Cornelius Sabinus.

In 53 BCE Marcus Crassus – two months before the end of the consulate – left Rome to become governor in Syria. From there, he intended to lead a war expedition to the Parthia. This plan has not received widespread approval in Rome.

The so-called “five good emperors” – it was the time of the reign of the five Roman emperors who ruled in the years 96-180 CE and they were distinguished by stable and sound reign.

Marcus Celius, during the civil war of Caesar and Pompey, allied himself with the first. For his services, he was awarded the praetor’s office.

In 56 BCE Marcus Caelius accused Lucius Calpurnius Bestia of bribery during the elections of 57 BCE, during which Bestia unsuccessfully applied for the office of the praetor. The accused was defended by Cicero, the former mentor of Caelius.

In 94 BCE, Gellius Publicola – consul for 72 BCE stayed in Athens for business matters. There he was to propose to the representatives of various philosophical schools a conference during which they would, with his help, settle their disputes once and for all and be able to deal with more important matters. As you can easily guess, this proposal was not enthusiastically received.

In 56 BCE Marcus Celius, a former protégé of Cicero and the later supporter of Caesar, was accused by Clodia – his ex-mistress of trying to poison her. Celius was also charged with the assassination of Egypt’s emissary, Dion.

In 63 BCE Titus Labienus – probably at the instigation of Caesar, accused the aged Gaius Rabirius. He accused him of murdering Lucius Saturninus in 100 BCE. Marcus Cicero took the defendant’s defence.

Gaius Marius, at the end of the second century BCE, was in practice the dominant figure on the political scene of Rome. The proof of this was repeated fulfillment of the consul’s function. Plutarch says that when he held the office for the seventh time in a row, the conspiracy for his life was plotted.