Quintus Ceacilius Metellus Pius was born in 130 BC and raised in Rome as a Roman Upper Class Plebian. He comes from the gens Ceacilia. One legend tells that the Ceacilii came from one of Aeneas' companions, Caecas, who journeyed with him to Italy searching for the sack of Troy ("Caecilia (gens)"). Pius' father Quintus Ceacilius Metellus Numidicus was a well known leader of the Roman Senate's conservative section. Like Pius, he was an Optimate, reactionary, and was a great enemy of Gaius Marius. He fought in the Jugurthine War against Marius and was exiled by him before Numidicus was brought back to rome with the help of his son Pius ("Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus "). Infact, that is why Pius received the name "Pius", meaning dutiful and respectful ("Metellus"). Like his father, Pius was a strong Optimate and supporter of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Pius opposed Gaius Marius and fought against what Marius stood for ("Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius ").
Because of his families powerful social status, Pius was part of the College of Pontiffs during the 90s BC ("Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius "). At the time of the social war outbreak he was a legate in 89BC, or a roman millitary officer, most likely under the consulship of Pompeius Strabo ("Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius "). During this time, Pius succeeded in a few battles against the Marsi. Because of his successes, he became praetor on 88BC ("Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius "). Afterward, Pius was once again assigned to the social war to the southern front of Italy ("Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius "). During this time his most notable victory was defeating the Marsian Leader Quintus Poppaedius Silo, this was among other victories ("Metellus"). In 87 BC pius was granted ...
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"Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius ." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation,
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Vagi, L. , David . Coinage and history of the Roman Empire, c. 82 B.C.- A.D. 480: Coinage.
Taylor & Francis, 34-35. eBook.
prominence during the social war&source=gbs_navlinks_s>.
Venning, Timothy , and J. F. Drinkwater. A Chronology of the Roman Empire . Continuum, 2011.
210-12. eBook. caecilius metellus pius chronology&source=gbs_navlinks_s>.
Originally, it is thought, there was a law that prevented second consulships, and another that prevented holding another consulship until ten years had passed from the end of the prior. Marius bypassed both of these rules, maintaining the title of consul for five terms (104-99BC). Plutarch, the historical biographer, writes that “the people would tolerate no opposition” [to Marius’s second consulship], which shows us that Marius gained his power through support of the masses rather than support of the senate, which is what would be expected. Plutarch gives more evidence that Marius won his power by gaining the affection of the military and the plebeians, rather than the aristocracy whom he offended with his “violent speeches, full of contempt and arrogance” . From this we learn that Marius was not only supported by the people, but he was opposed by the higher class, and more important figures in Roman society.. The picture that Plutarch paints gives the impression that Marius gained his consulship in ways that were unconventional, much like the nature of the consulship itself. Breaking the mold like this paved the way for more fortunate ambitious men, like Sulla and Caesar, as he was showing that great power could be achieved without necessarily adhering to the preference of the
According to, Franco Cavazzi, a current accredited unprejudiced Roman Historian, Sulla’s first major achievement was becoming Marius’s Lieutenant. Marius was not a Roman nor patrician but still managed to be elected 7 times, he lead the army to many victories and was well recognised for them. (Gill, N.S. 2014) (Cavazzi, F. 2002) It was during Sulla’s service under Marius’s command in the military, that many of Sulla’s character traits were cultivated that contributed to the way he ruled.
Along with political change, Sulla’s reign led to instability, both socially and economically. Sulla’s first major appearance in Roman history can be considered as Marius’ quaestor during the campaign against Jugurtha in 107. He served under Marius in Africa and against tribes from Germany. Sulla served Marius well, despite his future claims of being solely responsible for orchestrating Jugurtha’s capture.
Livy. The Rise of Rome: Books One to Five. Trans. T. J. Luce. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
...” (Res Gestae Divi Augusti). The title Pater Patriae, was the last factor that contributed to the rise of Octavian.
Livius, Titus. The Early History of Rome. Trans. Aubrey De Sélincourt. London: Penguin Group, 2002. N. pag. Print.
At an early age, Tiberius was given military command and in his first campaign he won great renown with his troops and the Senate. He followed this up with another victory in Pannonia and for his efforts he received a triumph in Rome, the single greatest honor any general could receive. Augustus granted him the powers of a Tribune. Tiberius cared greatly for the welfare of his soldiers and they responded with respect and deep ...
support and troops and went to Rome to make his adoption official. When he got to
Marcel Le Glay, Jean-Louis Voisin, Yann Le Bohec. A History of Rome. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome in July 100 BC. Rome was a Republic at this time. He was a statesman, Roman general, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. He played a significant role in the events that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire. He was a leader in a nation where the people were not involved in the government decision-making process. Thus, he had majority of the power in the Republic and was able to form a huge army. He was able to triumph, conquer new lands with the army at his grasp and command. As Caesar acquired more power over the years, som...
Over time, ever-increasing taxation placed a massive burden on the Roman people with the majority of these taxes falling on the poorest members of society. The plight of the masses slowly ate away at the foundation of the Roman economy, especially following the final division of the empire in 395. The Roman economy in the West simply lost the ability to function in the face of overwhelming exterior and interior pressures”. This shows that to the author of this article, the economy played one of the bigger roles in the collapse of the Roman Empire. It also shows that the failing of the military, and the economic downfall were linked, the military gradually declined, and thus so did the economy of
Gaius Julius Caesar, born 100 B.C.E. in Rome to the impoverished patrician Julian Clan, knew controversy at an early age. Nephew to Populare Gaius Marius, he was earmarked by the Optimate dictator Sulla for prosciption after his refusal to divorce his Populare wife, Cinna. Fleeing Rome, and not returning until after Sulla’s resignation in 78 B.C.E, upon his return he gained a position as a pontificate, an important Roman priesthood. Slowly but surely throughout his lifetime he worked his way up the political ladder, eventually becoming Consul, and finally Dictator Perpeteus – Dictator for life. One of the most influential political and military leaders of all time, Caesar was also a highly intelligent man and an exceptional orator. However, acquiring this absolute power was no mean feat, and Caesar had well equipped himself through previous expeditions with all the resources necessary to gain power in Ancient Rome.
"Rome, History of Ancient Rome From Its Founding To Collapse." World History International: World History Essays From Prehistory To The Present. Web. 16 Dec. 2009. .
Julius Caesar was born on the 13th day of the month Quintilis (now July) in the year of 100 B.C. His full name was Gaius Julius Caesar, the same as his father's name. Gaius was his given name and Julius was his surname. Caesar was the name of one branch of the Julian family. Its original meaning was "hairy.” Caesar's family was not prominent, but they claimed to be descended from Venus as well as the kings of Alba Langa. In spite of that fiction, Caesar was well connected through his relatives and received some important government assignments during his youth. Julius Caesar was the dictator of Rome from 61-44 BC. At the time of his birth, Rome was still a republic and the empire was only beginning. Caesar made his way to be considered a head of Rome by 62 BC, but many of the senate felt him a dangerous, ambitious man. The senate did their best to keep him out of consulship. He finally became consul in 59 BC. In Caesar, they saw only the threat of a king, a word that was linked with the word “tyrant” that is cruel or unjust rule.
After he returned to Rome in 80 B.C. Caesar was presented with the oak wreath for his inordinate courage in the captivating of a Greek city (Julius Caesar, 1994). He continued his honorable work as a soldier in the military in 78 B.C., where he wanted to become a great leader. Julius Caesar headed back to Rome in 77 B.C. when he heard of Sulla’s; his overall goal for returning was to further prepare for his political career. Caesar never gave up on being a priest, in 73 B.C., the college of priests in Rome reached out to him letting Caesar know that he had been co-opted into the college. After hearing about of this, Caesar was devoted to his political career (Julius Caesar, 1994). Later that year was when Rome designated Caesar as one of the 24 military tribunes (Julius Caesar, 1994). Cornelia who was Caesar's first wife died in 69 B.C., after being unmarried for only two years, Caesar married the granddaughter of Sulla; Pompeia. To further his political career, Caesar was elected as Curule Aedile along with Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus in 65 B.C. (Julius Caesar, 1994). After using a substantial amount bribery, in 63 B.C. Caesar was voted Pontifex Maximus (head of the college of the priest). During the period of time where “Caesar was chosen to hold the positions of a tribune and