Ecce Romani III Fabulae

Chapter 55: Background Information

The Brevarium was written by Eutropius about 380 CE (AD). It is a brief summary of the history of Rome. Remember as you read this that he is writing about events that occurred more than 300 years before his time. It is a bit like someone today writing about the details of the aftermath of our Revolutionary War; the Brevarium is far from an eyewitness account. However, that said, it is a good review of the actions of the time.

Eutropius presents text written in a very straightforward way. Thus it is a good entry point for students beginning to read original Latin texts. Review the government structure on pp. 2-4. The following information, which is not presented in the student textbook may be of help:

TRIBUNE and AEDILE were offices that were not obligatory to the Cursus Honorum. One could skip to quaestor or praetor, but serving a term as aedile would put a man in the public view since one of the tasks was to provide games for the people at appropriate festival times. The aedile was 'loved' (or not) by the 'quality' of the games he provided. Games were expensive and the aedile's budget did not cover all costs. Aediles therefore went into personal debt, hoping that future offices would enrich their personal income.

Being a tribune was also a good passport to personal recognition since one represented the Plebeians and could veto ("I forbid" is the literally meaning of the word) any decree, motion, act or law proposed by the patrician assemblies. The tribunate was established to protect the plebeians but in later years became one more self-seeking office. Clodius was especially talented at using the plebeian class to promote himself.

DICTATOR and CENSOR are not mentioned in the student text. In a time of crisis the senate could appoint a dictator. Remember the story of Cincinnatus who is perhaps the most famous 'good' dictator in history. Julius Caesar was also a dictator but he named himself Dictator Perpetuus, indicating he could serve in this role as long as he wanted.

A Censor had the seemingly dull task of maintaining the roll of current citizens but it was a powerful position in that a censor determined whether one fell into the Senatorial or Equestrian class.

Roman politics was a rather closed system. Most power fell into the hands of the elite, and wealthy men. Family background was important. A man such as Cicero, although he commanded much respect for his oratorical skills, was yet snubbed as a Novus Homo, a man whose lineage was humble. Romans were very class conscious. The family of Julius Caesar had little money but could trace its lineage to Aeneas, claiming descendency from Iulus, son of Aeneas and grandson of the goddess Venus (so much for reality) and thus belonging to the gens (clan) Iulian. Prestige, therefore, was acquired from a combination of family first, wealth second, and friends -- who often proved fickle -- last.

Reading Notes

Passage A

  1. M. Tullio Cicerone... consulibus (lines 1, 2) - This is an ablative absolute with NO VERB. Three nouns identify the year by marking who had served as consuls. Eutropius is not always accurate with his dates. He also gives the AUC year of their consulship. Remember to subtract this number from 754 (taking the 0 into account adds one to the traditional founding of Rome, 753 BCE).
  2. delendam (4) - Whether Catilina wanted to destroy his country or acquire power is a point for discussion. Cicero's speeches against Catilina can be interpreted as slanderous propaganda. The story is that he was so heavily in debt that he attracted similar individuals. Together they attempted to get the Aedui (of De Bello Gallico fame) to help overthrow the current regime. They would then abolish all debts and restore the government. While this is personal debt, consider the crisis of many Third World nations with such huge debts and currency that is continually being devalued. (While in Ghana in 2002, I had two stacks of bills about 6 inches tall when I converted $200.00. The exchange rate was about 6000 cedes to one US dollar and their largest bill was a 2000 note. Today they have issued some 10,000 cede notes but that still equates to just slightly more than one US dollar. As their inflation grows, so too their debt to the World Bank and other nations.) This is not to say that Catilina's plan was appropriate but just to note how hopeless one can feel when debts accumulate and how desperately one might react.
  3. Gallia et Illyricum (11) - Always look at the maps to locate places that are new to you. P. 17 for a general map of Europe, p. 12 for the Civil War sites.
  4. Helvetios (12) - At the time of Caesar the Helvetii and Sequani were separate tribes.
  5. quadringenties (21) Suetonius confirst this fugure to be 40 million sesterces. Remember that the value of coins changed over the many years of ancient Roman history but at this time a legionary of Rome earned about 25 denarii or 100 sesterces annually.
  6. trans Rhenum (21) Eutropius is wrong here: Caesar never fought large battles across the Rhine. He did cross over to show the power of Rome and intimidate the Germani so that they would be reluctant to cross into Gaul. Also, Britain did not become a Roman province until the reign of Claudius.

Passage B

  1. congregatos (8) deduce this word
  2. Catone (7) M. Porcius Cato, sometimes called Cato of Utica to distinguish him from Cato the Censor, his famous great grandfather. He was a strong opponent to either subversion of the Republic or weakening its powers. His son-in-law was M. Calpurnius Bibulus who had served as co-consul with Caesar and was so humiliated by him. (rf. Caesar cd videos) The year they shared the consulship became known as the consulship of Julius and Caesar.
  3. ab Arimino (8) Eutropius does not mention the Rubicon River, just south of Ariminium, the southern boundary of Caesar's province.
  4. Hispanias (15) Pompey was governer of this province. Caesar attacked while Pompey was absent and unable to lead them.
  5. M. Varrone (16-17) M. Terentius Varro (probably a relative of Terentia, wife of Cicero) was pardoned by Caesar. He became known as a scholar and is reputed to have calculated the date of the founding of Rome (you can blame him for all those AUC calculations).

Passage C

  1. Palaeopharsalum (1) - battle of Pharsalus
  2. rege (10) refers to Ptolemy XIII, born in 63 BCE, became ruler of Egypt in 51 at the age of 12. His father had been friendly to Rome, and when he was expelled from his throne he was restored to it by the Romans in 55. When Pompey came to Egypt after the disaster at Pharsalus in 48, his murder was ordered by ministers acting on behalf of Ptolemy, thinking they would win more favor with Rome by the deed. Romans did not look kindly on foreigners murdering Romans, especially Caesar, who despite their differences, respected Pompey.

Passage D

  1. civilibus (1) tyrannica (4) committens (12) - deduce these from what you know. What participle is committens?
  2. bellis civilibus (1) is plural to reflect the many campaigns fought during this period.
  3. anno novo...again Eutropius is not always accurate with dates
  4. Octavianus (13) ... Gaius Octavius, adopted by Caesar became G. Iulius Caesar Octavianus. He was referred to as Octavius (Octavian) during the civil wars, assuming by acclamation of the Senate the title Augustus in BCE 27. (line 15)

J. Jahnige, September 2003

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