BD-Basiliensis

three's Company

série:	Histoire (Rome)
éditeur:	NEL
auteur:	Duggan Alfred
classement:	biblio2
année:	1974
format:	broché
état:	TBE
valeur:	6 €
critère:	**
remarques:	English book Three's Company (the second triumvirat: Antony, Octavius and Lepidus) 1/ prologue 78 BC - the funeral of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, triumphator, consul and dictator honoured by the senate with the agomen Felix - funeral attended by young Marcus Aemilius Lepidus with his brothers Scipio and Lucius of the Cornelii family n.b. Lepidus married Juna Secunda, daughter of Servilia, mistress of Caesar, they had one son called Lepidus the younger - optimates and popularis (see information) 2/ the praetor chooses a side 49 BC - Caesar is now marching on Rome, Pompeius lacking of veteran soldiers, decides to leave Rom - probinquity = the state of being close to someone or something; proximity, close kinship 3/ Caesar and the Caesarians 49 BC - Cesar and his XIIIth legion entered unopposed the city of Rome - Caesar is appointed dictator of Rome on behalf of Lepidus who is now praefect of Rome with the support of Antony's army camping outside Rome during Caesar's absence fighting Pompeius in Spain, Greece and Asia - the Antonius brothers, a gang of thieves but loyal to Caesar (Lucius Antonius and Gaius Antonius, executed 42 BC) mountebant = a person who deceives others, especially in order to trick them out of their money; a charlatan 4/ Lepidus imperator 48-47 BC - small description of the Pharsale battle, however, contrary to what Duggan writes, it was more than a blind charge for Caesar's troops - already problems with Caesar's succession - Lepidus sent with 2 legions as a consul to Spain in order to submit a revolt of Pompeius' soldiers in Further Spain - Lepidus after his bloodless victory becomes a bloodless imperator by wish of his soldiers - orderly = officer 5/ tyrannicide 44 BC - dinner arrangement with Caesar (and Calpurnia) and with Mark Antony (with wife Fulvia), Cleopatra is mentioned but not invited - Caesar is on the even to start the Parthian campaign and does not trust in omens - the only good death is unexpected Caesar dixit - Octave is at this stage only briefly mentioned (he is an invalid!) - after Caesar's assassination, Lepidus could have become a dictator with the help of his army stationed just near Rome, but he did not want to become dictator illegally (so he misses his first chance, however he would have probably had to fight Mark Antony's army at this stage, the murders Brutus and Cassius had no army available) harridan = a strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman 6/ peace-making 44 BC - murders of Caesar were shut up in the Capitol n.b. the hill and the temple of Jupiter became the symbols of Rome, the capital of the world n.b. Carinae (the Keels) was an area of ancient Rome, the name of this district comes from the fact that certain buildings standing near the temple of Tellus represented the keels (carinae) of ships - Marcus Antonius at this stage cowered in his mansion - Lepidus was the only one who was not afraid to take action, but he did not - the question of Lepidus's boys taken on hostages during the visite of Brutus at Lepidus' mansion - an amnesty was looked for - by that time, Marcus Antonius had taken the advantage being supported by the plebeians - tyrannicide is now praised as a virtue - opening of Caesar's testament in which Caesar has made Octavius as his heir and given his name - the second consul elected was Dolabella who was not a friend of Marcus Antonius - Cassius and Brutus had to leave to Greece and Lepidus was given to administer the provinces of Narbonese Gaul and Hither Spain n.b. at this time, Rome's possession in Spain were Hither Spain (Hispania Citerior) and Further Spain (Hispania Ulterior), the remaining of Spain was not yet conquered by Rome 7/ the ranks form 44-43 BC - arrangement by Lepidus with Sextus Pompeius, king of the pirates - Octavius is gaining domination by recruiting a legion of Caesar's veteran soldiers, he is now more powerful than all the lictors and fasces in the city - Lepidus is elected pontifex maximus by the senate n.b. pontifex maximus was the chief high priest of the college of pontiffs (collegium pontificum), he was also permitted to hold both high magistracies and military commands >> p. 91 men who had enlisted under Caesar's heir (Octavius) to avenge Caesar's murder were now marching to the aid of Caesar's chief murderer (Decimus Brutus), besieged by Caesar's favourite lieutenant (Marcus Antonius) n.b. Decimus Junius Brutus is not to be confused with Marcus Junius Brutus, son of Servilia - the fighting was now round of Mutina, death of the two consuls Hirtius and Pansa whose armies were victorius but Octavius took the glory for the battle - Lepidus stood in the middle, he could either take side with Marcus Antonius or fight him, both actions being dangerous for Lepidus - there were now four armies closing in: Marcus Antonius, Lepidus, Plancus as well as the reduced one of Decimus Brutus - and everyone in the republic waited for Lepidus to use his own initiative >> p. 97 before a battle, the Roman commanders used to perform the customary public sacrifice to the gods and the eagles were handed over to the Aquilifers - Lepidus hesitated and decided not to make any decision while waiting for the reaction of Antonius' army which by now was very near the one of Lepidus waiting for the arrival of Plancus' army - for Lepidus anyway it was difficult to maintain discipline because he was worried that both armies would fraternise - and this was what happened while surprisingly Marcus Antonius went into Lepidus' camp unharmed and offered Lepidus peace and alliance 8/ three to restore the republic 43 BC - Octavius and Antonius agreed to meet and discuss but only if Lepidus can guarantee their security and arrange the conference, the place chosen was an island in the river Lavinius and Lepidus would be the arbitrator >> p. 115 the advantage to make peace for each party - the negotiations went on with some difficulty, but at the end the alliance took form (in any case it was better to get together against the 15 legions of Brutus and Cassius) - Lepidus is chosen as a third leader to keep the balance, resp. to keep the alliance and the peace between Caesar and Antonius - three men were now to restore the republic (tres viri republicae constituendae) for five years, then it could be of course renewable - Lepidus was made consul in charge of the city of Rome whereas Caesar and Antonius would go to Asia in order to fight Cassius and Brutus' army - finally a proscription was decided, mainly against old Caesar's enemies with the weak agreement of Lepidus who was not in favour of an illegal proscription which could turn out disorderly >> p. 126 anyone whom we cannot trust absolutely must be eliminated even if necessary Caesarians who would not agree with the triumvir Caesar dixit - including Cicero "no mercy for Cicero" Antonius dixit >> p. 129 for nearly four hours, the grim enumeration of the victims continued - to concur = to agree - a leer = unpleasant look suggesting an evil desire nota bene - Jupiter, king of the gods, is also known as Jove 9/ order reigns 42-41 BC - the procession in Rome by the victors was everything it should be, but for Lepidus it was one of a triumphator who had never won a battle - a sham = simulation, pretence - fortitude = courage, self-control in face of danger - to strut = to walk - Lepidus was somehow upset about the execution methods used for the proscription >> p. 141 the hands of Cicero to go with his head - Lepidus as one of the triumvirs was not taken very seriously by both his colleagues >> p. 143 the last flicker (movement) of the great purge was the confiscation of the dowries of four hundred wealthy ladies who were graciously permitted to live >> p. 145 description of Fulvia, wife of Antonius >> p. 147 mention is now made of Agrippa being first lieutenant of Caesar-Octavius - and before leaving to Asia, the triumvirat had to eliminate Sextus Pompeius >> p. 151 first mention that Lepidus might once make alliance with Sextus Pompeius against his fellow triumvirs 10/ Perusia 41-40 BC - Caesar and Agrippa made temporarily peace with Sextus Pompeius who now ruled Sicilia, Sardinia and Corsica but let corn-ship sailing freely to Ostia - then Caesar and Antonius crossed the Adriatic, whereas supreme in Rome, Lepidus could devote himself to the internal affaires of the city, proscription had silenced - Fulvia, wife of Antonius, was now the most influential lady in Rome - sulk = bad-tempered - pole-axe = axe used in war - at Philippi, 40 legions were assembling for battle, Brutus has beaten young Caesar but Cassius had been vanquished by Antonius - there are again intrigues with Sextus Pompeius who would like to get rid of young Caesar and then Lepidus had a dispute with Fulvia, another civil war was piling up - after Brutus had been eliminated at the second battle of Philippi, young Caesar was back to Italy whereas Antonius lingered in Egypt with Cleopatra - in Italy, a new revolt led by Fulvia and Lucius Antonius had arisen - Lepidus' soldiers having deserted to the Antonians, Lepidus was no longer in the position to hold the city and took refuge in the camp of young Caesar who took the upper hand and crushed the revolt without Lepidus having to intervene, this was known as the Perusian war - Lepidus was somehow disconsidered by young Caesar who decided to dismiss him, Lepidus was at the mercy of Caesar but he did not want to kill a pontifex maximus and he sent Lepidus in disgrace as a governor of the remote Utica in Africa 11/ Africa 37 BC - by sending Lepidus to Utica, young Caesar had removed from Italy a possible opponent >> p. 175 the household of Lepidus in Utica: - his wife Junia, his two sons Marcus and Quintus - Tertulla, mentioned as wife of the treacherous Cassius, but in fact Tertulla was the widow of Crassus - young Antonia, called also Antonia Minor, daughter of Octavia and Mark Antony who was supposed to be in Utica at that time and due to marry Marcus, son of Lepidus (but according history, this Antonia was raised by Livia, wife of August) - after five years, the triumvirate expired three months ago but was tacitly renewed without any votation >> p. 181 Achaea was transferred from August to Sextus Pompeius, although the province belonged to Antonius, but after having been looted by Antonius, Achaea was now a penniless province and thanks to Caesar, Sextus has now quarrelled with Antonius and Lepidus had again to take the decision which side he was going to support, his secretary the Greek Eunomus tried to convince Lepidus to take sides with Sextus who has now developed a war with Rome by blocking the supply lines from Egypt and Africa - young Caesar asked the help of Lepidus for sending troops when invading Sicily but Lepidus had no war ships to transport his legions and he again decided for the time being to remain neutral, however he was then forced to support young Caesar who has sent advisers to Lepidus for building his own African fleet - later on news arrived at Utica that Pompeius had won a naval battle at Messima, but young Caesar with Agrippa had not been really defeated, a storm having pushed back his fleet and a new action was planned for the next spring, so Lepidus at the invasion would be at the side of young Caesar bringing his legions under his personal command 12/ victory 36 BC - July 36 BC, Lepidus, aged now 54, his fleet was now sailing for Sicilia to the city of Lilybaeum >> p. 197 the banner of the belligerents: - Leo (lion) for Lepidus, capricorn for young Caesar and Neptun for Sextus Pompeius - wrench = pain caused by separation - the landing in Lilybaeum was a success, however Caesar's troops had come into trouble and could not disembark in the west, Lepidus had now to conquer Sicily alone - but the remaining 4 legions of Lepidus on the second voyage from Utica get mixed with Pompeius' fleet, only two legions succeeded in reaching Lilybaeum, the other two were forced to return to Utica - despite all this, it was an hour of triumph for Lepidus, he has still 14 legions to conquer Sicily on his own, he was now really an Imperator 13/ Messana 36 BC - and now Lepidus made his first tactical error, instead of rushing after Plinius' army which was retreating, Lepidus ordered a forced march to make the siege before Messina while Plinius' 8 legions were now ready for a new pitched battle against however the 14 legions of Lepidus n.b. Lucius Plinius Rufus was the legate of Sextus Pompeius (but is not much mentioned in history lexicons) - news from Messana did reach Lepidus, that a sea-battle was again lost for the Cesarians, however three legions of young Caesar were able to disembark on the north coast of Sicily, they were exhausted but they built a fortified camp and they could repel the assault of Plinius' troops , however they remained pinched in their fortified camp - both parties were on the waiting when Caesar's legate arrived to meet Lepidus, he explained Lepidus that although Sextus' fleet was not yet defeated, the Caeserians have more resources than Sextus - to trounce = to defeat - however Lepidus was now of the opinion, he could outmatch young Caesar, he made plans to send him to barbarous countries such as Gaul or Spain and letting Sextus Pompeius leave for the east - against all odds, the next sea-battle was an overhelming victory by Caesar/Agrippa while their land forces were still weak >> battle of Naulochus, september 36 BC nota bene Menas was a greek commanding Sextus' fleet (see information) - meanwhile Sextus Pompeius had deserted with 17 ships to the east abandoning Plinius' legions to their fate who wanted to make peace with Lepidus but a bit later, Lepidus came in clinch with young Caesar and after a little skirmish during which young Caesar was slightly injured, a cry spread through the legionaries " we have shed the blood of Caesar" and the whole African army deserted to young Caesar leaving Lepidus alone with his orderly Crastinus note (not mention in the novel): still young Caesar did not want to kill Lepidus who remained pontifex maximum but was sent to exile to Circeo, a little city in the province of Latina (central Italy), Lepidus died 13 AC aged 76 years >>> a rather well entertaining historical novel but the end is a bit short, unreal and disappointing >> see in that connection the book Lepidus the tarnished triumvir by Weigel enclosures - book covers - statue of Lepidus, Octavius and Antonius - social Rome: master of horse, emperor, magistrate and general - scene of Roman assembly - map of Rome about 100 AC - statue of Munatius Plancus, founder of Basilea - map of Roman dioceses about 300 AC information a) Optimates and Populares, (resp. aristocrats and populists) being two principal patrician political groups during the later Roman Republic from about 133 to 27 bc, the members of both groups belonged to the wealthier classes, the Optimates were the dominant group in the Senate, they blocked the wishes of the others, who were thus forced to seek tribunician support for their measures in the tribal assembly and hence were labeled Populares = demagogues by their opponents, the two groups differed, therefore, chiefly in their methods: the Optimates tried to uphold the oligarchy; the Populares sought popular support against the dominant oligarchy, either in the interests of the people themselves or in furtherance of their own personal ambitions, finally, it is well to remember that the Senate’s authority was based on custom and consent rather than upon law, it had no legal control over the people or magistrates: it gave, but could not enforce, advice, until 133 bc any challenge to its authority was little more than a pinprick, but thereafter more deadly blows were struck, first by such Populares as Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, then by Gaius Marius, and finally by the army commanders from the provinces b) Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (121–77 BC) was a Roman statesman and general after the death of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, he attempted to undermine the Sullan constitution and revive the populares faction, this brought him into conflict with the optimates whom Sulla had put back in power, in 77 BC, when he was recalled from his proconsulship of Gaul, he returned to Rome at the head of an army and an armed conflict erupted, Lepidus' forces were defeated in a battle near the Milvian Bridge and as a result his rebellion failed, he was the father of the triumvir Marcus Aemilius Lepidus c) Lucius Appuleius Saturninus (died late 100 BC) was a Roman populist and tribune, he is most notable for introducing a series of legislative reforms, alongside his associate Gaius Servilius Glaucia and with the consent of Gaius Marius, during the last years of the second century BC, senatorial opposition to these laws eventually led to an internal crisis, the declaration of the senatus consultum ultimum and the deaths of Saturninus, Glaucia, and their followers in 100 BC, he was the grandfather of the triumvir Marcus Aemilius Lepidus d) Legio XIII Gemina was a legion of the Imperial Roman army, it was one of Julius Caesar's key units in Gaul and in the civil war, and was the legion with which he crossed the Rubicon in January 49 BC, the legion appears to have still been in existence in the 5th century AD, its symbol was the lion e) the original Master of the Horse (latin Magister Equitum) in the Roman Republic was an office appointed and dismissed by the Roman Dictator, as it expired with the Dictator's own office, typically a term of six months in the early and mid-republic, the Magister Equitum served as the Dictator's main lieutenant, resp. second magistrate in Rome (e.g. after Caesar) f) Gaius Scribonius Curio (49 BC) was a friend to Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Clodius and Cicero, like his father he was a distinguished orator, Curio's character was very conspicuous and profligate, despite his faults, Cicero assisted him in every way and evidently wrote several letters to him; - Caesar gave Curio a military command and sent him with four legions and 1,000 Gallic cavalry to Sicily and Africa to take possession of both provinces and secure the grain supply, Curio drove Cato from Sicily and secured the island for Caesar, after receiving word that Caesar had defeated the Pompeians in Spain, he embarked with two of his legions and half the cavalry and sailed to Africa where he faced Attius Varus and King Juba I of Numidia (a supporter of Pompey), although he won the Battle of Utica (49 BC), he was eventually defeated by Juba at the second Battle of the Bagradas River and fought to his death, along with his army, rather than attempting to flee to his camp g) Publius Cornelius Dolabella (69-43 BC, was a Roman general and commander of the dictator Julius Caesar, he was by far the most important of the Cornelii Dolabellae, but he arranged for himself to be adopted by a plebeian Cornelii Lentuli, so that he could become a plebeian tribune, he married Cicero's daughter, Tullia, throughout his life he was an extreme profligate, something that Plutarch wrote reflected ill upon his patron Julius Caesar - on Caesar's death, Dolabella seized the insignia of the consulship (which had already been conditionally promised him), and, by making friends with Marcus Junius Brutus and the other assassins, was confirmed in his office, when, however, Mark Antony offered him the command of the expedition against the Parthians and the province of Syria, he changed sides at once, his journey to the province was marked by plundering, extortion and the murder of Gaius Trebonius, proconsul of Asia who refused to allow him to enter Smyrna, Dolabella was thereupon declared a public enemy and superseded by Cassius who attacked him in Laodicea, When Cassius's troops captured the place, Dolabella ordered one of his soldiers to kill him h) Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo were two Roman centurions mentioned in the personal writings of Julius Caesar, athough it is sometimes stated they were members of the XIII Legion but it is not certain, all that we learn is that the legion in which they served under Caesar was one commanded at the time by Quintus Cicero - Vorenus and Pullo appear in Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Book 5, Chapter 44, the episode describes the two as centurions, approaching the first ranks, who shared a bitter personal rivalry and takes place in 54 BC when the Nervii attacked the legion under Quintus Cicero in their winter quarters in Nervian territory - they are the heroes in the film series Rome k) Gaius Asinius Pollio (75 BC – 4 AC) was a Roman soldier, politician, orator, poet, playwright, literary critic and historian whose lost contemporary history provided much of the material used by the historians Appian and Plutarch, Pollio was most famously a patron of Virgil and a friend of Horace and had poems dedicated to him by both men - when Caesar was assassinated in 44, Pollio was leading his forces in Hispania against Sextus Pompeius and distinguishing himself early in the campaign, he had accepted the commission reluctantly because of a personal enmity with another of Caesar's allies, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was appointed the new governor of the province, but Pollio, while remaining loyal to Caesar's supporters, held out against him, announcing at Corduba that he would not hand over his province to anyone who did not have a commission from the Senate, a few months later his quaestor, Lucius Cornelius Balbus, absconded from Gades with the money intended to pay the soldiers and fled to Mauretania, Pollio was then so severely defeated by Pompeius that he had to escape the battlefield in disguise - in 31, Octavian asked him to take part in the battle of Actium against Antony, but Pollio, remembering the kindness that Antony had shown him, remained neutral - from the spoils of the war Pollio constructed the first public library at Rome, in the Atrium Libertatis, also erected by him which he adorned with statues of the most celebrated heroes, the library had Greek and Latin wings, and reportedly its establishment posthumously fulfilled one of Caesar's ambitions, there was also a magnificent art collection attached to this library, Pollio loved Hellenistic art at its most imaginative, even including the rather extravagant group known as the Farnese Bull, like the library, the art gallery was open to the public - after his military and political successes, Pollio appears to have retired into private life as a patron of literary figures and a writer, he was known as a severe literary critic, fond of an archaic style and purity m) Lucius Munatius Plancus (87 BC - 15 BC) was a Roman senator, consul in 42 BC, and censor in 22 BC with Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, he is one of the classic historical examples of men who have managed to survive very dangerous circumstances by constantly shifting their allegiances - his funerary inscription attests that he founded the cities of Augusta Raurica (Basilea) (44 BC) and Lugdunum (Lyon) (43 BC) - when Caesar was assassinated March 44 BC, Plancus was the Proconsul of Gallia Comata, in the political confusion that followed, Plancus revealed himself as a master of non-committance in his extensive correspondence with Cicero, while Antony besieged Decimus Brutus in Mutina, Plancus wrote to the senate in March 43 about his loyalty to the republic as well as of his need to disguise this during the consolidation of his position, thereafter he claimed that he would be unable to assist Brutus, as Marcus Aemilius Lepidus would block the movement of his troops: as he wrote to Cicero in May, “I should be ashamed to chop and change in my letters, were it not that these things depend on the fickleness of another person...Lepidus” after crossing the Alps into Gaul, apparently in support of Brutus, he repeatedly held back his troops from combat on the grounds that the time was not ripe and once Lepidus, Antony and Octavian formed the second triumvirate, he abandoned Brutus (and Cicero) to their fates by joining decisively with their opponent, Antony thereafter he held the consulship with Lepidus in 42 BC and became proconsul of Asia in about 40 BC n) Quintus Pedius (died 43 BC) was a Roman who lived during the late Republic, he was somehow the nephew of the dictator Julius Caesar, by one of his sisters - during the consulship, Pedius promulgated a law that became known as the Lex Pedia, punishing all of Caesar's murderers together with those who had called for his death, Pedius was left in charge of Rome while Octavian left for Northern Italy to join Mark Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was in Spain q) Menas, also known as Menodorus, served under Sextus Pompey during the 1st century BC Roman civil wars - he was a freedman of Pompey the Great and when Pompey's son, Sextus, set himself up as ruler of Sicily in the late 40s BC, Menas became one of his naval leaders, he captured Sardinia in 40 BC for Sextus, driving out Octavian's governor Marcus Lurius - the biographer Plutarch relates how during a banquet aboard Sextus Pompey's flagship at the time of the Pact of Misenum (39 BC) with the triumvirs Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus aboard, Menas suggested to Sextus Pompey: "shall I, said he, cut the cables and make you master not of Sicily only and Sardinia, but of the whole Roman empire?" (Plutarch, parallel lives, life of Antony) - however, Sextus told him that he should have done it without asking him because he now could not break his treaty oath made to the triumvirs - in 38 BC Menas surrendered Sardinia to Octavian and received equestrian rank as a reward, he fought for Octavian under Calvisius Sabinus in the naval battle off Cumae, - in 36 BC he returned to Sextus Pompey, but Sextus had him closely watched and Menas, unhappy with being treated with suspicion, again changed sides - he was killed in the Illyrian campaign of 35 BC - Menas appears as a character in Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra
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