True Stories from Roman History. Illustrated

Front matter

TRUE STORIES from ROMAN HISTORY. THE SAVING OF THE CAPITOL TRUE STORIES from ROMAN HISTORY. COMPILED by ALICE POLLARD, NEWNHAM COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. jfltartcattb. LONDON : GRIFFITH FARRAN AND CO., NEWBERY HOUSE, 39 CHARING CROSS ROAD. Richard Clay & Sons, Limited London & Bung ay. [T/tc Rights of Translation and of Reproduction are reserved. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE FOUNDING OF ROME EARLY LEGENDS ... I I II. ROME UNDER THE KINGS ... ... 12 III. GROWTH OF THE REPUBLIC ... ... 30 IV. THE PATRICIANS AND THE PLEBEIANS. CORIOLANUS ... ... ... ... 39 V. EARLY WARS. CINCINNATUS AND CAMILLUS 50 VI. THE DECEMVIRI. VIRGINIA ... ... 57 VII. COMING OF THE GAULS .. ... ... 65 VIII. ROME AFTER THE SACKING OF THE GAULS. MANLIUS CAPITOLINUS ... ... 77 IX. MORE GAULISH INVASIONS, AND FINAL REPULSE ... ... ... ... 84 X. WARS WITH THE SAMNITES AND LATINS 9 1 XI.

SECOND AND THIRD SAMNITE WARS ... IOO XII. PYRRHUS ... ... ... ... ... 107 XIII. FIRST PUNIC WAR. REGULUS ... ... 121 XIV. SECOND PUNIC WAR. HANNIBAL... ... 135 XV. SECOND PUNIC WAR. SCIPIO ... ... 1 53 XVI. FOREIGN CONQUESTS ... ... ... 172 XVII. THE GRACCHI ... ... ... ... CONTENTS. VI CHAP. PAGE XVIII. JUGURTHA... ... ... ... ... 201 XIX. MARIUS ... ... ... ... ... 213 XX. SULLA ... ... ... ... ... 230 XXI. THE RISE OF POMPEY ... ... ... 242 XXII. TROUBLES AT ROME ... ... ... 252 XXIII. CÆSAR IN GAUL ... ... ... ... 258 XXIV. CÆSAR AND POMPEY ... ... ... 271 XXV. THE DEATH OF CÆSAR ... ... ... 281 XXVI. BRUTUS AND CASSIUS ... ... ... 294 XXVII. THE END OF THE REPUBLIC ... ... LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE the saving OF THE capitol ... Frontispiece. COIN of alba longa ... ... ... ... 4 EARLY ROMAN COIN ... ... ... ... 5 ROMULUS ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 WALL OF SERVIUS TULLIUS ... ... ... 21 ETRUSCAN WARRIOR ... ... ... ...

Chapter I. Founding Of Rome

The account which a great nation in after times gives of its own origin is always interest ing, even though it may be merely legendary. Certainly the traditions of the early history of Rome are so picturesque that they well deserve to be recorded. All boys and girls who know even a little about the Greeks will remember the story of the Siege of Troy, and how, when the Greeks pretended to depart, the Trojans determined to bring the wooden horse inside the city walls. When all this happened, one of the B Trojans called Æneas, decided to leave the city and flee from the evil fortune which he believed would overtake it. As he fled, Troy was already in flames. His wife missed her way and perished, but he himself escaped, bearing his aged father on his shoulders and leading by its hand his little son.

Many Trojans followed him bringing with them the sacred images of their gods, who they hoped would guide them to a happier land. They thought that the god Hermes or Mercury was taking special care of them on their wanderings, and they related afterwards that he built them a ship in which they might sail to a new country. They said, too, that the goddess Venus guided them by a particu larly bright star which shone by day as well as by night, and at length stood still when they came to the shores of the western land. When the star stood still Æneas knew that he had reached the place where the gods desired him to dwell. The Trojans then brought their gods ashore, and prepared to offer as a sacrifice a great white sow. Just as the priest was ready, the sow broke from him and ran away. She ran for about two miles and a half from the spot where the land ing took place, and then lay down and gave birth to thirty young ones.

Æneas did not much like the spot which the sow had chosen ; but just as he was hesitating what to do, he heard a voice telling him to build his city on the place indicated by the sow, but that the thirty young ones meant thirty years, after which time his descendants should remove to a more fertile land and build a new city there. The place thus selected by the Trojans to settle in was situated in the midst of a country belonging to a people whose king was called Latinus ; and at first Latinus received the strangers kindly, giving them each a portion of land, and to Æneas the hand of his daughter Lavinia. After a while, however, the Trojans quarrelled with the people of the soil, and a war followed in which Latinus was killed. Æneas succeeded him in right of Lavinia ; the two peoples became friends, were all ruled over by Æneas, and were called by one name, Latins.

After the death of Æneas, the Latins were governed by his son Ascanius, who was victorious over a neighbouring people called the Etruscans. Ascanius met their chief in single fight and slew him. During the reign of Ascanius the thirty years spoken of came to an end, and he built a new city on the side of a high mountain, and removed there with COIN OF ALBA LONGA. all his people. This city was called Alba Longa, or the Long White city ; white be cause of the white sow, and long because in consequence of the steepness of the hill the city was built long and narrow. Ascanius was succeeded by his son Silvius, and from the descendants of the Silvii sprang Romulus, the founder of Rome itself. There was a king of Alba Longa called Procas, who had two sons, Numitor and Amulius. On the death of his father, Amulius the younger son seized the throne, and then caused Numitor's only son to be slain, and made his daughter Silvia become a " vestal virgin."

A "vestal virgin" was a maiden obliged to take an oath never to marry, but to act as a kind of priestess in the temple of the goddess Vesta, and there to keep burning a fire which was never allowed to go out. Rhea Silvia (this was her full name) did not wish to take this vow, but was compelled by her uncle to do so ; therefore, she did not keep it, and not long afterwards became the mother of twin boys. When Amulius heard of the birth of the children he ordered them to be thrown into the river ; but the river being flooded just then, overflowed its banks, and the basket contain ing the infants was carried by the waters and upset on the land,' and the children thrown out under a wild fig-tree. Here, EARLY ROMAN COIN. the story runs, they were found by a she-wolf, who carried them in her mouth to a cave close by, and there fed them with her own milk.

It is said also that whilst they lived in the cave a woodpecker brought them food daily. At last Faustulus, one of the king's shepherds, found them living thus in the wolfs cave, and brought them home to his wife. The shepherd and his wife called the boys Romulus and Remus, and brought them up as their own sons. When the twins grew up they were sent out to keep sheep on the hillside, and, falling into a quarrel with some other shepherds, Remus was taken prisoner, and carried before his own unknown grandfather Numitor. To him he told his story ; and Numitor, being struck with the young shepherd's noble and manly bear ing, began to wonder if he could possibly be one of the lost sons of Rhea Silvia. Having seen Romulus and Faustulus (who came to support Remus), and having heard the story afresh from them, Numitor was persuaded that the young men were indeed his grand sons, and with their help he managed to regain his kingdom, and the wicked Amulius was slain.

As the two brothers could not govern in Alba as long as their grandfather Numitor was alive, and as, at the same time, they did not care to live in Alba in idleness, they determined to build themselves a new city, and chose as a site the spot where they them selves had been found and nourished by the wolf. When they had thus decided on building the city, a dispute arose as to who should be king, and this they agreed to settle by an omen ; that is to say, they sat down in the open air to watch the flight of birds, by means of which they were accustomed to guide their actions. Remus soon saw six vultures, and the vulture was considered a bird of good omen ; but Romulus, although he did not see any as soon as his brother, shortly after wards saw twelve vultures which flew straight towards him.

Each brother then claimed the kingship ; Remus because he saw the birds first, and Romulus because he saw the greater number. More disputes followed, and in the end Remus was killed, either by Romulus himself or by one of his followers. Romulus then went on building his city alone, and called it Rome after his own name. But when Rome was built, it was found to be too large for the small colony of men whom Romulus had brought with him from Alba ; he there fore proclaimed that his city was open as a refuge for fugitives. In this manner Rome was soon peopled, partly by colonists from Alba, and partly by runaway slaves, debtors, and criminals. ROMULUS. The city being now chiefly inhabited by men, Romulus set about procuring wives for them. But the neighbouring nations would not give their daughters in marriage to men of such character, and Romulus had to obtain wives by stratagem.

He accordingly gave orders to prepare a great feast with sports and games, to draw a large multitude together, and the neighbours came to see the show, bringing their wives and their daughters with them. When they were all engaged looking at the games, the men of the city rushed out, and carried off the young women to be their wives. Then the neighbouring tribes made war upon Romulus in order to rescue their sisters and daughters, but Romulus beat them all except the Sabines. When the Sabines were approaching, Romulus built a fortress on a neighbouring hill to keep them away from the city. But Tarpeia, the daughter of the commander of the fortress, saw the Sabines drawing near, and envied them the bracelets of gold they wore on their left arms. She therefore promised to betray the fortress to them if they would give her the " bright things" they had on their arms.

This they promised to do, but when she opened the gate and let them enter, they fell upon her with their shields, which were also bright and worn on their left arms, and so crushed her to death. Having obtained possession of the fortress the Sabines were about to enter Rome itself, when a stream of water burst forth from the Temple of Janus, near the gate of the city, drove the enemy back, and thus saved the city. From that time forth it was ordered that the temple of Janus should always stand open in the time of war and be shut in time of peace. The Sabines, however, would not give way, and the fight was renewed in the valley outside the city ; but just as the Romans were be ginning to be beaten, the Sabine women, who were now becoming reconciled to their husbands, rushed down from the Palatine Hill, threw themselves between their fathers and their husbands, and begged them to make peace.

Not only was peace made, but the two nations became as one, and dwelt together under the same laws. Romulus reigned nearly forty years, and at last one day he called his people together in the field of Mars, where they were wont to meet for warlike exercises. Then suddenly there arose a dreadful storm of thunder and lightning, and the sky became darkened. The people fled in terror and confusion. When the storm was over and they returned to seek their king, Romulus had disappeared. That night as one of the Romans was coming from Alba to the city, Romulus appeared to him and told him that the people were not to weep for him any more because he had been taken up to heaven by his father Mars. From this time Romulus was worshipped as a god under the name of Guirinus. Such are the legends of the founding of the city of Rome, and of its first king.

What we really know is this. About the year 753 B.C., a colony of Latins built a city on the banks of the Tiber, about fifteen miles from its mouth, to guard the river against the Etruscans. The city at first contained only a few houses with a wall round them. But from time to time other houses were built on adjoining hills, until at last Rome consisted of houses built on seven different hills encircled by a wall five miles long. Hence she is often called "the city of the seven hills."

Chapter II. Rome Under The Kings

Romulus was succeeded by Numa Pompilius, a Sabine. When Romulus died it was found a little difficult to chose a new king, for the Romans and Sabines each wanted a ruler taken from amongst themselves, but at last it was agreed that a Sabine should be king, but that the Romans should choose him. Numa Pompilius reigned fortythree years, and during the whole of that time Rome had peace. He was a pious man, and always con sulted the gods before undertaking any busi ness : he would not even consent to be king before he had received their sanction. He believed himself to be under the special pro tection of a nymph called Egeria, and when men doubted whether Egeria really did help him with her counsel, he promised to show them a sign to prove it. Accordingly he gave a great supper, but provided only very simple food on common earthen dishes.

In the midst of the feast he announced that Egeria was come to visit him, and immediately the cups and dishes were turned into gold set with precious stones, and the simple foods and drinks became rich and luxurious delicacies! Numa greatly encouraged agriculture, and divided the land into portions, giving each man a piece for his own. He instructed the people to pay great honour to the gods, but would not allow any costly sacrifices, telling them to offer only fruit, cakes, and roasted corn. He also built a new temple to Faith, and taught his people to speak the truth, and to live and act honestly. The next king, Tullus Hostilius, was a great contrast to Numa ; for he was very brave and very warlike. He soon had an opportuniti es showing his valour. The people of Alba and the Romans quarrelled, and there was war between the two cities.

The Albans were led by their dictator, Mettius, and when he and Tullus with their two armies met, they agreed that instead of risking the lives of all the men, the quarrel should be settled by a few on each side. Now in the Roman army were three brothers called the Horatii, and in the Alban army three brothers called the Curiatii, and these six were chosen for the combat. The two armies were drawn up in battle array, and the rival brothers advanced into the midst between the two lines. The signal being given the six youths rush together, whilst the onlookers stand by in breathless silence of expectation. The fight is a fierce one, and mid the rattle of swords and shields many a hard blow reaches home. Two of the Romans fall, and the three Albans are sorely wounded. The Alban soldiers raise a shout of joy, but their triumph is short-lived.

The one un wounded Roman resorts to cunning that he may induce the Albans to attack him singly. Remembering the wounded condition of his opponents he takes to flight, and each Alban follows as he may. When the first of his pursuers is gaining on him, Horatius turns and attacks him with great fury. He falls, and the victor prepares to receive the second brother. Before his comrade can come to his aid he too is despatched, and Horatius is ready for his third and last encounter. The struggle is unequal, the Alban wounded and faint and discouraged by the death of his brothers falls an easy victim to the victorious Roman, and Horatius returns to the army to be received with shouts of joy and congratulation. After this both armies return to their homes. At the head of the Romans marched Horatius, carrying his spoils with him.

As he entered the gates his sister met him, and recognizing the military cloak of her lover among the spoils (for she had been betrothed to one of the Curiatii), she broke forth into loud wailing and lamentation. Horatius, excited with victory and the applause of the soldiers, was furious that his sister should thus reproach him. His sword was ready drawn, and in his rage he ran the maiden through the body, saying, " So perish every Roman woman who shall mourn an enemy." . For this dreadful deed he was dragged be fore the judges and condemned to death. But on hearing his sentence he appealed to the people, and they, remembering that he had conquered their enemies, ordered perpetual sacrifices to atone for the blood that had been shed, but let Horatius go free. Tullus next destroyed the city of Alba, and made its inhabitants live in Rome, so that they and the Romans might become one people.

The third king of Rome was Ancus Martius, the grandson of the good Numa. During the latter part of the last reign the Romans were unsuccessful in war, and a plague broke out at Rome, and then they remembered how Numa had ever sought advice and counsel from the gods. So Tullus tried also to obtain help from Jupiter, but he did not ask in the right way, and the god was angry and sent lightnings, and consumed him and all his house. The people then chose Ancus Martius as their king, because they hoped that he would be good and devout like his grandfather. There is very little to tell of his reign, which lasted twenty-three years, and was chiefly occupied in fortifying the city, and apportion ing the land round it. After the death of Ancus Martius the throne passed into the hands of a stranger, an Etruscan named Lucius Tarquinius Priscus.

The father of Tarquinius was a Greek, who had left Corinth and settled at Tarquinii in Etruria. Tarquinius finding that by reason of his birth he could never hope to rise to great eminence in his native city, left Etruria with his wife Tanaquil, and came to Rome, which, as itself a new-made city, would be more likely, he thought, to welcome a stranger. As he drove into the gates of Rome it is said that an eagle seized his cap from his head, flew with it up into the air, and then replaced it. Tanaquil, who was very skilful in inter preting omens, was delighted at this incident, and told her husband that it was a sure sign that he would rise to greatness. Tarquinius soon became known to the king, and being a clever as well as a rich man, made himself so useful to him that he was named in the king's will as guardian to his two sons.

But these sons never came to the throne, for when their father died, Tarquinius set himself to gain the favour of the people, and caused c himself to be elected king in their place. As a king he was famous both in war and peace. He conquered the Latins and the Sabines, and took from them great spoils. He drained the country between the Palatine, Aventine, and Capitoline Hills. He made the great Circus, or racefcourse for horse and chariot races ; he made the Forum, or market-place, and built a stone wall round the city. He also strength ened his army, especially in the number of the horse-soldiers, and with regard to this addition a curious story is told. Tarquinius wished to add a new troop of horse-soldiers to those he already possessed, and to call them after his own name ; but Attus Navius, a soothsayer or prophet, said that he must not do this without consulting the birds and seeking their approval.

The king was enraged at this, and calling Attus before him, said to him : " Come, thou prophet, tell me whether what I am thinking of can be done or not?" Attus replied that it certainly could. " Then," said the king, " I was wondering whether you could cut this whetstone in two with a knife." Attus took the knife and immediately performed the feat, and from that time Tarquinius undertook nothing either in peace or in war without consulting the gods. Now the sons of Ancus Martius had remained quite quiet all this time, because they hoped that when Tarquin was dead they might succeed to their father's throne. But Tarquin had brought up in his house a youth called Servius Tullius ; of whom some say that he was the son of a slave mother, others that his parents were Latins of high rank. The following story is told about him when he was a boy.

It is said that one day when he was fast asleep, flames of fire burst forth from his head ; one of the servants brought water to quench the fire ; but the queen forbade any thing to be done until Servius should wake of his own accord. She then told her husband that these flames of fire were an omen from the gods, and foretold that the boy should some day be their protector and help in adversity. From that time Servius was brought up as the king's son, and indeed actually became his son-in-law. When the sons of Ancus Martius saw with what favour the adopted son was regarded, and that he was likely to succeed to the kingdom, they determined to strike a blow for their own rights. They accordingly hired two shepherds* who pretended to have a quarrel, and made so much noise that they were brought before the king to settle the dispute.

The king ordered them to stop their brawling and to speak in turns. One therefore began to state his case, and whilst the king was attending to him the other shepherd raised an axe and struck the king upon the head ; then both rushed from the house. During the tumult which followed Tanaquil found means to empty the palace and shut the doors. She then dressed the king's wound herself, and sent for Servius Tullius. Next she made a speech to the people, telling them that the king had been stunned by the violence of the blow, but was now recovering, and meanwhile commanded them to obey Servius Tullius in his place. In this way the king's death, which had actually taken place, was concealed for several days from the people. When they found it out, they had already WALL OF SERVIUS TULLIUS. become so used to Servius that he easily caused himself to be elected king, and the sons of Ancus Martius, finding their last hope gone, fled the kingdom and died in exile.

Servius Tullius enlarged the boundary of the city, and portions of the wall he built still remain. He was greatly beloved by the common people, for he made just and good laws, but he was hated by the nobles. Now the king had no son, but only two daughters, and these he gave in marriage to the two sons of the late King Tarquinius. Curiously enough, one of Tarquin's sons, Aruns Tar quinius, was a good and gentle youth, and one of the daughters of Servius was also gentle and good : but Lucius Tarquinius was proud and cruel, and the other daughter was like him in nature. Unfortunately Aruns married the wicked sister, and Lucius the gentle one. Such ill-assorted marriages could not be happy ; the wicked Tullia murdered her good husband Aruns, whilst Lucius slew his wife secretly, and then the guilty pair became husband and wife.

Lucius then joined himself to the party of the young nobles, who hated Servius, and with them he plotted the king's death. One day Lucius appeared suddenly in the market-place with a band of armed men, and seated himself on the throne outside the doors of the senate house. He then ordered the chief citizens, or " fathers " as they were called, to be summoned "to attend King Tarquinius." When they were assembled he addressed them in a fierce and angry speech against Servius. In the midst of this harangue Servius himself arrived and called to Tarquin in a loud voice : " What means this, Tarquin ? Dare you summon the fathers whilst I am alive ? Dare you sit on my throne ? " To this Tarquin answered that he, the son of a king, was a much fitter occupant of his father's throne than the son of a slave.

At this a shout arose from the rival parties; men rushed into the senate from without, and a general struggle followed. Tarquinius seized Servius in his arms, and carrying him out of the senate threw him down the steps. Trembling and almost lifeless the old man was being con ducted to his home, when he was overtaken by some ruffians, sent after him by Tarquin, and slain in the street. Tarquin's wife Tullia had meanwhile driven to the Forum to see what turn events had taken, and had hailed her husband king, and by him been commanded to return home. On reaching the place where the body of her father lay, the driver of the chariot would have turned back, but this inhuman daughter told the man to drive on, and her chariot was splashed with her father's blood. The street in which this outrage was enacted was ever after called the Wicked Street.

Lucius Tarquinius, called Superbus, or the Proud, gained his throne by treachery and wickedness, and held it by tyrannical force. He had not the affection of his people to depend on, so he ruled them by fear. He put to death the principal senators, refused to fill up their places, and endeavoured to rule without the senate as much as possible. It was part of Ta'rquin's policy to gain the friendship and alliance of the Latins, and to this end he gave his daughter in marriage to one of their chief men, Octavius Mamilius. Wish ing still further to bring the Latins to his side, Tarquin called them together to a large meeting, and then by treachery put to death one of their leaders, Turnus, who was known to be unfriendly towards him. Having thus disposed of Turnus, and having frightened the Latins by this exercise of his power, Tarquin succeeded in forcing them to make a league which bound them to help him in all his undertakings.

Obtaining also help from the Hernicans, whose country lay to the south-east of Rome, Tarquinius made war upon the Volscians, a people inhabiting a large tract of land south of the Latins. From the Volscians he took great spoils, and with the money thus obtained he set about finishing the works in Rome, which his father had begun. He finished the great drains, and built a mighty temple on the Capitoline Hill and dedicated it to Jupiter, to Juno, and to Minerva. In this temple were deposited the three Sibylline books, the survivors of nine, which a prophetess or Sibyl had one day offered to Tarquin for a great price. On his refusal to buy them she had burnt three, and still asked the same sum as before. A second refusal caused three more books to be burnt without abating the price. Then the king yielded, and the books were found to contain prophecies as to the state of Rome which caused them ever after to be cherished with the utmost care.

Meanwhile the war with the Volscians was still going on, and Tarquinius had vainly en deavoured to storm the city of Gabii. At last he caused his youngest son Sextus to flee thither, and ask for protection from the cruelty of his father. The people received him kindly, and soon, by his winning manner, Sextus became as powerful at Gabii as his father at Rome. He then sent secretly to inquire of Tarquin what should be his next step. The king merely took the messenger into the gardens of the palace as if to consider the matter, and there walked about cutting off the heads of the tallest poppies with his stick. When Sextus heard how his father had behaved he at once guessed what was meant, and proceeded to make away with all the chief men in Gabii ; and the town, thus deprived of the counsel of her best citizens, fell an easy prey to Tarquin, and was soon delivered into his hands.

When Tarquin was at the very climax of his greatness an evil omen happened to him. In the courtyard of the palace was an altar, and from this altar there crawled out one day a snake which devoured all the offerings laid upon the altar. The king was so struck by the sign that he sent three young men to the oracle at Delphi to inquire concerning it. Two of the young men were his sons Titus and Aruns, and the third was Lucius Junius, their cousin. Now Lucius was in such fear of his wicked uncle that he pretended to be half witted, and men called him Brutus, or the Dullard. But he was not really stupid, only very cunning. When the three young men went to Delphi, Brutus carried with him a hollow staff filled inside with gold. This he offered to the oracle as a likeness of himself, of no outward importance yet with rich material inside.