The illustrated history of Rome and the Roman empire

Preface

Encouraged by the success of my History of Greece, 1 now present to the pubUc, and particularly to those who are engaged in the task of education, that of Rome similarly executed. The inadequacy of Goldsmith's and other compilations to convey correct historical knowledge is now generally felt and acknowledged, and works of a higher order are required for education.

Most readers are aware that in consequence of the labors of Niebuhr (a man of whom I never can either think or speak but with admiration and respect) the history of the early centuries of Rome h.as assumed an entirely new character. These new views should be known, and I have therefore introduced them ; but as every one may not be disposed to acquiesce in them, I have, though convinced of their general soundness, kept them distinct from the common narrative, which I have given in all the fulness that my limits would allow ; and teachers will use their discretion with respect to the chapters which contain them. In the Second Part of this work I have followed this writer's narrative, as it would have been presumption in me to do otherwise. The study of Niebuhr's own work I however most strongly recommend to every one ; and I can answer with confidence for the correctness and fidelity of the translation of it by MM. Hare and Thirlwall.

It may startle some readers to find so much of the early Roman history treated as fabulous, and Rome's first two kings presented as the mere creations of imagination. Their surprise I can assure them arises entirely from ignorance of mythology as a science ; for were they well acquainted with its principles, it would probably be of another kind, and they would wonder how such palpable fictions ever came to pass for realities. I have labored, and I hope with success, to raise mythology from the contempt in which it has long lain iV PREFACE.

in this country, and I look forward to its enjoy.r^ h3 full share of consideration which it deserves.

As I find that my other works have already made their way into some highly respectable ladies' schools, and know- .ng to what ridicule, though unjustly, the wrong accentuation of classic names exposes people, I have followed the Greeks in circumflexing the penultimate syllables when long otherwise than by position or the union of consonants, The apex which I have employed is constantly used in marking the long vowels in Oriental words, and it is more agreeable to the eye than an accent, or the mark of long quantity. Thus Cethegus and Perpernn have both the accent on the penultimate syllable, while in Catulus, Hannibal, and others, it is on the antepenultimate.

I take this opportunity of informing the heads of schools, that if life and health are spared me I propose writing a volume of Roman Antiquities as a companion to the present work. I shall feel most grateful to those who will point out to me any defects or omissions they may discover in my works, and I now return my thanks to those who have done so in my Greece, and assure them that their suggestions will be attended to in the next edition. I would finally request that my History of Greece should be always read befoie that of I^me ; for as I regard these works as one whole, it is frequently referred to in the following pages.

T. K.

London, Dec. 15th, 1835.

In this Second edition a few corrections and improve ments have been made. I am happy to be able to add thai the First volume of my History of England, containing the history from the earnest tunes to me end of the House of Tudor, is in the press, and will be published before midsummer. The Second and concluding volume will follow It with all convenient speed.

London, April, 1837.

Chapter 1. I Age

nKsCRiPTioN of Italy. — Ancient Inhabitants of Ita!}'. — The Pelas^ans.

— The Oscans. — The Latins. — The Umbrians. — The Sabellians.

— The Etruscans. — The Ligurians. — The Italian Greeks. — Italian Reli^on. — Political Constituiion 1

Chapter I

Beginninfr of the Republic. — The Dictatorship. — Roman Law of Debt. Distress caused by the Law of Debt. — Secession to the Sacred Mount n CONTENTS.

PAGS.

— The Tribunate. — Latin Constitution. — Treaty with the Latins. — War with the Volscians. — Treaty wilji the Heniicaiis tl

CHAPTER n.

Tin- public Land. — ACTarian Law of Spurius Cassius. — The Consulate. — \'olscian Wars. — V eicniine War. — The Fibii at the Crcmera. — SicM of Rome. — Murder oflheTril)UMe Genucius. — Rogation of V'olcro PuDlilius. — Defeat of the Roman Army. — Death of Appius Claudius 60

CHAPTER in.

Volscian War. — Legend of Coriolanus. — The Tcrcntilian Law. — Seizure of the Capitol by ihe E.\ilcs. — Dictatorship of Ciiicinnatus. — The first Dcccmvirale. — The second Deccmvirate. — Siciiiius Dentatus. — Fate of Virginia. — Abolition of the Di;ccinvirate 81

CHAPTER IV.

Victories of Valcpus and Horatius. — Canuleian Law. — Censorship a. id military Tribunal!;. — Feud at Ardea. — Sp. Ma-lius. — .^^ouiaii and Volscian War. — Ca)>turc of Fidenie. — Volscian War. — iNlurder of Posluniius by his own Solilicrs. — Veientine War. — Capture of Veii. — Siege of Falerii. — E.\ilc of Camillus 9!)

CHAPTER V.

The Gauls. — Their Invasion of Italy. — Siege of Cliisium. — Baltic of the Alia. — Taking of Rome. — Rcbuildinir <f the (^ity. — Distress of the People. — JI. iManlius. — 'J'he Licinian Rogations. — Pestilence at I{ome — iM. Curlius. — Hcniican War. — Combat of Manlius and a Gaul. — Gallic and Tuscan Wars. — Combat of V'alerius and a Gaul. — Reduction of tlie Rate of Interest 113

CHAPTER VI.

First Samnitc War. — Mutin_v in llie Roman Army. — Peace with Ihe Samnitcs. — Latin War. — .Manlius put to Death by his Father. — Hatll" of Vesuvius, and Self-devotion of Decius. — Reduction of Latium. — Publilian Laws. — Second Sanuiiie War. — Se\ eiity of the Dictator Papiriiis.

— Surrender at the Caudine Forks. — Capture of Sora. — Tuscan War.

— Pnsstiire of the Ciminian Wood. — Samnite and Tuscan \\'ars. — Peace with the Samnites > 131

CHAPTER VII.

Third Samnite and Etruscan Wars. ^Rattle of Seniinum, and Self-devoiion of Decius. — Hatilc of A(]uilonia. — Reduction of the Saiuniies.

— Hortensian Law. — Wor>5hip of ./Ksculapius introduced.—- Lucanian ^^^^r. — Roman Embassv insulted at Tarciitum. — Gallic and Etruscan War .' 15!

CHAPTER VIIL

Arrival of P rrlius in ItaU'. — BatUe on the Siris. — Cineas at Rome. — Approac a( Pyrrhus to Rome. — Battle of -Asculum. — Pyrrhus •a Sici-

CONTENTS. Vil

PAGE. y. — Battle of Benevent m. — Departure of Pyrrnus. — Italian Allies. — Censorship of Ap. Claudius. — Change in the Constitution. — The Roman Legion. — Roman Literature. 16t

PART III. THE REPUBLIC — CONQUEST OF CARTHAGE ANf MACEDONIA

CHAPTER L

Carthag-e. — First Punic War. — Sic^e of A^rigentum. — Roman Fleet. — Naval Victory of Duilius. — Invasion of Afrir-a. — Defeat and Capture of

Reguhis. — Losses of the Romans at Sea. — Battle at Panormus Death

of Regulus. — Defeat of Claudius. 1 — Victory at the iEgatian Isles. — Peace with Cartilage. — Eflects of the War 174

CHAPTER II. Civil War at Carthage. — Illyrian War.— GaHic Wars ,.190

! I CHAPTER in.

I i

I J Conquests of the Carthasinians in Spain. — Taking of Saguntum. —

I I March of Hannibal for Italy. — Hannibal's Passage of the Alps. — Bat

i tie of the Ticinus. — Battle of the Trebia. — Battle of the Trasimene

I Lake. — Hannibal and Fabius Cunctalor. — Battlo of Camia?. — Prog

ress of Hainiibal 191

Chapter IV

Hannibal in Campania. — Defeat of Postnmius. — Affairs of Spain. — Treaty between Hannibal and King Piiilip. — Hannibal repulsed at Nola. — Success of Hanno in I'ruttium. — Affairs of Sardinia, — of Spain, — of Sicily. — Elections at Rome. — Defeat of Hanno. — Siege of Syracuse. — Affairs of Spain and Africa. — Taking of Tarentuni. — Successes of Hannibal 21 J

Chapter V

Taking )f Syracuse. — Defeat and Death of the Scipios. — Hannibal's March to Rome. — Surrender of Capua. — Sripio in Spain. — Taking of IVew Carthage. — Affairs in Italy. — Retaking of Tarentum.— Defeat of Hasdru'bal in Spain. — Death of Marcellus. — March of Hasdrubal. — His Defeat on the 3Ietaurus 22S

Vlll CONTENTS

FAGB

Successes of Scipio in Spain. — Mutiny in his Army. — Carths^nians expelled from Spain. — Scipio's Return to Rome. — His Preparations for invading- .Vfrica. — Invasion of Africa. — Horrible Destruction of a Punic Army. — Defeat of the Carthnginians. — Attack on the Roman Fleet. — Deatli of Sophonisba. — Return of Hannibal. — Interview of Heumibal and Scipio. — Battle of Zama. — End of the War 231

Chapter VII

Macedonian War. — Flig-ht of Hannibal from Carthage. — Antioclius in Greece. — liivaijoM of .A.sia and Defeat of Antiochus. — Death of Hannihal. — Ijnst Days of Scipio. — Characters of Hannibal and Scipio. — War with Perseus of Macedonia — Conquest of xMaccdonia. — Triumph of vEmilius Paulas 253

Chapter VIII

Affairs of Carlhnsrc. — Third Punic AVan — Description of Carthage. — 111 Succe-ss of thp Romans. — Scipio made Consul.— He saves Mancinus. — Restores Discipline in the Army. — .All.ick on Carthage. — Attempt to close the Harlior. — rnpturc and Destruction of Carthage.— Recluction of Macedonia and Greece to Provinces 2G4

Chapter IX

Affairs of Spain. — War with the Lusilanians. — Treaclicrv of Lucufius. — Viriathian War. — Murder of Virinihus. — INumaniine War. — Capture of Numanlia. — Servile War in Sicily. — Forciirii Relations of Rome. — Government of the Provinces. — The Publicans. — Roman Superstition. Roman Literature > 275

Part IV

THE REPUBLIC — CONQUEST OF THE EAST, AND DO^VNFALL OF THE CONSTITUTION.