Battle of Alexandria

30 July 30 BC : Battle of Alexandria

AoSHQ: Morning Report 07.30.26

Death of Cicero: 7 December 43 BC

 

Pavel Alexandrovich Svedomsky (1849–1904) : Fulvia With the Head of Cicero (date unknown)

Resigned to his fate: Cicero

EBL: Marcus Tullius Cicero: Catiline Oration and Cesare Maccari: Cicero Denounces Catiline

AoSHQ: Morning Report 12.07.21

Marcus Agrippa

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

marmoream se relinquere, quam latericiam accepisset Caesar Augustus (thanks in large part to Marcus Agrippa

Mr. Zuckerberg, I served with Caesar Augustus. I knew Caesar Augustus. Caesar Augustus was a friend of mine. Mr. Zuckerberg, you're no Caesar Augustus.  Marcus Agrippa (ok--maybe not Agrippa).  

I kid. It's ok Marc Zuckerberg has a haircuit inspired by Caesar Augustus. But Octavian's second in command, Marcus Agrippa was a facinating historical figure (who does not get enough attention). While I am not a fan of the death of the Roman Republic, Octavian's reign's success (in terms of military action, engineering, civil infrastructure improvements, and the arts) owe a lot to the achievements of Marcus Agrippa.  

Lorenzo Castro: Battle of Actium (1672)

Dispatches from the Camp of the Saints: On Optimates, Populares, and VDH and On Treachery and the Praetorian Guard

Death of Brutus: October 23, 43 B.C.

Battle of Philippi in Greece went well for Octavian and Marc Antony and not so well for Brutus.

AoSHQ: Morning Report 10.23.19

Caesar Augustus : Gaius Octavius Thurinus

"Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit"

Augustus died on 19 August 14 A.D. 

That line above is supposedly his last words, which I prefer. Publicly he said:"Behold, I found Rome of clay, and leave her to you of marble." A bit more pompous. He was seventy five at his death and may have died from poisoned figs (although his health was declining). 

While a good leader in many ways, the loss of the Roman Republic was sealed when he became Emperor. Giving absolute power to lesser men later on, such as Caligula and Nero, turned out to be a disaster for Rome. Rome did survive for almost four centuries after his death. Eventually it did fall. 

AoSHQ: Morning Report 08.19.19

Augustus Caesar

Augustus Caesar named Emperor on January 16, 27 BC

Gaius Octavius was the great uncle of Julius Caesar and was adopted by him. Octavius won the power struggle with Marc Anthony after Caesar's assassination.  

EBL: Julius Caesar Crosses The Rubicon, January 10, 49 BC 

Étienne-Jean Delécluze: The Emperor Augustus Rebuking Cornelius Cinna (1814)

Cleopatra had her asp handed to her on August 12, 30 B.C.

Cleopatra has her asp handed to her 2042 year ago.  

Julius Caesar revised the Roman calendar in 46 B.C.  But Octavian had to become emperor first before he became Augustus and he chose to name the month following July after himself and because that was the month he gained undisputed power.  That month was called Sextilis (the 6th month, because the year started then in March and it was the 6th month).