Latin Timeline Project

Expulsion of the Tyrant

509 BCE

Summary: This describes why and how the Roman people plotted against Tarquinius Superbus, and why he fled. “Sed Romani nec Tarquinium nec filium Tarquinii Sextum amaverunt.Itaque populus contra tyrannos coniuravit.”

Early Roman Republic

Period: 509 BCE to 269 BCE

Battle of Lake Regillus

508 BCE

Rome defeats the Etruscans at Lake Regillus, supposedly with the help of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
“Prope Regillum Lacum Etrusci cum Romanis diu et acriter pugnabant.”

Mucius Scaevola

507 BCE

This story details the exploits of Mucius Scaevola that led him to become a public hero. “Ubi Etrusci castra prope Romam collocaverunt, C. Mucius cum multis amicis contra Porsenam coniuravit. “Castra Etruscorum,” clamat, “intrabo: tyrannum necabo.”

The Secession of the Plebs

494 BCE

This describes when an entire social class left Roman society, and the conditions that caused this drastic change. “Non iam,” clamabant, “pro patria pugnabimus nec agros colemus, nisi patricii promissa praestabunt.” Terrebant patricios”

Patricians and Plebeians

493 BCE

These are the differences between the two social classes of Rome, and their bitter rivalry. “Romanorum alii patricii, alii plebeii erant: patricii primi in oppido domicilium habuerant: plebeiorum multi propter mercaturam eo commeaverant”

Coriolanus

490 BCE

This explains how Coriolanus became a public figure for the Plebs, and then how his image was shattered during a famine. “Coriolanus, “Propter plebeios,” clamavit, “inopia in urbe est: itaque frumentum inter plebeios non dividemus, nisi iura patriciis reddiderint: si tribuni auctoritatem servabunt, frumentum non habebunt plebeii.” Coriolani minas magna cum ira plebeii audiverunt: frustra tamen tribuni accusaverunt. ”

Spurius Cassius

485 BCE

This details the reforms that Spurius Cassius attempted to implement in Rome, and the resulting backlash from the patricians. ““Patricii soli publicum agrum colemus: etiam plebeii victoriae emolumenta habebunt.” Ardebant ira animi patriciorum. “Contra populum Romanum,” clamabant, “Sp. Cassius coniurat: regnum appetit: si agrum publicum plebeiis concesserit et munere eiusmodi auctoritatem confirmaverit, rex inter Romanos reget.”

The Twelve Tables

449 BCE

This is why the Romans switched from tradition to written law, due to the abuses of power by the decemvirate. “Tum iterum ad Montem Sacrum pleeii discesserunt: statim decemviri imperium deposuerunt nec iterum creati sunt. Manebant tamen novae leges in duodecim tabulis scriptae.”

Cicinnatus

446 BCE

This is how the Roman hero Cincinnatus took up emergency powers and defeated a great enemy of the Romans. “Statim Cincinnatus dictator creatus est: senatores ad Cincinnatum nuntios miserunt. In parvo fundo, ubi agros arabat, senem invenerunt. Statim togam ab uxore sumpsit, nuntiorum verba audiebat. “Dictator, Cincinnate,” inquiebant, “creatus es: nisi statim ad urbem veneris et copias Romanas contra Aequos duxeris, nostri ab hostibus superabuntur, cives omnes necabuntur.”

Spurius Maelius

439 BCE

Spurius Maelius attempted to send in grain from Etruria to help the Plebeians, which angered the Patricians. “In urbe olim magna erat cibi inopia. Tum Sp. Maelius, eques plebeius propter divitias notus, frumentum in Etruria emebat et civibus pauperibus aut parvo vendebat aut gratis dabat. Propter liberalitatem magno in honore a plebeiis habebatur, patriciorum autem iram movebat. Itaque falsis criminibus accusatus est.”

A Heroic Family

396 BCE

This is the tale of the sacrifice of the Fabians during the siege of Veii.
“Frustra Fabii contra ingentes copias hostium pugnabant. Gens omnis Fabia, praeter unum puerum, in pugna cecidit: nam, ubi ex urbe excesserunt, unum puerum propter aetatem domi reliquerant.”

The Capture of Veii

395 BCE

This is a commander's plan on capturing a fortified city. “Etrusci olim terra marique magnam potentiam habuerant: tum a Graecis naves deletae, a Samnitibus agri vastati erant: postea simul a Gallis et a Romanis bello vexabantur. Urbs Veii diu a Romanis obsidebatur:”

The Capture of Rome

390 BCE

This is one of Rome’s sackings, and this one was done by a group of marauding Gauls.
“Omnium animi ingenti timore movebantur. Iuvenes statim Capitolium occupaverunt, reliqui, praeter senatores, in Etruriam discedebant. Galli urbem intrant, ad forum veniunt: mirum ibi spectaculum oculis ostenditur.”

The Return of Camillus

390 BCE

Camillus returns with a group of Etruscans to liberate Rome and boost his image.
“Interea tamen exercitus a M. Furio Camillo exsule in Etruria collectus erat: verba insolentia a rege vix dicta erant ubi Camillus cum novis copiis forum intravit. Statim Gallos acri impetu oppugnant omnesque mox trucidant.”

The Fate of M. Manlius

384 BCE

This is what happens to Manlius after the liberation of Rome, which ends up with him being persecuted by the Patricians. “Statim patricii Manlium, sicut antea Sp. Cassium et Sp. Maelium, accusaverunt. “Regnum,” clamabant, “appetit.” Itaque Cornelii Cossi iussu vinctus est et in carcerem ductus.”

Licinian Laws

367 BCE

These are the events presided over by the Dictator Camillus, which ends up with the creation of the Tribune office in the Cursus Honorum. “Tandem Camillus dictator rempublicam iterum servavit. “Frustra iam,” inquit, “tribunorum postulationibus resistimus: multa patricii concedemus; consulum alter e plebeiis semper creabitur.”

The Caudine Forks

321 BCE

This is the entrapment and release of a Roman Legion by Samnites.
“Romanum velut in carcere tenebant. Frustra aliam viam petebant nostri: tandem arma hostibus tradiderunt. Tum C. Pontius, Samnitium imperator, ad patrem, virum sapientissimum, nuntios misit consiliumque petivit. “Si patris consilio parebis,” respondit senex, “Romanos omnes aut incolumes liberabis aut occides.”

M. Valerius Corvus

300 BCE

This is the victory of Corvus, and the following events, including him being Consul.
“M. Valerius. “Nisi consuli,” inquit, “ingratum fuerit, solus contra hominem insolentem pugnabo.” Datur a consule venia: Valerius ad certamen armatus processit.”

Chivalry in War

276 BCE

The commander during the Pyrrhic wars, Fabricius, refuses to win by trickery. Thus, Pyrrhus rewards this by releasing his Roman prisoners with no strings attached.
“Ingratior erit nobis eiusmodi victoria quam misserima clades: virtute, non perfidia, hostes vincimus.”

A Pyrrhic Victory

275 BCE

Pyrrhus comes to aid enemies of the Romans with an army of well-trained Greeks.
“Pyrrhus, ubi tot mortuorum corpora vidit, “Si eiusmodi victoriam iterum reportavero,” clamavit, “solus ad Epirum navigabo.” Utilissima fuit Pyrrho Cineae legati sapientia, nam plura oppida per eloquentiam conciliavit Cineas quam rex bello superavit.”