ANCIENT HISTORY Knowledge Bank
CYRUS II
Conquest of the Medes (559 - 550 BC)
Conquest of Lydia (546-5 BC)
Conquest of Babylon (539 - 537 BC)
War with the Massagetae (Death) (533 - 530 BC)
Wars East of Persia (545 - 539 BC)
Pasargadae (c. 537 BC)
Childhood
(580 - 559 BC)
Ancestry
Father (Cambyses I)
Mother (Mandane)
Astyages
King of the Medes 585 - 550 BC
Tyrant Ruler
Built Ecbatana
Painted Walls
On the Khorasan Highway
Extracted Tribute and Taxes
After death of Father Cyaxares
Died in the battle of Halys
Eclipse
Cruel Reputation
Birth of Cyrus
Prophecy
Daughter Mandane will urinate and flood the whole earth
Mandane has a child
Marries Mandane off to Cambyses of Anshan
No threat
Harpagus orded to kill it
Grandmother (Tigranuhi)
Grandfather (Cyrus I)
Cant bring himself to do it
Orders a shepherd, Mitradates, to kill it.
MItradates has a stillborn
Matradates swaps the babies.
Grows up with his adopted parents
The Big Reveal !
Cyrus Gets into a fight with the son of a median Noble
Kills Him
Brought before Astyages
Astyages discoveres the truth
Astyages' Revenge
Sent to live with his real parents
Kills Harpagus' Son
Cooks Him
Feeds him to Harpagus
Then shows him his son's hands and feet.
Harpagus begins to plot his revenge
Cambyses I abdicates
Cyrus is declared King of Anshan and Persia
Harpagus secretly allies with cyrus
Astyages declares war on Cyrus
Because
Threatened by Cyrus
Harpagus put in charge of the Army
Gains the Support of multiple Median nobles
Battle of Ecbatana
The two armies meet outside the city walls
The two sides charge
The majority of the army switches sides
(Harpagus and Nobles)
Astyages Furious !
Medians Massacured
Has 20 Magi Executed
( They told him what to do with Cyrus)
Impaled on stakes in the city main square
Sends out the very young and very old to fight the Persians
Massacared
Astyages captured
Cyrus gains all median territory
Croesus king of Lydia
c. 560 - 546 BC
Capital Sardis
Ruled both Lydian and Greek cities
Most powerful of which was Miletus
Croesus had conquered Ionia in 555 BC
Forced to pay tribute
Except MIletus
Croesus felt Threatened by Cyrus' expansion
Believed Lydia was under threat
Pre - emptive strike
Crossed the river Halys 546 BC
Battle of Pteria
Inconclusive battle
Ionian greeks refused to swap sides to Cyrus
Winter
Ancient armies did not fight in the winter
Croesus retreated into Lydia And disbanded his army
Cyrus Invades
Croesus quickly regathers his army
Two sides meet at Thymbra
Harpagus uses Camels to scare the Lydian cavalry
Cyrus defeats a force twice his size
Cyrus besieges Sardis
Finds a way over the walls
Croesus is burnt on a stake
Croesus becomes Cyrus' advisor
Except it rains
Lydian Revolt and Ionian Campain
Tabalus is satrap of Lydia
Pactyes is vice - satrap
Pactyes leads a revolt,
Fails
Harpagus' revenge campain
Doria, Ionia and Aeolis defeates
cities of Phocaea and Teos abandoned
Chios surrenders out of fear
Conquered the Elamites
Conquered some nomadic Tribes
Not very much is known
First Battles
Battle of Opis
Captures Akkad and Northern Sumer
Siege of Sippar
Captured Central Sumer
Kish and Nippur Surrender to Cyrus
Captured northern Babylon
Siege of Babylon
Cyrus Came to Babylon
Met Narbonidus on the plain outside
Battle of Babylon
Narbonus' son Belshazzar, killed
Babylonians retreat into the city
Cyrus Diverts the River Euphrates
His soldiers march in through the gap created in the walls
Narbonidus Deferted
Captured
Babylonians unable to respond to the Invasion
Celebrating a religious festival
After the Battle
Babylon Annexed
Cyrus sets the jews free
Gives money so they can rebuild their temple
Cyrus considered 'Messiah'
Returns religious artifacts to where they belonged
Cyrus' New administrative capital
Parts
Gate
Pavilions
Gardens
Palaces
Tomb of Cyrus
Zendan
One of the most beautiful gardens in history
Persian word for garden, Paradaiza, became paradise
Imposing
Possibly used for coronation ceremonies
Raided By Alexander the Great
Strill an important place for iranians today
2 of them
- Throne Room
- Royal Residence
Attempt to make a new style of 'Persian' Architechture
First Battle of the Araxes
Cyrus decides to fight on his side of the river
Not following Croesus' Advice
Cyrus Wins through trickery
Captures Spargapises, son of the Queen Tomyris
Spargapises kills himself in Prison
Second Battle of the Araxes
Massagetae victory
Cyrus among the dead
Tomyris chops of cyrus' head and puts it in a bag full of blood and sends it to Persia
Cyrus' death according to xenophon
Dies peacefully in bed
CAMBYSES II AND BARDIYA
Conquest of Egypt (527 - 525 BC)
Failed Campains and Madness (525 - 523 BC)
Bardiya's Rebellion and Cambyses' Death (522 BC)
The Reign of Bardiya and the Conspiracy of 7 (522 BC)
Reasons for the Invasion
Pharaoh Ahmose II was a powerful ruler who was hostile to Cambyses
Cambyses demanded Ahmose's daughter as a concubine
Ahmose instead sent Nitetis, daughter of his predecessor, Apries, instead
The trickery was soon discovered - Cambyses outraged
Ahmose's ally, Polycrates of Samos launched numerous raids against the Ionian coast.
Ahmose Died, and his son, Psamtik III took the throne - a weak ruler
Polycrates swapped sides to Persia, bringing his strong navy with him
Phanes of Halicarnassus, a mercenary comander, also swapped sides
The Invasion
Before the Invasion - Preperation
Cambyses now had access to the two most powerful navies in the world, Samos and Tyre
Signed a treaty with Arabian tribes
Cambyses subdued the Phoenicians and Gaza, Using Gaza as a campain base.
Early Conflicts
Their navies clashed near Salamis, in cyprus,
Complete Persian Victory - Egyptian Navy lost many casualties
Battle of Pelusium
The Persian Army was outnumbered 80,000 to 50,000
Persian forces used Cats as shields,
Egyptians refused to harm their sacred animal
The Egyptians did not fire any arrows for fear of hitting the cats
The persians fired all of their arrows, killing around 35,000
The forces clashed.
The egyptians were demoralised and were slaughtered by the better trained persian foe
50,000 egyptian casualties, 7,000 Persian casulties
Later Conflicts
Battle of Sais
Persian navy slaughters the Egyptian navy
Every ship destroyed
Siege of Memphis
Possibly a five month siege
Psamtik III captured
Egypt Annexed
Cambyses Desecrates Ahmose II 's Body
Pulls out all Hair
Pierces the skin
Burns it.
Lybia, Barca and Cyrene surrender to Cambyses
Sacreligious to both persians and egyptians
Egyptians need the whole body to go to the afterlife
Persians believe that fire is a god
Failed Campaigns
Carthage
The Phoenicians refuse to fight for Cambyses
Without his navy he cant conquer Carthage
Cancelled
Ammonia
Nubia
Cabyses' army marches across the Desert
Caught in a sandstorm
Never seen again
Cambyses leads his army himself.
Expects a quick campaign
Defeated in the battle of Philae by the Kushite archers
Army surrounded and begins to starve
Have to eat horses, then each other
Finally manage to escape
Apis Bull
When cambyses returns from Nubia, the
Egyptians are celebrating a religious festival.
He believes that they are celebrating his defeat.
The priests explain to him that it is a celebraion of the Apis Bull, and they bring the bull to him
Cambyses stabs the bull in the thigh, which later dies of its wounds
He executes the priests for lying
Cambyses in Egyptian Sources (525 - 523 BC)
Executing Family Members / Advisors
DARIUS I
Artystone
Croesus
Darius and 'Arta' (522 BC)
This is what darius said happened?
Bardiya's murder
Cambyses sees him as a threat
Cambyses' sister - wife, Artystone, is a supporter of Bardiya
Cambyses Kicks her to death while she is pregnant.
Cambyses doesn't trust croesus
Orders his execution
Sends assassins to kill him
Assassins hide him
Cambyses changes his mind
Assassins executed for nit following orders
Burial of the Apis Bull
Cambyses is recorded as burying the
apis bull in his sixth year as Pharaoh
Contradcts Herodotus
Temple of Neith (Udjahorresne)
Egyptian official Udjahorresne Complains about Persian soldiers living in the temple of Neith
Cambyses removes them from the temple
Cambyses makes all the required offerings to the goddess
Just like a normal pharaoh!
Cambyses' brother, Bardiya, leads a rebellion in Persia
He sent a proclamation to the troops asking them to obey Bardiya not Cambyses.
Cambyses marched his army towards Persia to combat Bardiya
When he was in Ecbatana (Syria, not Media) He tried to get on his horse, his scabbard slipped and he stabbed himself in the thigh.
Cambyses was dying of Gangrene
He met with Prexaspes, who swore he had killed the real Bardiya
Cambyses is Dead
Bardiya's reign
He seemed to be a good king
Cut Taxes
Ended military service
Falcehood Controvercy
Because Prexaspes said he had killed the real Bardiya, many believed that the ruler was instead not the real son of Cyrus
Bardiya made Prexaspes retract his statement publicly
Instead, he said that he had killed the real Bardiya, and then killed himself.
Cambyses' closest supporters banded together to kill the king and get revenge for Camabyses
Otanes, Cyrus' brother in law
Intaphernes, Cambyses' bow carrier
Megabyzus, A noblemean
Aspathenes, an official
Hydarnes, a general
Gobryas, a general
Darius, Cambyses' lance carrier
They killed Bardiya in his bedroom
Darius was voted by the conspirators to be the next king
Drowns him in the Red Sea
Sends Prexaspes, an advisor to execute him
The 9 Liar Kings (522 - 520 BC)
Darius' Ideology and Building Projects (520 - 517 BC)
Early Conquests (Samos and Indus) (517 - 514 BC)
Thrace and Scythia (513 BC)
Ionian Revolt (499 - 494 BC)
1st and 2nd Invasions of Greece (492 - 490 BC)
Group of Naxians expelled from their Island
Come to Miletus
Aristagoras tyrant
Persuaded Artaphernes and Darius to lauch an invasion of the Cyclades
Told them that he could cover the cost of the invation
Wanted to rule Naxos
Invasion Launched
The Invasion
Persian commander fell out w/ Aristagoras
Told Naxos about the invasion
4 month seige
Faliure
Aristagoras couldn't pay his troops
Aristagoras was afraid he would be executed
Cambyses' brother, Bardiya is a governor in Bactria
The revolt of the Magi
Two Brothers, Patizithes and Gaumata, take power
Gaumata, who looks like Bardiya, becomes the king in opposition to Cambyses
Cambyses dies
Gaumata is a rubbish king
Burns temples
the Conspiracy of 7
Otanes, Cyrus' brother in law, thinks something is up.
His daughter, Phaidymie, Gaumata's wife, is asked to check the kings' ears
They arent there - Gaumata had had them cut off by Cyrus
Otanes gathers 6 other nobles to help him get rid of Gaumata
Bardiya
Sent Prexaspes, an advisor to drown his own brother
Bardiya escaped though
They kill him and Patizithes
The succession
the competition
The conspirators decided to have a contest to see who would be the next king
Whoevers horse neighed fist after sunrise wins
Darius wins
Darius becomes king
Claims to be chosen by Ahuramazda
He is trying to uphold arta and Bardiya was a liar - a grave sin
ASHINA, king of Elam
Ashina tried to make Elam independant
Defeated in battle at Awan
Ashina crucified
Babylon then declare independance
NEBUCHADNEZZAR III, king of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar declared Babylonian independance
Battle of Zazana, Babylon defeated
12 month siege of Babylor
While this was happening, Elam, Media, Armenia, and Egypt also revolted
Nebuchadnezzar crucified, babylon defeached
UMMANISH, king of Elam
Tried to make Elam independant
Battle of Dur Untash, Elam Defeated
Ummanish captured by pro - persian factions in Elam.
Susa Sacked
RUSA V, king of Armenia / Urartu
Rusa declared Urartu independant
Darius sent two generals, Dadarshi and Vaumisa to defeat him
Battle of Zuzza, Persian victory
Siege of Tigra, Persian Victory
Siege of Uyama, Persian victory
Battle of Izala, Persian Victory
Battle of Autiyara, Persian victory
Rusa captured and crucified
PHRAORTES III, king of Media
Phraortes wanted to overthrow Darius
Darius sent a general called Hydarnes to defeat him
Battle of Marush, Persian victory.
Darius joined Hydarnes' army
Battle of Kundarush, Persian Victory
Phraortes captured and crucified
Succeded by his son, TRITANTAECHMES, who revolted in sargatia
While this was happening, Margiana, Parsa and Babylon revolted
Battle of Erbil, Persian victory, Tritantaechmes executed
The Parthian armies, who had supported Praaortes and tritantaechmes, had to be defeated.
Darius' father, Hystaspes, led the Persian armies
Battle of Vishpauzatish, Persian victory
Battle of Patigrabana, Persian Victory
FRADA, king of Margiana
Frada wanted to make Margiana independant
Revolt spread to Bactria, (Siege of Bactra, Margian Victory)
Darius sent the general Dadarshi to defeat them
Battle of Nysa, Persian victory.
Frada Crucified
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VAHYASDATA, king of Parsa
Wanted to be king of Persia
Battle of Rakha, persian victory
Vahyazdata crucified
Parsian army attacked Arachosia
Battle of Kapisha - Kanish, persian victory
Battle of Gandutava, Persian victory,
Siege of Ashada, persian victory
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PETUBAST III, Pharaoh of Egypt
NEBUCHADNEZZAR IV, king of Babylon
Wanted to make Babylon independant
Battle of Eshnunna, Persian Victory
Battle of Neribtim, Persian victory
Nebuchadnezzar crucified
Wanted Egyptian Independance
Battle of Memphis, Egyptian victory
Battle of Sais, Egyptian Victory
Battle of Tanis, Egyptian Victory
Darius marches his army to Egypt
Battle of Tjaru, Persian Victory
Petubast slain of the battlefield
Corpse crucified
Ummanish Crucified
Ideology
Darius tries to show his links to Cyrus
Marries his daughters, Atossa
Shows his link through their common ancestor, Achaemenes
Religion
He is king because of Ahuramazda
Concepts of Arta and Drauga
Imperial reforms
20 provinces, or Satrapies, ruled by a satrap
Satraps monitered by the 'kings eyes and ears'
4 Royal cities, Persepolis, Parsagadae, Susa, and Ecbatans
Road system
Building projects
Rebuilding Susa
3 mounds
Persepolis
Royal
Acropolis
Apadana
Gate of Darius
Apadana
A huge complex, 250 acres
A new city
Darius' new capital city
Apadana staircase,
Showed depictions of 23 different peoples
Bringing tribute to Darius
Stereotypical depictions
No heirarchy
Bringing tribute willingly
Egyptian canal
Originaly built under Senusret iii, then rebuilt under Nekau II
Darius restored it, and helped bring traders in the mediterranean to arabia and then on to persia
517 - Recconissance mission into the Mediterranean
Persuaded by his wife Atossa
She was repaying a favour for Democedes, a greek doctor
Healed dher of an abscess
He wanted to use the expedition to try to return home to southern Italy
Atossa had two reasons
Show Darius' strength
So that his enemies may die in conflicts
Darius appointed Atraphernes, his half brother, satrap of Sardis and Lydia
Samos Conquered (517)
Lesbos and Chios Conquered (516)
Eastern Campaign (514)
Conquered Indus
Conquered Jaxartes
Conquered Chorasmia
Conquered Saka
Conquered Armenia
Darius Launched a full-scale invasion of Europe
Crossed the Bosporus on rafts
700,000 soldiers
Scythia
Siezed control over most of Thrace
Built a b ridge over the Ister (Danube) and left the Ionians to guard it
Campaign was a disaster
Scythians used diversian tactics and avoided open battle
The Persians got lost while trying to retreat
Scythians got to the bridge first and tried to persuade the Ionians to revolt and cut the bridge
Militides, the tyrant of the Cherosonese, wanted to rebel
Histaeus, tyrant of Miletus, wanted to remeain loyal to Darius
Militides was defeated
Darius returned
Left Megabyzus to finish the conquest of thrace
Thrace had many precious metals - very significant conquest
Sacked Seuthopolis
Much of the northern Aegean surrendered to the Persians
The Revolt
Aristagoras revolted
Athens and Eretrea sent 25 ships in total to help
Greeks managed to capture Sardis
City burnt to the ground, particularly the Temple of Cybebe
Defeated at Ephesus in 498 BC
Revolt Spread to Cyprus and to Phoenecia
Battle of Lade Island, 494 BC, Persian victory
Aristagoras killed in battle in Thrace
Ist Invasion - 492
Sent fleet to northern greece under Mardonius
They were trying to punish the Athenians and Eretrians for the Ionian revolt
And also to secure more territory in the Agean
Their fleet captured Thasos
Their Ground forces forced Macedon to Submit
Then it got shipwrecked off the coast of mount Arthos
Ambushed by Epirote forces
2nd Invasion 491-0
Darius sent heralds to Athens and Sparta
The Athenians placed them in prison
Spartan king Cleomenes I kicked the herald down a well
Darius' commanders were Datis, Artaphernes (the Younger) and Hippias
Captured the Cyclades (Notably Naxos and Delos)
Eretria besieged and temples burnt Down
Athens
Marathon
Flanking Manouver
Athenian Victory
Darius died in 486 BC
XERXES I, ARTABANUS AND ARTAXERXES I
Xerxes' Ascension and Revolts (486 - 484 BC)
Persian Military
The Third Invasion of Greece (481 - 479 BC)
Later Wars With Greece (478 - 465 BC)
Death And Succession (465 - 449 BC)
Egyptian Revolt
Babylonian Revolts
Egypt Revolted led by Psamtik IV
Causes
Recognised that Darius was Dying
Inspired by the battle of Marathon
Didn't like having to pay for Darius' fleet
Succession
Independance
Darius died of an illness 486
Xerxes becomes king, having proved himself to be more capable than his brothers.
Launches a campaign against Psamtik and soundly defeats him.
In 484, Xerxes brings in administrative changes to increase his control over sumeria and babylon
Two Babylonian revolts
One in Eshnunna - Bel Shimmani
One in Ur - Shamash Eriba
Both are quickly defeated - they did not spread
army
Navy
INFANTRY
ARCHERS
Elite Units
CAVALRY
Mainly Made up of Phoenecians and Samians
Brought from all corners of the empire
Light Infantry
Long Spear, Dagger, round wicker sheild, very little armour
IMMORTALS
SAKA INFANTRY
IMPERIAL GUARD
EGYPTIAN INFANTRY
MEDIAN INFANTRY (SPARABARA)
1,000 of the best of the best
Recruited from the Immortals and protected the king
Short Spear, Sword, heavily armoured, small 'Gerron' Sheild
10,000 of the best - recruited from all over the empire
Heavy Infantry
Longsword, Large 'Gerron' Sheild, Masked, Scale Mail
15,000 soldiers recruited from Saka
Very Heavy Infantry
Two Throwing Spears, Hatchet, Crescent Shaped Shield, Heavily Armed, Pointed Hat
light infantry best suited for fighting in the deserts
Khepesh Sword, Cows hide Shield, little armour
12,000 soldiers recruited from Egypt
20,000 elite units recruited from media
light infantry best suited for mountainous terrain
Very Large wicker Shield, long spear, no armour.
No armour
Composite bow
Used to break up enemy formations
Heavily armed horses - Cataphract
used to flank enemies
some of the most skilled riders in the ancient world
Triremes
Very Powerful
Preparations for the invasion
Thermopalaye and Artemesium
Salamis and Plataea
Motivations
March to greece
Finish what Darius Started
Take over the world.
Pressure to be better than his predecessors
Revenge for Marathon and the Ionian revolt
Economic benefits of adding Greece to his empire.
Preperations
Hellespont
Xerxes builds a canal through the Arthos Peninsula
Asks Greek states to submit to earth and water.
Thessalay did
Other greek states banded together into the Hellenic league, led by Athens and Sparta
Xerxes' army wintered in Sardis
Xerxes builds two bridges across the Hellespont
The bridges are destroyed in a storm.
Xerxes punishes the hellespont.
He has it whipped
Chains are thrown in
He has it branded
He executes everyone involved in the construction.
He builds a second set of bridges.
He marches to Thessaly
His navy follows him.
Thermopalaye
Greeks send an advance party to the pass of Thermopolaye
Led by spartan king Leonidas I and his 300 spartans
Xerxes sent a spy to check in the greeks
They see the Spartans coming their hair.
After four days of waiting, Xerxes sends in the Medes, then the immortals, but the greeks are successful.
The Next day, the Persians are equally unsucesssful.
Ephialtes, a greek traitor, went to Xerxes hoping for a reward.
Showed them a mountain pass.
Persians surrounded the Greeks, before fighting over Leonidas' body.
Spartans, Thebans and Thespians Retreat to a hilltop.
They are killed with arrows which blocked out the sun.
Artemesium
Naval battle of the coast of Euboea
271 Greek ships
1200 Persian ships.
Persians lose 200 ships in a storm.
Greeks lose 100 ships in the battle
Persians lose 300 ships in the battle
When Thermopolaye falls, greeks retreat to Salamis, where they meet up with other 200 ships.
only 700 Persian ships left.
Salamis
Plataea
Athens evacuated, Then Sacked.
380 Greek Ships, 200 from Athens
700 Persian ships.
Thermistocles wanted to fight at Salamis because of the narrow straight.
Xerxes wasn't sure wether to fight, so called his naval commanders to make a decision.
Artemisia is overruled.
Persians attacked
Thermistocles had some cool tactics
Persians lost 400 ships
Greeks lost 10
Persians now outnumbered
Xerxes returns to Asia minor
Mardonius is left in charge
Spartans and Athenians march on the Persian camp by Plataea.
Persians are slaughtered by the Greek forces, as most of there army was with Xerxes guarding the Helespont bridge.
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Mycale
Hellenic Armies sail to Mycale in Ionia
Xerxes' Armies advance to meet them.
Spartans and Megarans outflank Xerxes, much of his army is defeated.
Much of Ionia is liberated.
Greek Counterattack (478)
Sestos
Athenian forces went from Mycale to the Chrosonese to burn the bridges over the hellespont, but the persians had already done it
They instead went to Sestos, which was the strongest city in the region, and besieged it
Cheroeonense liberated
Cyprus
The forces traveled to Cyprus
They plundered a quarter of the Persian treasury
Cyprus was not occupied
Byzantium
The Fleet went to Byzantium to take control over the trade routes
City besieged
Most of the Propontis was liberated
A Spartan force then arrived to take leadership of the campaign.
Athens refused, so Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnese left the Alliance
The remaining alliance became the Delian League
Wars of the Delian League
Thrace
Eion and Pella (477-476)
Skyros and Thasos (475)
Cherosonensos (465)
Cimon attacks Persian Thrace
Besieges the city of Eion
Persian soldiers slaughterd
Eurymedon (465)
Thrace Liberated
Cimon then attacks Pella in Macedon
Macedon and Thessaly Freed
Cimon lands on Skyros and defeats a huge persian army
Then he besieges Thasos, taking control of the silver mines
Persians leave the Aegean
Xerxes bridges the hellespont again and captures the cheresonense
Xerxes assembles a large fleet in the Eurymedon estuary
The Delian league defeat his army and burn his bridges
Persian never campaigns in the Aegean again
Cimon assembles his fleet and destroys it in a naval battle
Persian land troops are also defeated
Xerxes is assassinated by Artabanus (465)
Artabanus is assassinated by Artaxerxes (464)
Egyptian Campaign (462 - 455)
Pharaoh Inaros II leads a revolt in egypt
Second Cyprus Campaign (450 - 499)
He asked the Delian league to help
Athenian ships arrived in 460, and defeated Artaxerxes at the battle of Pampremis
They then spent four years beseging Memphis, which failed
Inaros fell back to the island of Prosoptis, this was besieged and fell after 18 months.
a small squad of 200 Delian league troops escaped and marched to Cyrene
Athenian ships traveled to Egypt to try to lift the siege, but were defeated at the battle of Mendeslum.
Cimon then tried to campaign in Cyprus
They tried to capture Kiton, but Cimon died and they retreated to Salamis
The battle of Salamis in Cyprus was a huge success for the greeks, and Artaxerxes made peace with the Delian league
The Greco Persian wars were over
TYRANNY AND ATHENS
Athens Under the Archons (1068 - 594)
Solon's Reforms (594)
Peisistratus' Rise to Power (572 - 543)
Athens Under Peisistratus (543 - 527)
Athens Under Hippias (527 - 510)
The Removal of the Tyrants (510)
The formation of the Archonship
753 - Archonship reduced from a life tenure to a ten year one - a board of 9 is introduced
1068 - Codrus, Last King of Athens, dies, and is replaced by his son Medon, who took the title of Archon, not king.
683 - Archonship Reduced to one year
632 - Cylon's Coup
Cylon,
Winner of the Olympic games
Arisocrat
Tried to sieze power with troops from Megara
Very little support
Megarans left
Cylon took sanctuary in the temple of Athena, but Megacles, an Alcmaeonid archon, ordered his execution
Alcmaeonids exiled
Society
Classes
Eupadtridae
Hektemeroi
Upper class/landlords
Farmers
Had to give 1/6 of all produce to their Eupatrid landlords
If they couldn't, the Eupatridae could legaly enslave them
Only class who could hold public office.
Elected Archon in 594 BC
Legal, economic, and social
Abolished the Debt bondage system
Abolished the 1/6 payment
Class System
Based on the fact that contribution to society became the basis for Holding Public Office
Freed the Slaves enslaved due to Debt bondage
4 Classes
Pentakosiomedimnoi
Hippeis
Zeugites
Thetes
500+ measures of Agricultural produce (or monitary equivalent)
Could be Archons/ In Areopagus
4 houses of Government
Generals/ high command in the Military
300 Measures
Could hold any public office other than Archon
Cavalry
200 Measures
Less Than 200 Measures
Could hold high office in the Ekklesia and lower
Hoplites/foot soldiers
Only a member of the Ekklesia
Rowers
Council of the Areopagus
Archons
Boule
Ekklesia
Controled the City
Ex Archons, High Court
Approved Laws
All male citizens who had completed military service could attend, and it requested amendments but had very little power
Peisistratus was a powerful general who had achieved fame after winning a war against Megara, gaining control lover Salamis
Second Attempt At Tyranny (561-554)
Third Attempt At Tyranny (543 - 527)
First Attempt At Tyranny (572-566)
Peisistratus Asked for A bodyguard from the Boule because he thought he was in danger
Peisistratus broke into the Boule with his soldiers, which then unanimously voted him in as tyrant.
Solon tried to rally the people against him, ut because he was an old and unpopular man, he recieved little help.
The Archons were bribed to agree with the Boule, and Peisistratus became tyrant.
After ruling Athens for a while, he was then driven out by Megacles, an Alcmaeonid, and Lycurgus, a wealthy landowner, who took control of the city.
Allowed the Alcmaeonids Back from Exile
Megacles, having lost his political power to Lycurgus, allied with Peisistratus
Peisistratus agreed to marry Megacles' daughter
Megacles pretended that Athena was restoring Peisistratus, bribing someone to pretend to be the goddess and announce that Peisistratus was the rightful tyrant of Athens
Peisistratus becomes tyrant
Megacles then kicks Peisistrarus out of he city because he refused to have sex with his daughter.
Peisistratus raised an army and marched on Athens
He won a battle outside the city.
He then took control of the city and asked the citizens to hear him deliver a speech on the acropolis.
While he caused a distraction, his soldiers rounded up all the weopans and armour .
Social Reform
Rekigious/Cultural reform
Economic Reform
Foreign Policy
Legal Reform
Political Structure
Travelling Judges
Encouraged the planting of olive trees (Cash Crop)
1/10th Tax on agricultural produce
Large Scale Building Projects - employment
Farmer's loans to increase productivity
Introduction of a new coinage system
Various noble Families exiled. Including the Alcmaeonids
Introduced two new festivals, the Panathenaia and the Dyonisia
Introduced a Policy of Peace
Trade links with Naxos, Thessalay and Troezen
Boule
C of Areopagus
Ekklesia
Archons
Hippeis could be Archons
Peisistratus made his family and associates the only archos
Limited Power
Through Archon control controled membership
Incresed power, because it was his main support base
Limited Power
The Assassination of Hipparchus
Hippias' Tyranny
Harmodios and Aristogeiton were lovers
Hipparchus also loved Harmodius
Aristogeiton was worried that Hipparchus might try to take Harmodios by force, so came up with a plan to get rid of him
Hipparchus humiliated Harmodios' sister in public
Harmodios decided to get revenge
Aristogieton believed that someone had revieled their plot,
They stabbed Hipparchus to death
Harmodios was killed on the spot, and Aristogeiton was arrested the next day.
Hipparchus had all the other conspirators murdered
Hippias became more tyrannical as a ruler in response to his brothers death.
Spartans sent Anchimolius to defeat Athens,
Anchimolius landed at Phalerum but was defeated by Athens and their Thessalian allies
Spartan visitors to the oracle gained the Prophecy to free Athens from tyranny
Cleomenes, king of Sparta launched a second invasion and defeated the Thessalians in battle
They instead fortify Lipsydrium and donate money to Delphi in exchange for influence in the Oracle
Sparta lay siege to the Acropolis and captured Hippias' children
The Alcmaeonids try to overthrow Hippias but fail
Hippias surrendered and left Athens
TYRANNY AND SAMOS
Polycrates' Accesion (546 - 534)
Policy towards Egypt and Persia (534 - 525)
Opposition to the Tyranny (525 - 523)
Building Projects (523)
Failed Succession of Maeandrius and the ascension of Syloson (522 - 517)
Assassination (522)
Rise to Power
Early Actions as Tyrant
Reasons for accension
Polycrates attenpted to become tyrant in 546 with the support of Naxos
His lack of popular support made this impossible, and he was exiled.
His brother, Syloson, managed to seize power in 538, and allowed Polycrates back to Samos
Syloson became unpopular, and Polycrates overthrew him with just 15 men.
Polycrates executed a large number of his brothers supporters.
He Made an Alliance with Ahmose II, Pharaoh of Egypt
He built a huge navy
Conquered Lesbos, Rhanaea and forced Miletus to pay tribute, even though it was a part of the Achaemenid empire
Acted essentially as a Mediterranean pirate, using his navy to raid foreign ships.
Lygdamis, tyrant of Naxos and ally of the Peisistratids, wanted to increase the number of his allies in the Aegean. This is why he provided military aid in 546 and send money to help build his navy.
Overthrow his brother. (rivalry)
Wanted Wealth and power
Cambyses II, emperor of Persia, invaded Egypt in 525
Polycrates refused his ally, Psamtik III 's (Ahmose's son) call for help
He didn't want to fight Persia and he wanted to be on the winning side.
Cambyses, who also sought an alliance with Samos, possibly
forced Polycrates to abandon his alliance with Egypt
The Alliance with Persia
Cambyses asked Polycrates for naval support against Egypt
Polycrates sent 40 triremes with the men who he thought were most likely to plan a revolt to Egypt, hoping that they would die in the war
Half way there, they mutinied, and Sailed back to Samos to try to oust Polycrates.
They won a naval battle against a combined Persian and Samian fleet. but, when landing on Samos, they were defeated in a land battle and were all executed.
The few who escaped went to Sparta for Military aid
Sparta
The Samians gave a long speech to the spartan king (Ariston) about why Spartan intervention was necessary.
Cleomenes said that he had forgotten the start of the speech and diddnt understand the end.
But he was looking for an excuse to invade Samos anyway, because they had been attacking and pirating Spartan ships
Sparta Agreed to help
Corinth
The Samians then went to Corinth to get their support
The Corinthians agreed because they wanted Revenge on Samos from an injustice don during the time of Periander (627 - 525)
They also saw Samos as a huge threat to their power in the Aegean
The siege of Samos
The Spartan and Corinthian Armies BEsieged samos for forty days, but to no avail
Two spartan men men, Archias and Lycopas, managed to breach one of the walls, but their army was couterattacked and Archias and Lycopas were killed, but also killed many samians in their advance.
Polycrates defeated both armies the next day and the Spartans and Corinthians Sailed home. The Samian traitors settled on Crete.
Aqueduct
Artificial harbor, Breakwater
Temple of Hera
Reasons for the Assassination
The Assassination
Oroetes trying to prove himelf
Oroetes angry at Polycrates
Polycrates a threat to Persian expansion
Polycrates pirating Persian cities.
Polycrates sends Maeandrius to confirm the existance of the gold
Polycrates goes to visit Oroetes
Oroetes asks Polycrates to help him exchange for gold
Maeandrius is placed in charge of the island
Polycrates murdered and his body was crucified
Maeandrius
Syloson
Maeandrius decides to decree isonomia
He then changes his mind and imprisons a lot of citizens
The Persians decide to intervene and place Syloson as their vassal
Maeandrius decides to sign a treaty with Otanes, who is incharge of the Persian expedition
His brother Charilus persuades him to flee
Charilus launches an attack on the undefended Persians
A large number of high ranking Persians are killed
Otanes counterattacks and all the Samians are killed
Syloson become tyrant again
In 517, Samos was fully annexed into the Persian empire
Grandfather (Astyages)
Split the Island
Pantagnotus executed
Sylososon exiled to egypt
THE EMERGENCE OF DEMOCRACY
Cleisthenes' Rise to Power (510 - 506)
In 506, the Athenians had Promised the Persians Earth and Water in exchange for assisstance against Sparta. They did not need the help anyway and did not understand the Significance of Earth and Water
The End of the Tyranny caused a power vacuum
Cleisthenes, and Alcmaeoid
Isagoras, an Aristocrat
The Battle for control
Cleisthenes did not have as much support as he had hoped
Isagoras had the backing of the Aristocracy
Cleomenes appealed to the people
Isagoras went to Sparta for Assistance
Spartan Invasion
Cleomenes arrived with a large army.
Cleisthenes exiled, along with the entire Alcmaeonid faction and other noble families.
Isagoras tried to get rid of the Boule - gave power to 300 of his rich friends
Tried to return Athens to an Oligarchy
The People Got really Angry
Cleomenes and Isagoras Besieged in the Acropolis
Allowed to leave, but Isagoras' supporters imprisoned
Sparta Wars
The Diarchy Strikes Back
Cleisthenes returns to Athens, a hero
Cleomenes Gathered an Army and Marched on Athens
Allies with Corinth, Thebes and Chalcedon
Corinthians Desert
The other Spartan King Deserts
Cleomenes just goes home
The Athnean Army Defeats the Thebans and the Chalcedonians
Cleisthenes is now firmly in charge
The reforms of Cleisthenes (506 - 501)
The Spartan Attempt to restore the tyranny (501 - 500)
The Tyranny of Cypselus (747 - 627)
The Tyranny of Periander (627 - 582)
Re organisation of Tribes and Demes
Before
Athens divided into 4 tribes
Phratries ' brotherhoods' dominated local politics
Tribes associated with social class
After
Tribes
Each region divided into 10 tryttes
10 new tribes , named after Athenian heroes
Made up of A tryttis from each region
Phratries lost all political power
Devided attica into 3 regions
Demes
Attica divided into 139 demes
Became the basis for citizens
Citizens had more loyalty to the deme than class
Surname based on deme
Deme Politics
Everyone in a deme had an opportunity to vote in local elections
Deme leader - year term
Officials - treasurer etc.
A council
An assembally
Political reforms
Boule
From 400 to 500 members
50 from each tribe
Yearly
Ekklesia
Everyone in the assembly had the equal opportunity to speak in the assembly - isegoria
Athens pledged earth and water to Persia in exchange for assistance against Sparta
Revolutionary principle - every citizen has equal rights
Spartan Response to the Athenian tyrranny
The Spartans began to regret their decision to overthrow Hippias
The Peisistratids had been their Partial allies
They hadn't released that the Alcmeonids had bribed the Pythia
The council
decided to attempt to restore Hippias
The Spartans called a council of their allies
Sparta proposed an attempt to restore the Athenian tyrrany
The Corinthians, led by their delegate Socles, refused to support Sparta
Socles argues that
Sparta was highly opposed to tyranny as a form of government
The tyranny was bad for Athens
Sparta was only trying to restore Hippias to make Athens weak and not a threat to spartan dominance
Without Corinthian support, the plan does not go ahead
Hippias seeks asylum in Persia
The Bacchidae rule
In 747 - members of the ruling dynasty of Corinth, the Bacchidae, overthrow the king, Telestes, in an Aristocrtic revolution, forming an Oligarchy
They hear a prophecy saying that a child of a woman called Labda will overthrow them
Labda had a child with a man called Eetion
They send people to kill the baby
The baby is hidden in a chest
The baby, Cypselus, grows up to overthrow the tyrrany
Cypselus' tyrrany
Became tyrant in 657 - overthrew the Bacchidae with Military force
Executed and exiled many of his enemies,
Seen as a strong, fair, but sometimes brutal leader
Periander's Succession
Family
Overall tyrranny
Death and Succession
Periander Succeded his father, in 627
Periander was married to Mellisa, daughter of the king of Epidauros, Procles
Murdered her by pushing her down some stairs
Then had sex with her corpse
Periander had not buried her with the proper rights - not enough clothes, etc.
Gathered up all of Corinth's women.
Took all their clothes and jewlerry and burned them for his wife
Lycophron , periander's son, was told about his mother's murder while staying with his Grandfather in Epidauros
Devastated, fled to Corcyra
Positives
Negatives
Encouraged the Arts
Periander blamed Procles for his son's esape and annexed epidauros
Turned Corinth into a major trading power in Greece
Increased Navy
Very wise man - one of the Seven Sages
Brutal executioner
Arbitrary and violent
About to die, Periander asked Lycophron to return to Corinth and succed him as tyrant
Corcyran government had him executed before he could
Periander furious - invaded corcyra
Annexed it
Sent 300 sons of leading Corcyran noblemen to be castrated in Sardis
Samos stopped this from happening
Periander died in 585
Succeded by his nephew Psametichus
Overthrown in 582 - corinth returned to an oligarchy
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
Democracy Prior to the Ionian Revolt (500-499)
Athens' role in the Ionian Revolt (499-494)
Notable Political Figures
The Battle of Marathon (Consequenses)(490)
Ostracism and it's Consequences (487-483)
The Athenian Navy under Thermistocles (483-480)
The New Archonship
Athens had previously promised Earth and Water to Persia - Would eventually lead to consequences in the future.
The Strategoi
Soon after this, Athens began electing a board of 10 generals
1 from each tribe
However, the polemarch was still in charge of all military matters.
It the generals disagreed, the polemarch would have the casting lot.
One of the only offices in which people were elected as opposed to chosen by lot (Athens was a Demarchy)
Athenian decision to get Involved
Athens Withdrawing from the revolt
Democracy in Ionia
Reasons why Athens wanted to help
Many Ionians were originally Athenian Colonies
Persuasive power of Aristagoras
Hippias had fled to Persia - Athens wanted to remove the Persian threat.
The Boule voted to sent 20 ships - Eretria also sent 5
Faliure of the Battle of Ephesus
The situation was no longer profitable to Athens or Eretria
Decided to pull out.
The revolt was eventually crushed by the Persian government.
Darius replaced the various tyrranies of Ionia with tributary democracies
A tactical maneuver in order to stop Ionia from revolting again.
Athens knew Persia was likely to respond to it's involvement in the revolt.
Thermistocles c. 524 - 459
Aristides c.520s -467
Miltiades c.555 - 489
Member of the aristocratic Philaidai family who became ruling tyrants on the Chersonese .
Miltiades returned to Athens as the Persians advanced in 494.
Tried for tyranny on return to Athens - but was acquitted.
Son of Cimon (Olympic victor who was murdered by Hipparchus)(Don't confuse with Cylon)
Then elected strategos - played large part in Athenian victory at Marathon.
He was elected chief archon in 493 and decided to build up the Athenian navy.
He also started the construction of a new harbour at the Piraeus.
Seen as the people’s champion, His greatest rival was Aristides.
Themistocles was not from an aristocratic background, which made him different from other politicians at the time.
Themistocles was ostracised in the 472 or 471 and he eventually fled to Persia, where he was very popular with the king Artaxerxes, and he was made governor of Magnesia (on the coast of modern Turkey).
He was known for being very just towards people, especially in court cases.
He had a notorious rivalry with Themistocles, which may have started when they were both boys.
Aristides was ostracised in the year that Themistocles persuaded the Athenians to build their new fleet. It is possible that this was due to their rivalry- if Aristides threatened the chance for Themistocles to carry out his aim, perhaps Themistocles urged people to ostracise Aristides?
Later he had an unsuccessful mission against islands (inc Paros) who had supported the Persians
tried for treason on returning to Athens (accused of stopping siege of islands due to bribery by the Persians) but died of gangrene from wounds gained at the siege.
He died of Natural causes
Aristides may or may not have come from a wealthy background (the sources are not clear).
He was recalled from exile after 6 years of exile because of Xerxes’ invasion.
He died of natural causes possibly on a journey to the black sea
Miltiades
Ostracism
The Alcmaeonids
They were exiled
Accused of trying to signal to the Persians
Sent against the islands
Abandoned his plan and left Paros
Returned to athens in discrace
Died of gangrene
The process began
Problems with Ostracism
Themistocles and Aristides after Marathon
Important Ostracisms
What was Ostracism ?
A way to remove a potentially troublesome polititian
What did it mean
Exile for 10 years
no loss of property
family could stay in the city, could still make money from property in the city, and would keep all his rights when he returned
487 - Hipparchus Charmus Collytus
Peisistratid links
3 more removed people with links to Persia (and Hippias)
481 - procedure stopped in order for Athens to focus on Persia
483 - Aristides Lysimachus Antiochis
Many couldn't read
Many just followed the crowd
Could be fixed
People did not need to be a criminal to be Ostracised
2,000 ostraka with Thermistocles on - written by 14 people
This plot was a failure - still not enough votes
Death of Miltiades left a power vaccum in athes
filled by Themistocles and Aristides
Their rivalry may have started when they were both children
Plutarch claims that Themistocles was biased against the rich
Aristides became known as 'the Just'
The Wooden Walls
Themistocles' democratic Aims
The Silver Mines
The people wanted to split the money between them
Themistocles persuaded them not to
A large deposit of silver was found in Laurion
Aristides was against this, and was eventually Ostracized for it.
Thermistocles wanted them to build a large navy in order to win their war against Aegina
It would also be useful if Persia returned
Persia Returned under Xerxes
The Pythia told Thermistocles to defend the city with woodern walls
Theristocles took this to mean his new navy
Battle of Salamis
The fleet meant that eventually the ordinary people, who rowed in the ships, became realy important to the defense of the city
Made them more equal to the aristocracy in that sence
Archons were selected by lot
Many new positions created, called magistrates - important for other parts of life in the city
This meant the people were more equal
LEGENDARY KINGS
Foundations of Rome (1184 - 753)
Romulus (753 - 714)
Numa (714 - 673)
Ancus Marcius (642-617)
Tullus Hostilius (673-642)
Aeneas
Romulus and Remus
Evidence
Fled the Sack of troy in 1184 BC
Aeneus traveled to italy
Married the daughter of the king of the Latins
Founded Lavinium
HIs decendants became the kings o Alba Longa
Numitor, king of Alba longa, was overthrown by his brother Amulius
He killed his son and made his daughter a vestal virgin.
Rhea Silvia, the daughter, was impregnated by the god Mars.
Rhea was imprisoned, her children, twins were sent off to be drowned.
Romulus and Remus survived.
Looked after by a she wolf, then a shepherd
As they grew up, they attacked bandits and redistributed their stolen stuff
Robbers wanted revenge
Remus was captured
Romulus an his friends overthrew Amulius and restored Numitor to the throne.
Numitor gave them land for them to found their own city
Many people followed them
The twins disagreed on where to build their city
After countless arguments, Romulus killed Remus in a fit of Rage.
Rome is actually much older than 753.
Rome definitely had kings (Lapis Niger Stele)
Romulus and Remus probably didn't exist.in the form that we think of today
Romulus becsme king of the city in 753 BC
Political Initiatives
Religious initiatives
Military Initiatives
Rape of the Sabine Women
Death
Asylum Granted to a large number of people (Criminals/Outcasts)
Safety - Walls etc.
Representation
Patricians would represent the plebeians in the government. Patriarch system. These partriarchs could propose some laws.
The Senate
Gave power and legitimacy to the monarchy.
100 Patricians (Unelected)
Kept the power of the king in check
Democracy
ten Curiae (groups of citizens)
Comita Curiae of 10 representatives from each Curia
Possibly adopted some greek practaces
Religion developed over time.
Built a temple to Jupiter
One elected Military Tribune
Three centuries (Three centurions) Phalanxes
One Celeres Unit (Elite troops) Cavalry, (Could be dismounted)
Invited the Sabines to a festaval with Games
Their women were kidnapped and forced to marry the romans
Sabine king of Cures, Titus Tatius declared war.
The Sabine's allies, the Caeninians, attacked rome and lost, with Romulus killing their king.
Titus attacked, killing Rome's leading genereal, Hostius Hostillius
The women got in the way and stopped the fighting.
Romulus agreed to share power with Titus and unite the two kingdoms
Titus was murdered in 716
Romulus began to become more tyrannical, and ruled without the senate.
The senate hatched a conspiracy
When romulus was giving a speech in 714, some fog came down and obscured him.
The senators stabbed him to death, hiding the body.
When the fog rose, Romulus was gone, and the senated daclared him a god to cover their tracks.
Religious Intiatives
Numa's Diplomacy
Numa's Election
Romulus' death allowed the senate to take power for themselves
This led to civil unrest, as the senate only supported themselves
In order to stop this, the Senate called for elections for king.
The people chose Numa as their candidate.
None of Rome's other government institutions put forward a candidate
Numa was elected Unanimously by the Senate
Numa was a Sabine noble with a reputation for piety and Justice
Numa married a minor water goddess, Egeria
Created a priesthood for Mars, Romulus and Quirinus
Created the Flamen Dialis, high Priest of Jupiter
Created the Pontifex Maximus, high priest (Chosen from the senate)
Introduced the Vestal Virgins
Introduced Etruscan ideas to Rome
Created A lunar Calendar
Used religion to end Conflict.
A group of poor, homeless men started a revolt. Numa gave them land to end the Revolt.
Allowed Rome to Urbanise
The doors to the temple of Janus stayed open, signifying that Rome was not at war.
Candidate from the Patriarchs
War
Legal Initiatives
Political Initiatives
Death
With Alba Longa
Gaius Cluilius, king of Alba Longa, wanted compensation for damage caused by Roman cattle raiders.
Cluillus died, and was replaced by Mettius, a dictator
Declared War
Mettius agreed to diplomacy
War of the triplets - Horatii vs Curiatii
Rome won
During Numa's reign, Rome's enemies prepared for war.
Alba became a vassal of Rome
With Etruria
Mettius formed a secret alliance with Etruria
The Etruscans attacked Rome
Mettius did not fight, but Tullus won anyway
Mettius was executed by being torn apart by chariots
Created the right to appeal
Created the Duumvirs (like a supreme court)
Gave land to the homeless and poor.
Expanded the city onto the Caelian hill
Buiilt a new senate house.
Very warlike
Defeated the sabines
Refused to let his armies return to their families
Did not do his religious duties.
Punished by the gods - thunderbolt.
People's Candidate
Grandson of Numa
Knew he needed to be a mix of Numa and Romulus
Religious Achievements
Foreign Affairs,/War
Building Works
Posted religious rites on oak boards around the citty
Reintroduced Numa's teachings
Called on the gods to witness all his actions
Gave the tribes the final say on whether to go to war.
Defeated the Latins at Politiorum and at Medullia
Politiorum was destroyed
Allowed the Latins to become citizens
Built the Admurciae district
Expanded the city over the river to Janiculum
Built walls
Founded Ostia
THE ETRUSCAN KINGS
Tarquinius I Priscus (616 - 578)
Servius Tullius (578 - 535)
Tarquinius II Superbus (535- 509)
Reforms
Military Victories
Rise to power/ Succession
Tarquin was murdered by The sons of Ancus Marcius during a riot
Origins
Lucumo was the son of Demaratus, a Greek who became king of the Etruscans
When Demaratus died, the Etruscans wanted an etruscan king
Lars Ultes Became the king
Tarquin and his wife Tanaquil left Tarquinii, where they settled in rome
Changed his name to Gnaus Lucius Tarquinius Priscus
Gained a reputation for helping the poor
Became friends with king Ancus
Ancus Died of Natural causes
Tarquin sent his sons away on a hunting trip
Had the senate elect him king while the sons were away.
Social
Religious
Political
Built the Circus Maximus
Added 100 of his men to the Senate
Introdused new festivals - etruscan boxing - chariot racing
Extended the forum, built an open air sewer.
Harsher punishments for vestal vergins who arent virgins
A lager number of Vestal virgins
Augury became more important
Vs Latins
Vs Sabines
Vs Etruscans
Vs Latins Again
Captured Apiolae and plundered it
They attacked Rome
Many difficult battles
Sabines retreated
Tarquin reorganised the army, adding three cavalry units
Battle of the Anio - victory
Defeated them in another battle
Annexed everywhere south and west of Collatium
Defeated them outside Veii
Captured:
Comicuturn
Ficulaea
Cameria
Crustumarium
Areiola
Medullia
Nomentum
Origins
Servius's Succession
The Servian Reforms
His mother was impregnated by the divine phallus of the god Vulcan
His (adoptive) father was the general in the city of Corniculum, but we was killed in battle.
His mother, a friend of Tanaquils, came to live with her in Rome, but as Servius was born there among the household of the king, a roumor spread that he was infact a Slave
One day, as he slept, his hair set on fire. This was seen as a sign from the gods.
He achieved great fame and fortune fighting for the Etruscans alongside their leader, Caelius Vivenna.
Servius, being Tarquin's favoured successor, was chosen as the temporary ruler.
Servius married Tarquin's daughter.
When Tarquinius was murdered, his wife Tanaquil quickly retrieved the body, announcing to the senate that he was just very severely wounded.
Servius used his interim power to march his Etruscan army into the city to settle on the Caelian hill, named by the Etruscans after their leader.
When Tarquin's death was discovered, Servius was already in the position to become the next king.
His election was ratified by the senate.
Political
Created a class system with five classes
Introduced a new voting system which allowed the rich to have more of a say, in compensation for the new military responsibilities that came with their class
Introduced the Census
Social
Expaned rome to now contain the Quirinal and Viminal hills, All 7
Built the Servian wall around it
Divided the people into 'tribes' based on where they lived - each tribe would send reprisentatives to the Comitia Curiae
Religious
Temple of Diana - Joint project between all the Latin cities, Increased Roman supremacy over all the cities.
Siezure of Power
Political Changes
Military Success
Building projects
He marched into the senate with a small army, and Tarquin sat on the throne, ordering all the senators to aknowledge him as the king.
He was voted in unanimously.
Tarquinius won the support of other senators with bribery.
Servius arrived, furious
Many senators supported Tarquinius Supurbus, Servius' son in law, and Tarquinius' grandson (in two seperate ways)
Tarquin dragged him outside and threw him down the steps of the senate house.
Survius was also getting quite old, and was not as good a king as when he started
He was then either murdered by Tarquin's men, or run over by his daughter in a chariot
Servius' reforms made him unpopular among the upper classes
The senate was no longer consulted
Servius was never buried
He took on the role as head of the Duumvirs, executing all his enemies
The census was removed
He was constantly surrounded bgy bodyguards, and would always arrive unnanounced, so noone could plan a murder.
Large gatherings were banned to try to prevent conspiracies
The plebians were turned into unpaid labourours,
Created two new colonies, Circeii, and Signia
Conquered Gabii, and defeated the Vosci
Tarquinius was a succesful general
Extended the Circus Maximus
Built numerous temples around ROme
Completed the Cloacina Maxima
Built a small canal to bring drinking water to the centre of the city.
Rome became the leading state in the Latin League, all of which' other members were annexed into Rome
During this period, Rome came into the possession of the Sybilline books, which supposedly contained prophecies abour the future of Rome.
The seller burt 6 out of the 9 when Tarquinius repeatedly refused to pay the comparatively cheap asking price.
Kings of Alba Longa
House of Latinus
Latius I, Avander, Latius II, Latinus I
House Cluillus
House Julius
Dictatorship
House of Aeneas
Aeneas I, Ascanius, Silvius, Aeneas II, Latinus II, Alba, Atys, Capys, Capetus, Tiberinus I, Agrippa, Romulus, Aventinus, Proca, Numitor, Amullius, Numitor (Again)
Mettius Fufettius
Julius, Tiberinus II
Latinus III, Gaius
The role of the king
The king was elected.
four candidates were chosen by the senate, patriarchs, the comitia curiae, and one by popular vote.
One would then be ratified by the senate
Could propose laws
senate was discouraged from just picking their candidate, and most of the time, they were pressured by the other groups into choosing on of their people.
Both the comita curiae and the patriarchs chose him as their candidate
Supposedly Silvius' son, Brutus, founded Britain
Cambyses killed in battle
THE ORIGINS OF THE REPUBLIC
The downfall of the kings of Rome (509)
Features of the Republic (509)
The First War for Independance (509)
The Second War For Independence (508 )
The Consolidation of the Republic (507 - 496)
Brutus
The Rape of Lucretia
The Removal of Superbus
The First Actions of The Republic
The Structure of the republic.
Lucius Junius Brutus was the neohew of Superbus
This provided no protection
His brother was murdured,
His property was confisctaed
In order to survive, he pretended to have low intelligence.
He was, however, given the role of Tribune of the Celeres,
He was able to call assembalies,
Had control of the Kings bodyguard.
Superbus attacked the city of Ardea
During the Siege, Sextus and Arruns, Superbus' sons, alongside Collatinus, were drinking heavily.
They had an arguament about who' wife was the most virtuous.
They rode back to Rome to find the winner - this was Collatinus, who's wife Lucretia was working hard weaving while the princesses were partying.
Sextus became lustful and even more drunk.
He raped Lucretia, threatening to kill her and ruin her reputation if she didn't sleep with him.
Lucretia sent for her father, Spurius Lucretius, Alongside Collatinus, Brutus, and Publius Valerius
She told them what happened, then killed herself.
Brutus was especially affected by Lucretia's death.
He blamed the corruption and Tyrrany of the monarchy,
He called an assembaly , and persuaded the people that the kings needed to go.
The gates were barred, and Superbus, retreating from Ardea, was not allowed in.
He and the rest of his family were exiled.
Lucius Junius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus became the republic's first Consuls.
Tarquinius was still an influential man and the republic was not secure.
Brutus gained the support of the Army
An oah was sworn to never let Rome have a king again.
Collatinus was disliked because he was a Tarquin
He agreed to step down. He was replaced with Publius Valerius Publicola
The Tarquin Conspiracy.
Consuls
Censors
Dictators
Master of the Horse
Two - Elected from the Senate
Heads of State - elected every year.
Army leaders
Could Veto each other
Could be elected more than once, but not two years in a row.
Also elected from the Senate
Elected for five years
In charge of the economy, who could attend the senate, and the census.
Temporary, six month leader.
Had complete power.
Only appointed in times of emergency.
The Dictators second in command.
Kept his power in check.
Brutus decided to sieze all of Tarquins property, but was overruled by the Senate
Superbus tried to stage a coup.
Leading patricians were approached, and a plot was planned
Publicola discovered the plot and arrested all involved.
Brutus' sons were involved..
Brutus had them all executed to secure the republic.
The senate changed their mind and seized all of Tarquin's Property/
Supurbus approached the Veii, Etruscans, for Help
The Battle of Silvia Arsia
Both Sides met on the outskirts of the woods north of Rome
The cavalry clashed first.
Brutus was targeted because of his lictors.
He fought with Arruns, Superbus' son, killing him
Brutus died on the battlefield of his wounds.
Valerius drove back and routed the Etruscan Army, but with heavy casulties.
The Aftermath In Rome
Brutus was given a state funeral
Publicula wasted time delaying new consular elections.
When the people became angry, he:
Called elections,
Gave the plebs increased rights to appeal
Made the price of bread fairer
The new consul was Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus
He died soon after, being very old and ill
The new consul was Marcus Horatius Pulvillus
Preparing for the next war.
Lars Porsena, king of Clusium, took over the war. from the Etruscan side
The Battle
After the Battle
Publicola and Pulvillius spent their time strengthening the army
Rome's walls were also improved.
In the new consular elections, Publicola was reelected, alongside Titus Lucrecius Tiripictinius, (Spurius' son)
Etruscan forces stormed the Janiculum. The Romans decided to march out to retake the area.
They were quickly surrounded and massacured.
Three men decided to hold the bridge to save the rest of the army.
One of these was Horatius Cocles, a decendent of the Horatii triplets.
The last soldier to cross the bridge destroyed it
Cocles fought bravely and held of the entire Etruscan army
He eventually jumped into the river to swim to safety. - in some stories he drowned, in others, he survived.
Publicola sent messeges to the Latin League
They refused to help in what they considered a Civil War
Gaius Mucius Scaevola, was sent to assassinate Porsena
He managed to get into his tent, but killed his secretary instead.
Scaevola was captured, but managed to persuade Porsena to rethink his srategy by convincing him that Rome would not fall easily, and would be difficult to occupy. He showed his resolve by placing his left hand in a fire fore a minute without flinching.
Porsena agreed to a peace, if Rome agreed to recognise the independace of all etruscan states, and provide hostages.
This was agreed.
Many of the hostages escaped, led by Cloelia, who swam across a river under enemy fire
Porsene recognised her bravery and let all the hosages go.
507 - 501
Rome was able to defend itself against the Sabines in 506 and the Latins in 505
Superbus sided with the Latins in this conflict
In 503, the Romans launched a preemptive strice at the city of Pometia, and then successfuly invaded Sabine territory.
In 502, Rome and the Latins joined forces against the Arunci to the south.
In 501, this constant warfare was beginning to have an effect on the morale of the Plebs. Consul Titus Lartius Flavius Rufus was declared dictator, and some minor reforms were passed to keep them happy.
500 - 496
A second Tarquin conspiracu in 500 was foiled
The Sabines were completely annexed in 499, folowing the capture of Fidernae
In 496, Superbus made his final attempt to take Rome
He was defeated at the battle of Lake Regillus by Consul (then dictator) Aulus Postumius Albus Regillensis
Tarquin would later die the next year.
SECURING THE REPUBLIC
The First Secession (495 - 493)
Plebian Grievances
Initial Proposals
Manius Valerius Maximus as Dictator
The Secession
Relationships between the plebans and the patritians were strained.
The Patriarchs no longer acted in the interests of the Masses
Rome's wars of independence caused homelessness and indebtness
Men fourght, the rest of the family struggled to make a living
Large increase in the number of debts
In Rome, if you could not pay debts, you would be imprisoned.
Everyone still had to pay their taxes, plus a new 'war tax'
Patricians became richer off the backs of the poor.
The Veteran.
One day a man visited the forum to beg for money.
His creditors repossessed his house, and had him beaten, tortured and briely imprisoned.
His house had been destroyed by sabine raids, and he was forced to borrow money to survive.
He was recognised as an important military officer.
This story spread throuought the city and the people became angrier.
Forum was overrun by an angry mob
There was not enough senators present to legaly make decisions about the unrest.
The two consuls, Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis and Publius Servillius Priscus Stuctus, had different ideas about how to solve the problem.
Appius wanted to crush the rioting and block all reforms.
Sevillius wanted to come to a compromise that made everyone happy.
Volsci/Sabine Threat
As this was going on, word reached Rome of an attack by the Volsci on Rome's Latin Allies
Plebs threaten to not fight until reforms are made.
Servillius, lies to the people, saying that the part of the senate that was there was fully in favour of reform, and that these would be made after the war, which was the more pressing threat.
The people enlisted and the war was won easily.
Reform was then delayed by another threat - a Sabine invation
This was also repulsed.
Servillius also issued an edict.
Imprisoning a citizen preventing him from serving in the military was banned
All debts were postponed while the debtor was on campaign.
The Response from Appius Claudius
While Servillius was on campaign, his edict was declared illegal by Appius
This was because the senate didn't vote on it, Appius hadn't been consulted and because the senate did not have enough members at the time.
When soldiers returned, many soldiers once again found themselves in prison with huge debts.
Both Consuls lost all support from the people
Appius was seen as a unempathetic conservative
Servillius a weak liar.
The Two new consuls in 494 were Aulus Verginius Tricostus and Tutus Veturius Geminus.
After six months, the rioting and thuggery in the city had become so bad that they appointed a dictater, Manius Valerius Maximus (Publicola's brother) in order to restore order.
He attempted to come to various agreements with the plebians, promising to try to do what was best for them.
He led the legions against the Volsci, Sabines and Aequi, and returned a war hero
However he refused to make reforms unless supported by the senate, but could not persuade them to make any meaningful change.
At the end of the year, he was granted a second term as dictator, as he had managed to end the rioting, but he resigned on the spot, as he had not been given any support from the senate.
In 493, The Plebian Army decided to take drastic action in order to force reform through
Led be centurion Lucius Sicinius Bellutus, they positioned themselves on the sacred mount and refused to leave.
They raided patrician farms and lands to gain food
The Senate sent Menentius Agrippa, a well liked orator and politician, to the mount to persuade them to come to the negotiating table.
This suceeded.
The senate created the office of tribune, which was exclusively plebian and could veto the senates decisions.
The first two tribunes were Sicinius and Brutus Lucius Junius
Continuing Tensions (492 - 462)
491 - Coriolanus
He was an important senator and general
The First secession had caused famine
Coriolanus wanted to increase the price of grain in order to punish the plebeians for causing the famine
He became liked by the upper classes who wanted to remove the power of the tribunes
The plebeians instead saw him as a major threat to their new power.
He was declared an enemy by the tribunes (Sicinius and Marcus Decius)
He didn't show up to court, and went into exile amongst the volsci
488 - 473 Demands For Land Redistribution
473 - 471 Tribunal Reform
Spurius Cassius
Titus and Gnaeus Genucius
In 488, The tribunes had proposed a series of Agrarian laws, which the senate spent the next two years trying to avoid passing
Spurius Cassius Viscellinus, the consul in 486, defeated the Hernici tribe, taking lots of land.
He wanted to give this to the plebeians and to Latin allies. - gain support and establish a tyrrany
The senate accused him of this, and the plebs became suspicious
He then tried to use public grain stores to buy plebeian support, which failed
When he was no longer consul, he was charged which treason and executed in 485
This debate over land reform never went away.
This was raised again by Titus Genucius, plebian tribune in 476.
The army had lost a major series of battles against veii in 477, and he tried to blame the senate for that, which made him unpopular.
This distracted the people from the actual problem at hand
His brother Gnaeus became tribune in 473, and indited the previous years consuls, who had refused even to consider the demands of the people.
He was assassinated before the trial could take place, and the consuls got away with it.
Publilius Volero, a plebian refused to serve in the military
He avoided arrest by rousing the people against the corrupt senate and the self-centres tribunes
He was let of by the senate, who didn't want a major riot on their hands.
In 472, he was elected tribune
He campaigned for a new voting system, which gave the rich less control over who could be tribune, by having it voted for by the tribunal assembally
In 471, Appius Claudius Regilensis, son of the previous Appius Claudius, was elected consul.
He and Volero clashed, but he was eventually forced to accept this reform to avoid serious unrest
470 - The trial of Appius Claudius Regilensis
467 - The proposals of Terentillius
The Decemvirates (454- 449)
The Second Secession (499 - 440)
Appius was indicted by the tribunes for supposed offenses while in office.
Appius refused to acknowledge the charges against him, leading to unrest
The senate had the trial suspended to prevent further unrest
During the suspension, Appius fell ill and died.
This led to more unrest, and, over time the power of the tribunes slowly increased.
In 467, Consul Quintus Fabius Vibulanus defeated the Volsci
He used the land taken to create a plebian colony
He was declared a traitor by Fabius, and the senated would not vote on the matter until they had more information
This weakened the tribunes, as demands for land reform lessened.
Tribune Gaius Terentillius Harsa demanded a the power of the consuls be checked.
This gave them an excuse to not do anything.
The First Decemvirate (451)
The Creation of the Decemvirate (454 - 452)
Both sides began to cooperate
Everyone began to see the benifits of a written laws.
An embassy was sent to Athens to investgate its laws
In order for this to be written, they decided on a decemvirate.
Ten men would take the place of the consuls
Work together for the good of everyone
Led By Appius Claudius Crassus, son of the previous Appius Claudius
They spent time creating ten tables of laws
They would take turns running courts and religious duties.
At the end of the year, they published their results on tablets in the forum - some amendments were made
People wanted two more tables.
It was decided that a second decemvirate would be needed for the next year.
He was immediately shot down, but then proposed a series of written laws.
One court case - Publius Sestius was found with a body in his house. The decemvirs go through the proper process even though they could have prosecuted him immediately.
The Second Decemvirate (450 - 449)
A C Crassus is scared of losing power
He was popular among the people
In order to stop him from serving another term, he was made in charge of electing people
He just elected himself and nine allies.
Terror
People Persecuted
Decisions made on personal biases
Rumour that this was a permanent change
Patricians not helping - showed how much worse reform is
No more defferring
Extra lictors
Two more tables
Banned the intermarriage of plebs and patricians
No new consular elections
Began disobeying the very laws they created - nobles would steal, beat and execute.
Opposition to the Decemvirate
Decemvirs just kept power once their turn was over
Senators were banned from discussing,
Lucius Valerius Potitus attacked the decemvirs - threatening to go to the people
Marcus Horatius Barbatus called them 'Ten Tarquins' - attacked their behaviour - threatened them.
Sabines threatened to invade
also called them 'the enemy within'
The roman army purposely lost the war against the sabines
The Secession
The Ten tables