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Quiz about Roman Revenge
Quiz about Roman Revenge

Roman Revenge Trivia Quiz


Revenge and intrigue fill the annals of the history of the Roman Empire, beginning with the most notable assassination of all - Julius Caesar. Join me as we look at the subject of vengeance and revenge as seen in this time period.

A multiple-choice quiz by tazman6619. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
tazman6619
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
346,573
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1906
Question 1 of 10
1. During Julius Caesar's rise to power, the Senate became fearful and jealous of his popularity among the people. Accordingly, they acted to strip him of his power and in revenge Caesar marched on Rome, which started a civil war. Which 'unlucky' legion did Caesar take with him when he crossed the Rubicon? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. After his defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus, Pompey headed to Egypt to seek refuge from Julius Caesar. There he was betrayed and murdered. Caesar richly rewarded the men who betrayed Pompey.


Question 3 of 10
3. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March in 44 BC by a group of Senators. When considering where the assassination took place, one might conclude that one of Caesar's friends turned enemy got revenge from the grave. Where exactly did the assassination take place? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which group of Roman senators, who wanted the Senate to retain ultimate power, was behind the assassination of Julius Caesar - some might argue as revenge for the appointment of Caesar as dictator in perpetuity and his attempts to reform the corruption in the Roman government? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The conspiracy against Julius Caesar encompassed a large group that was led by four men - Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and Cimber. His death was avenged, however, with the fate these men suffered as a result of their treachery. What was the combative fate of these men? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Caligula was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard led by Chaerea. One of the main reasons cited for the assassination is Chaerea's revenge for Caligula doing what? (The offense was something you would expect to see on a grade school playground, not the halls of power in Rome.) Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. One leading Roman historian cites revenge over the execution of this man as the reason for the assassination emperor Domitian. What is the name of this man who shares his name with a man sent by the Philippians to assist the Apostle Paul (Phil. 2:25) and the man to whom Josephus dedicated "The Antiquities of the Jews"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Galba was assassinated by troops loyal to Otho who succeeded Galba as emperor. A list of around 120 men who claimed credit for killing Galba was drawn up. When Otho was succeeded by Vitellius, what did Vitellius do to the men on this list? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Caracalla was assassinated in 217 AD by Julius Martialis as an act of revenge but the real instigator was most likely Macrinus who succeeded Caracalla as emperor. Macrinus fell victim to the schemes of whom, which brought an end to his reign after only a year? (Hint: the story of Samson) Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 AD in a plot hatched by which unlikely conspirator? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. During Julius Caesar's rise to power, the Senate became fearful and jealous of his popularity among the people. Accordingly, they acted to strip him of his power and in revenge Caesar marched on Rome, which started a civil war. Which 'unlucky' legion did Caesar take with him when he crossed the Rubicon?

Answer: Legio XIII Gemina

The number 13 is considered by many to be unlucky. Caesar led the Legio XIII Gemina across the Rubicon, an act forbidden by Roman law. The full Latin name of the legion was Legio tertia decima Gemina, translated as the Thirteenth Twin Legion in English.

This was one of the most famous legions and had been a key unit in his Gallic Wars and in the ensuing Great Roman Civil War. Caesar raised the legion in 57 BC and it served under Caesar in Gaul. During the civil war, it fought at Dyrrhachium and Pharsalus, where Pompey was decisively defeated.

It was recalled to duty to fight in the Battle of Thapsus and the final Battle of Munda before it was disbanded and its veterans retired with grants of land. It was reconstituted under Augustus and served well into the fifth century AD.
2. After his defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus, Pompey headed to Egypt to seek refuge from Julius Caesar. There he was betrayed and murdered. Caesar richly rewarded the men who betrayed Pompey.

Answer: False

At this time Egypt was a vassal state of Rome. Pompey had been a friend and ally of Ptolemy XII, father of Ptolemy XIII, so he headed to Egypt hoping for a friendly reception. Ptolemy XIII was just a boy and it was his advisers who would decide Pompey's fate. The Egyptian eunuch Pothinus and Theodotus of Chios argued that Pompey should be killed in order to please Caesar so Achillas and Lucius Septimius carried out the deed. The only problem with this plan was that Caesar had been granting amnesty to his enemies, including Cassius, Cicero, and Brutus. Cassius and Brutus would later repay Caesar by leading the assassination of him.

Plutarch records that Caesar mourned the treachery against Pompey and had both Achillas and Pothinus killed for it but Cassius Dio disagrees with this portrayal. Although both Achillas and Pothinus both were killed some time right after the Pompey incident, it is unclear whether this was a result of revenge for what happened to Pompey or more for actions they took afterwards. It is clear however that their plan to placate Caesar by killing Pompey failed and they ended up at odds with him. Their deaths came as a result of their opposition to Caesar.
3. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March in 44 BC by a group of Senators. When considering where the assassination took place, one might conclude that one of Caesar's friends turned enemy got revenge from the grave. Where exactly did the assassination take place?

Answer: Theatre of Pompey

Caesar was struck down in the Theatre of Pompey, which is ironic considering Caesar defeated Pompey in the Great Roman Civil War. Caesar's relationship with the Senate was always at best tricky, even from the beginning. As his success on the battlefield increased his popularity, the relationship was strained even more.

At first Pompey, as part of the First Triumvirate, helped Caesar circumvent the will of the Senate by giving Caesar the governorship over Gaul when the Senate only gave him a ceremonial job. With the death of Crassus and the dissolution of the First Triumvirate, Pompey switched sides and supported the Senate against Caesar. Caesar defied the Senate and marched on Rome. Several times Caesar tried to make peace with Pompey to reforge their previous alliance but Pompey would not have it.

This led to Pompey's defeat and assassination.
4. Which group of Roman senators, who wanted the Senate to retain ultimate power, was behind the assassination of Julius Caesar - some might argue as revenge for the appointment of Caesar as dictator in perpetuity and his attempts to reform the corruption in the Roman government?

Answer: Optimates

There were two main divisions within the Roman ruling class at the time of the assassination - the optimates and the populares. The optimates had opposed Caesar almost from the beginning but their champion, Pompey, was soundly defeated in the Great Roman Civil War. Still, they retained power within the Senate and sought to restore the Senate's power as the preeminent authority in Roman government through the assassination of Caesar.

Their deed backfired and eventually led to the formation of the Roman Empire when Octavius, who later changed his name to Augustus, seized power in 27 BC and became the first emperor. Octavius was named to be Caesar's successor in Caesar's will and would form the Second Triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus.

As with the First Triumvirate, the second was also unstable and led to war between Octavius and Antony with Octavius emerging victorious. With no one to stand in his way, Octavius became the first emperor.
5. The conspiracy against Julius Caesar encompassed a large group that was led by four men - Brutus, Cassius, Casca, and Cimber. His death was avenged, however, with the fate these men suffered as a result of their treachery. What was the combative fate of these men?

Answer: They died at or around the Battle of Philippi two years later

They all died as a result of the Battle of Philippi, hence the clue word combative. At the Battle of Philippi, Cassius' forces faced the forces of Antony and Brutus' forces faced those of Octavian. Cassius was defeated by Antony while Brutus was initially successful against Octavian. Cassius was unaware of Brutus' success and committed suicide by having his freedman Pindarus kill him after his defeat. About three weeks after his initial success, Brutus was forced again into engaging the enemy but this time he was defeated and committed suicide. Casca's death is not recorded but he had joined forces with Brutus and Cassius and probably committed suicide just as they had when the battle was lost. Cimber likewise did not have his death recorded but is assumed to have died sometime during the Philippi campaign.
6. Caligula was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard led by Chaerea. One of the main reasons cited for the assassination is Chaerea's revenge for Caligula doing what? (The offense was something you would expect to see on a grade school playground, not the halls of power in Rome.)

Answer: Calling him derogatory names

Caligula is commonly considered to have been insane - if not literally, then figuratively. His behavior grew stranger as his reign progressed. The most glaring examples of his instability as recorded by contemporaries Philo of Alexandria and Seneca the Younger was the numerous scandals he was involved in that showed great debauchery. Later sources such as Suetonius and Cassius Dio add other tales, including his dressing as different gods and being referred to as a god. His irrational behavior and his treatment of the Senate and the nobility led to several attempts on his life before the successful assassination by Chaerea and his fellow conspirators. Suetonius claimed Caligula called Chaerea derogatory names because he had a high voice and was somewhat effeminate.

Of particular interest are the parallels between Caligula's assassination and that of Julius Caesar. Suetonius delineated these similarities as:
1) Both had their deaths foretold before they happened;
2) Both were murdered by a group of conspirators led by a man named Cassius - Julius Caesar by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Caligula by Cassius Chaerea;
3) Both were stabbed multiple times. Although Suetonius claims both were stabbed 30 times, Caesar was stabbed only 23 times. (Source: Suetonius, "The Lives of Twelve Caesars")
7. One leading Roman historian cites revenge over the execution of this man as the reason for the assassination emperor Domitian. What is the name of this man who shares his name with a man sent by the Philippians to assist the Apostle Paul (Phil. 2:25) and the man to whom Josephus dedicated "The Antiquities of the Jews"?

Answer: Epaphroditus

The name all three men shared was Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus was a freedman who served as secretary to Nero. Epaphroditus accompanied Nero when he fled from the conspiracy that brought an end to his rule and helped Nero commit suicide. Domitian first had Epaphroditus banished and then executed for helping Nero kill himself even though his motives may have been pure. According to Suetonius revenge for the death of Epaphroditus was the motivation behind the assassination planned by Domitian's chamberlain Parthenius and carried out by Maximus and Stephanus. Secundus, one of the commanders of the Praetorian Guard, was also implicated in the plot and both Parthenius and Secundus were later put to death to avenge Domitian's assassination.
8. Galba was assassinated by troops loyal to Otho who succeeded Galba as emperor. A list of around 120 men who claimed credit for killing Galba was drawn up. When Otho was succeeded by Vitellius, what did Vitellius do to the men on this list?

Answer: Had every one of them executed

Galba succeeded Nero as emperor but he was highly unpopular, especially amongst the Praetorian Guard. Otho had been an early supporter but sought revenge when Galba picked Piso as his coadjutor and successor. He conspired with the Praetorian Guard and Galba was assassinated. Piso was also killed shortly thereafter. While all of this was going on, the legions in Germany had picked Vitellius as their emperor and he was marching on Rome. Otho's forces met Vitelluis' forces but were defeated. Otho committed suicide rather than drag out a civil war stating, "It is far more just to perish one for all, than many for one." (Source: Cassius Dio "Roman History")

The list of those who claimed credit for killing Galba fell into Vitellius' hands and he executed everyone of them in revenge for their part in the treachery.
9. Caracalla was assassinated in 217 AD by Julius Martialis as an act of revenge but the real instigator was most likely Macrinus who succeeded Caracalla as emperor. Macrinus fell victim to the schemes of whom, which brought an end to his reign after only a year? (Hint: the story of Samson)

Answer: Caracalla's female relatives devised a plan to make another family member emperor

The hint of Samson is a reference to the fact that he fell victim to Delilah, a woman. Macrinus fell victim to the machinations of Caracalla's aunt, Julia Maesa, and her daughters Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea. The Severan Dynasty was started by Septimius Severus, brother-in-law of Julia Maesa, when he became emperor in 193 AD.

The family had gotten used to the imperial lifestyle and did not want to give it up. The women started a rumor that Julia Soaemias' son Elagabalus was the illegitimate son of Caracalla and therefore the rightful successor, not Macrinus.

The dissatisfaction among the military with Macrinus made them ready to accept Elagabalus and on May 18, 218 the Legio III Gallica proclaimed him emperor. General Gannys led the legion against Macrinus' forces but his forces deserted him and he was easily defeated.

He was captured trying to flee back to Italy dressed as a courier and executed. The Severan family had exacted their revenge on him for his murder of Caracalla.
10. Elagabalus was assassinated in 222 AD in a plot hatched by which unlikely conspirator?

Answer: His grandmother Julia Maesa

Elagabalus became emperor at the age of 14. As a youth he had been a priest of the god El-Gabal and he brought those traditions with him to Rome. His replacement of Jupiter with this god was just the beginning of his problems with Rome's ruling class.

His debauchery led to growing opposition even among the Praetorian Guard so much so that his grandmother Julia Maesa schemed to have him replaced by his cousin, Alexander Severus. Julia Maesa had only used Elagabalus to regain her imperial privileges and when his behavior threatened these, she had no problem having him eliminated.

The Praetorian Guard assassinated Elagabalus in the fourth year of his reign when he was 18 and installed Alexander Severus in his place. Elagabalus' mother and associates were also executed during the purge. Elagabalus fell victim to his grandmother's vengeance when he threatened her way of life by his behavior.
Source: Author tazman6619

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