Best of the Best: Ancient Roman Generals Quiz

Answer: Scipio Africanus

Born into a wealthy patrician family of public servants, Scipio served Rome during the Second and Third Punic Wars. After the death of both his father and uncle, he was the only Roman who volunteered to lead a campaign against the Carthaginians in Spain.

Not only was the young Scipio (he is thought to have been twenty-five at the time) able to capture the enemy headquarters, he was also able to procure provisions and establish an important base there. The mighty Hannibal may have thought that his war elephants would be the key to his victory at the Battle of Zama; Scipio, however, had prepared.

His lines were formed so that they could easily open and let the elephants pass. In addition, sharp traps had been set, the nearby trumpeters made so much noise that many of the elephants turned back and stampeded the Carthaginian army! The victory was hard-fought, but the Second Punic War was over.

It was after the Battle of Zama that Scipio earned the nickname Africanus.

Answer: Marc Antony

Marc Antony was considered by many to be Julius Caesar's best friend; at the time of Caesar's assassination, the pair were co-consuls. Apparently Marc Antony had the thought to overthrow the young Octavian and take Caesar's power for himself. However, his army refused to fight against Caesar's army.

Instead, Marc Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus, one of Caesar's generals, formed the Second Triumvirate. The first objective of the Second Triumvirs was to punish those involved in Caesar's murder. The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the civil wars that began with Caesar's assassination; by the end of the battle, both Brutus and Cassius, along with many others, had committed suicide and the triumvirs had divided the Roman empire between themselves.

The Battle of Philippi is considered to be the high point of Marc Antony's military career.

Answer: Julius Caesar

In 60 BC, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus formed the First Triumvirate. Their plan was to make a political alliance and support each other's ambitions in Rome; after five years they would meet again to decide if the alliance was still mutually beneficial. Pompey took his army to Spain, Crassus went to Syria, and Caesar led his army to Gaul. For eight years, from 58-50 BC, Caesar's men fought the rebellious tribes of Gauls.

While the Gauls had strong armies, they were not successful in uniting against a common enemy.

After a victory at the Battle of Alesia, Caesar brought all of Gaul, an area that was about twice the size of the land that the Romans already ruled, into the empire. Caesar's book, "Commentarii de Bello Gallico", is a description of his campaigns.

Answer: Pompey the Great

Pompey's military career had several highlights; he successfully led an army in Spain against the consul, Lepidus, and was able to assist Crassus in the defeat of Spartacus during the Third Servile War. After that, Pompey and Crassus made an agreement that would they support each other's bid to become consul, and Pompey was given a special commission to rid the Mediterranean of pirates. Even though the authority to do so was to last three years, the threat from the pirates was alleviated within three months! Pompey subsequently received an appointment to the East, where his army fought and defeated Mithridates VI of Pontus and his allies. And the rest is history! The ambitious Pompey joined in a triumvirate with Caesar and Crassus, and married Caesar's daughter. Who could have known how the Pompey the Great's story would end?

Answer: Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Before fighting in the Social Wars, Sulla distinguished himself in the Jugurthine War in Africa, as well as the Cimbrian War, against the Teutons. There was, however, a problem closer to home. During the Republic, as Roman influence spread throughout the Italian peninsula, many people became part of the Latin League, which eventually became known as the Roman Confederation.

These allies were given status according to their contributions, but even though they were expected to pay taxes and serve in the military, they were not typically granted citizenship. From 91-88 BC the Italian allies revolted, and Sulla's efforts to end the rebellion resulted in not only a Roman victory, but also his receipt of the coveted grass crown, the highest military honor that could be earned in Rome.

At the conclusion of the Social Wars, Sulla was sent to the East to fight, eventually was elected to the office of dictator, and served as a rather brutal one for three years before retiring from public life.

Answer: Gaius Marius

Gaius Marius served in the Roman army with Sulla, and the two eventually became bitter rivals. In fact, their rivalry is said to have led, in part at least, to the Social Wars. After serving in the Jurguthine Wars, Marius became involved in the Cimbrian War from 113-101 BC.

After the Romans suffered heavy losses at the Battles of Arausio and Noreia, the Germans planned to attack Rome, and according to the historians of the time, the threat was about as pressing as the Carthaginian attempt to take Rome during the Second Punic War.

After the Battles of Aquae Sextiae and Vercellae, the German plan to invade Rome was ended - at least for the time being! The defeat of the Germanic tribes led to Marius being dubbed "the third founder of Rome".

His experience in prior wars led Marius to make far reaching changes in the army. Rather than depending on an army of citizen soldiers, as was the policy during the Republic, Marius recruited and paid his own army. He also planned maneuvers in advance, and put his army to work completing construction tasks that would improve Rome's chance of winning.

Answer: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

Marcus Agrippa, a friend and eventual son-in-law of Octavian, is believed to have fought against the forces of Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi. After being appointed Governor of Gaul, Agrippa not only continued to lead an army, but also served as "aedile", which meant that he was in charge of building programs.

Much of the credit of transforming the city as Octavian said, "from one of bricks to marble", is given to him. Many historians believe that Octavian's victory against Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium, as well as his receipt of the title Augustus, was due in large measure to Agrippa's skills as a general; in later life his status in Rome was described as being second only to Augustus.

Answer: Germanicus Julius Caesar

It's a sure bet that Germanicus would have one day been emperor - if he had not been killed in battle. He was the great nephew of Augustus, and nephew, step-son, and heir to Tiberius; he was the father of the infamous Caligula, and the brother of Claudius and the infamous Agrippina, grandfather to Nero, and the grandson of Marc Antony. Germanicus made a name for himself while fighting in the Batonian War in Moesia, and successfully avenged the Roman loss at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest while stationed in Germania from 14-16 AD.

The Battle of Weser River, as well as the victories after, are said to have helped the Romans get over the devastating loss of Varus in Germania. Germanicus buried the bones of the Romans who died at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, and killed many people in the area as an act of revenge.

Although Tiberius decided that any further war in Germania would constitute too great of a loss, Germanicus was appointed consul and given the task of reorganizing territories in Asia.

While in Egypt, he fell ill and died; his military service, young death, and skill helped to link him in the minds of some to Alexander the Great.

Answer: Gnaeus Julius Agricola

Agricola is the general who is credited with the Roman conquest of Britannia. While Julius Caesar led the Romans across the English Channel from Gaul in 55-54 BC, Augustus "planned" to invade, and Caligula led his men and collected seashells on the seashore, it was Claudius who successfully added Britannia as a Roman province in 43 AD. First serving as a military tribune, Agricola served on the staff of Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, and probably saw some action during Boudica's famous Uprising in 61 AD.

After supporting Vespasian in his bid to become emperor, Agricola was given command of "Legio XX Valeria Victrix" in Britannia. He began the Romanisation of Wales after becoming Governor, and expanded Roman rule into areas of modern-day Scotland, after victories including the Battle of Mons Graupius.

After this battle, it was said that the Romans had finally subdued all the peoples in Britannia. It is believed that upon his orders it was confirmed that Britannia was an island; he is also credited with providing for 1300 miles of road there, as well as the building of 60 military forts.

Answer: Nero Claudius Drusus

Was Nero Claudius Drusus the son of Augustus? Yes, if the rumors are to be believed. At the very least he was the brother of Tiberius and the stepson of Augustus, who made sure that Drusus was given many honors. Before the Romans could conquer Germania, the area in-between had to be subjugated. Drusus, though only twenty-three years old, led the Romans at the Battle of Tridentum, defeating rebels forces in and around the Alps. Considered to be the first Roman general to conquer Germania, Drusus was able to expand Roman territories, build military forts along the Rhine, and bring peace to the Empire - for a time, anyway.

When he was twenty-nine years old, Drusus fell from his horse and died about a month later.