Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later Augustus) was a brilliant politician but not much of a general, and he knew it. Luckily he had a schoolmate and friend who was a great commander. In addition, the man's lowly social origin guaranteed his dependence on Augustus for advancement, thus assuring his loyalty. This man won naval victories over Sextus Pompieus at Mylae in 37 BCE and Naulochus in 36 BCE and later campaigned in Spain and Illyria. He also won the victory over Antonius at Actium in 31 BCE. Who was this Roman captain?
2. M Antonius was a great general as well as a lover and speechmaker. He was Caesar's quaestor in Gaul, his lieutenant at Dyrrhachium and Pharsalus. He won the victory at Phillipi over Cassius and Brutus, and showed himself to be a great leader of men (unlike Crassus) in the retreat from Parthia in 36BCE. Antonius' legacy was not totally ended at Actium because his grandson was to be Emperor of Rome. Who was he?
3. When Augustus married Livia Drusilla he aquired two stepsons as well as an intelligent and beautiful bride. Both of these men were talented generals and scions of the ancient nobility (thier ancestors included the victor of the battle of the Metaurus in the 2nd Punic War and the famous tribune of 91BCE). Which of these stepsons was governor of Gaul in 13BCE and campaigned beyond the Rhine from 12-9BCE conquering all the tribes between the Rhine and Elbe, but died after a fall from his horse in 9 BCE?
4. The elder stepson of Augustus was consul in 13BCE, conquered Pannonia in 12-9BCE and consolidated his brother's gains on the Rhine in 8-7BCE. He then fell into disfavor and went into exile in 6BCE. But Augustus could not dispense with his military talents and he was recalled to campaign against the Marcomanni in 4-5AD, he crushed the Pannonian-Illyrian revolt in 6-9AD and restored the Rhine frontier in 9AD. Who was he?
5. Another member of the old nobility won military renown under Augustus. Grandson of a triumvir, he held the consulship in 30BCE then campaigned in the balkans in 29-28BCE reaching the Danube. He even killed an enemy chief in single combat and claimed the ancient honor of the "spolia opima". Who was he?
6. Gaius Suetonius Paulinus was the conqueror of Mauritania and became governor of Britain in 60AD. In 61 he attacked the center of Druidism in the island of Anglesey, but was interrupted by a terrible rebellion which broke out in the East of the province. Who led this revolt?
7. This general fought the Frisii at the mouth of the Rhine during Claudius' reign, and when the king of Parthia deposed the pro-Roman king of Armenia and replaced him with his brother, he was sent with troops to restore Roman influence. He invaded Armenia, destroyed Artaxata in 58 AD, and captured Tigranocerta in 59. However, fumbling by his successor and the craven surrender of Rhandeia in 62 forced this man (now governor of Syria) to restore Roman influence in Armenia by defeating the Parthians again in 63AD. Who was he?
8. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, as praetor, helped Caligula crush a revolt in Upper Germany in 39AD, he commanded Legion II Augusta during the invasion of Britain and conquered the Isle of Wight in 43. He was later governor of Africa and Syria. When the province of Judea revolted in 68, he overran Galilee and Samaria and was closing in on Jerusalem when he was called away to greater things. Vespasian was lucky he lived to fulfill his destiny as the capricious emperor Nero almost had him executed. What crime nearly caused Vespasian's demise?
9. This Roman captain was the brother of one emperor, the nephew of another and the grandson of M Antonius. Consul in 12 AD, he quelled a mutiny of the Rhine army in 14AD, and campaigned in Germany from 14-16AD. He married well and had nine children, one of whom became notorious. He died in Syria in 19AD under mysterious circumstances.
10. During the revolutionary years (48-31BCE) many men from all over Italy rose from obscurity to renown due to their military talents. One such man was army contractor and quartermaster to Caesar in Gaul. During the civil war he backed Caesar who made him a senator, and Antonius who who rewarded him with a consulship (43BCE). When the Parthians under the renegade son of Labienus overran Syria and Asia Minor in 40 BCE, this man defeated them at the Cilician Gates and Mt Amanus in 39, and scattered them killing Labienus and the Parthian prince Pacorus at Gandarus in 38BCE. Who was this Picentine who Cicero derided as a "muleteer"?
Source: Author
pompieus
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bloomsby before going online.
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