Roman History in Roman Numerals Quiz

Answer: False

CCLIII BC corresponds to 253 BC. Varro claimed Rome was founded in 753 BC, which in Roman numerals is written DCCLIII. While Varro's version became prevalent in the days of the Roman Empire, other scholars offered alternative dates. However, they all agree on the day of the year that Rome was founded: April 21. Varro's version is the one recorded in the Roman Ab Urbe Condita calendar.

Answer: The monarchy was overthrown and the Republic began.

The year DIX BC corresponds to 509 BC. The Roman Republic began that year. The Chief Executives were the two Consuls, elected by the Century Assembly for one year. The first pair of Roman consuls were Brutus (not to be confused with Brutus who assassinated Caesar) and Collatinus.

Answer: The Carthaginians

The year CCII BC corresponds to 202 BC. The Second Punic War began in 219 BC and concluded after the Battle of Zama. The Carthaginians, led by Hannibal Barca, crossed the Alps and almost brought Rome to her knees. However, Poplius Scipio, later known as "Africanus", managed to land in Africa and defeat his enemies near their home.

Answer: Pompey

Pompey, who had been Caesar's chief antagonist for the leaderaship of Rome, was already dead by the time Caesar was assassinated. Although in the play "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare Caesar's last words are cited as "Et tu, Brute?" this is a matter of conjecture. The Roman historian Suetonius, although he mentions that several people claim Caesar's last words to have been "You too, child?", the phrase directed to Brutus, he himself does not report Caesar saying something.
The year XLIV BC corresponds to 44 BC.

Answer: Battle of Actium

The Battle of Actium was, in fact, a naval battle. The victory of Octavian was partly due to the competence and capability of his second-in-command, Agrippa and partly due to the defection to Octavian of one of Antony's subordinates. After their defeat, Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt, where they committed suicide so that they would not be captured. Octavian had stabilized his position as the Chief Magistrate of Rome.
The year XXXI BC corresponds to 31 BC.

Answer: Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was sentenced by the prefect Pontius Pilate to death by the means of crucifixion. According to the four Gospels that are included in the Christian New Testament, He rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion. According to the Acts of the Apostles, forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven.
The year AD XXXIII corresponds to 33 AD.

Answer: Nero

Although the part about Nero playing the fiddle is almost certainly wrong, because the fiddle was invented after the Great Fire of Rome, Cassius Dio reported that Nero played the lyre at the time of the event. It is possible that he ordered the fire to be lit, as claimed by both Cassius Dio and Suetonius. However, Nero blamed the Christians for starting the fire and thus began the persecution, which would not cease until the reign of Constantine.
The year AD LXIV corresponds to AD 64.

Answer: The Picts

The Picts were the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of Scotland. They were quite a trouble at the times of Hadrian, so he ordered the wall to be erected in order to protect the province of Britannia. Hadrian's successor, Antoninus Pius, erected another Wall along a more northern outpost, but the Romans soon withdrew beyond Hadrian's Wall.
The year AD CXXII corresponds to AD 122.

Answer: Tetrarchy

"Tetrarchy" means "rule by four people". The original four rulers were: Diocletian as Augustus of the East, Maximian as Augustus of the West, Galerius as Caesar of the East and Constantius Chlorus as Caesar of the West. The position of the Augustus was superior to that of the Caesar. After the death of Diocletian, wars erupted between his potential successors and the system of the Tetrarchy was soon eclipsed.
The year CCXCIII corresponds to 293 AD.

Answer: CCCXXX

The year AD CCCXXX corresponds to AD 330. Constantine emerged as the sole winner of the Wars of the Tetrarchy and established himself as absolute sovereign. He ended the persecution of Christians and converted to Christianity shortly before his death.

He also chose to be buried in his new capital, which expressed a sort of scorn for Rome. (However, by then the status of Rome as the capital had begun to become nominal). With him began the days of the Byzantine Empire.