Roman Revenge Trivia Quiz

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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")

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.

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.

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.

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.