How much do you know about The Roman Empire? | Quiz

Answer: 27 B.C.

On this date Octavianus received the sacral title of Augustus and adopted the title of Imperator Caesar Augustus divi filius. He was also considered Princeps Civitatis (the first of the citizens/senators), Pontifex Maximus (High Priest, a kind of forerunner of the Pope), Consul, Tribune of the people. All these titles singified that he was the undisputed ruler of the Rome, with powers above all the great political figures Rome had before. Strangely enough, in theory, Rome was still considered a Republic.

Answer: The Battle of Teutoburg Forest

The Germanic tribes of the Cherusci, led by Arminus, inflicted a devastating defeat on the three Roman legions commanded by Quintilius Varus. This defeat determined Octavianus Augustus to instate the so called "Pax Romana", deciding to focus on the defense of the Roman borders, instead of the expansion of the Empire.

Answer: Caligula

The Praetorian Guard elevated Caligula, the son of Germanicus, to the imperial throne in 37 A.D. Caligula instated the first autocratic reign of Hellenistic inspiration, which included the introduction of the oriental court ceremonial and the divinization of the emperor.

Answer: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasianus

The situation was created after the death of Nero. The anarchy was illustrated by a de facto civil war that coalesced into a struggle of a few factions: the Senate, the Praetorian Guard, the legions. In this case, Galba was proclaimed emperor by the Senate, Otho by the Praetorian Guard, Vitellius by the Germania Superior legions and Vespasianus by the legions of the Orient.

Answer: Plinius Secundus

Plinius Secundus was the author of "Naturalis Historia". He died while trying to escape on a ship from the Pompei area.

Answer: Decebalus

Domitianus, the last emperor of the Flavian dinasty, sent general Cornelius Fuscus against the Dacian King Decebalus. In the battle of Tapae, the five Roman legions suffered a crushing defeat. The following year there was a Roman victory under general Tettius Iulianus. Eventually, after another defeat of the Dacians' allies, the Quazi and Marcomani, Domitianus and Decebal signed an advantageous peace for the latter and Decebalus became a client of Rome.

Answer: Traianus

After the death of Nerva, the imperial throne was occupied by Marcus Ulpius Traianus, born in the province of Hispania. He destroyed the Dacian Kingdom and also conquered Armenia, Mesopotamia, Assyria and Nabateea (the future province of Arabia Nabateea).

Answer: 30

A legion numbered around 5,600 men, the unit being reinforced with around a similar number of auxiliaries.

Answer: Hadrianus

Hadrian abandoned the expansionist policy of Traianus, withdrew the legions from Armenia and Assyria and established the eastern border on the Euphrates. He was renowned for his military life and his presence among the common soldiers.

Answer: The Marcomanic Wars

Marcus Aurelius spent quite a few years in Pannonia and Noricum leading the campaigns against the Marcomani, Quazi and Yaziges. It took two wars to defeat these Germanic tribes, requiring half of the legions to be concentrated on the Danube in the following years to prevent a possible new invasion.

Answer: Caracalla

This edict had a financial purpose, to acquire new taxes, making Roman citizenship accessible to all the free people of the empire. In the Roman Empire only citizens were taxed.

Answer: Aurelianus

Aurelianus abandoned the Dacia with the intention of establishing a natural border on the Danube. The province had become far too vulnerable to the attacks of Visigoths and Ostrogoths.

Answer: The Tetrarchy

Diocletian divided the responsibility for leading the empire to four emperors, in a specific hierarchy: two Augusti assisted by two Caesares. The Empire was beginning to to collapse.

Answer: Theodosius

After Theodosius' death in 391, Flavius Arcadius was entitled to the Eastern part of the Empire (with the capital in Constantinople), while Flavius Honorius enherited the Western part (with the capital in Ravenna). The split, which had been experimented with in various forms in previous decades, now became official.

Answer: The Germanic leader Odoacer

After being captured, Romulus Augustulus was forced to abdicate and his life after this point is quite unclear. Odoacer sent the imperial insignia to East Roman emperor, symbolizing the end of what had probably been the greatest empire in history.