T. Quintius Flaminius
The man who ended Greek independence for once and all. Originally
hailed as a liberator, he read a proclamation at the Games that was
cheered so loudly that birds fell from the sky, stunned. But the moment
he turned his back the Greeks broke all agreements and fomented trouble
against Rome, again. This time he moved in and laid waste to the
land. The Greeks were now an occupied land, as they were never a
nation.
When Flaminius was about to capture Hannibal, the wily Carthaginian knew the game was up and took poison. Just as well for him.
Rome always chose survival above everything else. When they did not, their power was broken and the long decline began. The Empire lasted until 1453, not a bad run at all. The U.S. has been here, what, 200 years and change? And we are in decline. When the will to govern goes, so does the nation.
I have depicted the General holding a cane swagger stick. These were popular with Centurians, as a mark of office and also for beating the malefactor. One of these was know as "Cedo Altarum", or "give me another", after his habit of asking for another cane after he broke one on a soldier's back. He came to an abrupt end during the revolt that Germanicus quelled. I think it was Germanicus, anyway.
A Centurian was, as the name suggests, in charge of one hundred men. It was sort of a cross between gunnery sergeant and captain. One rose through the ranks to get there. Rome, like us, had a habit of commissioning the sons of the privileged as officers. This usually goes out the window in wartime with us, however, Rome does not seem to have promoted a lot of grunts to high position. Best read someone like Victor Davis Hanson on this, instead of the bitter fulminations of an aging heavy weapons corporal.
When Flaminius was about to capture Hannibal, the wily Carthaginian knew the game was up and took poison. Just as well for him.
Rome always chose survival above everything else. When they did not, their power was broken and the long decline began. The Empire lasted until 1453, not a bad run at all. The U.S. has been here, what, 200 years and change? And we are in decline. When the will to govern goes, so does the nation.
I have depicted the General holding a cane swagger stick. These were popular with Centurians, as a mark of office and also for beating the malefactor. One of these was know as "Cedo Altarum", or "give me another", after his habit of asking for another cane after he broke one on a soldier's back. He came to an abrupt end during the revolt that Germanicus quelled. I think it was Germanicus, anyway.
A Centurian was, as the name suggests, in charge of one hundred men. It was sort of a cross between gunnery sergeant and captain. One rose through the ranks to get there. Rome, like us, had a habit of commissioning the sons of the privileged as officers. This usually goes out the window in wartime with us, however, Rome does not seem to have promoted a lot of grunts to high position. Best read someone like Victor Davis Hanson on this, instead of the bitter fulminations of an aging heavy weapons corporal.
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