The Story of the Roman Empire: or, The Kingdom of Iron
Table of Contents
The Story of the Roman Empire; or, the Kingdom of Iron - 1
WE have endeavored in the pages of our Magazine to give brief outline sketches of the great empires that exercised power and authority upon the earth during the ages before Christ came.
These different kingdoms were the Assyrian, or Babylonian, the Persian, and the Macedonian, or Grecian. Exactly as it was foretold by Daniel, these empires arose, exerted tremendous influence for a period, and then passed away.
We recall the words of the great prophet as he stood before the king: “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold [Babylonia], his breast and his arms of silver [Persia], his belly and his thighs of brass [Greece], his legs of iron [Rome], his feet part of iron and put of clay” (Dan. 2:31-32).
Now, it is no fanciful attempt to read history into the Word of God, but it is the assured signification of such wonderful Scriptures that certain great Powers were to arise and play an all-important part in the progress of the world’s history, and unquestionably these four vast world-empires did arise, and in succession exercise paramount influence upon the earth, and were the dominating authority during the distinct periods when they held sway over the other subordinate nations of the earth.
We have very briefly touched upon the principal features in the rule of the kingdoms of “gold” and “silver” and “brass,” and it is our purpose now to unravel a little the story of the kingdom of “iron.” It is, for several reasons, perhaps the most thrillingly interesting of all. In the first place the tide of civilization and power seemed to set towards the West. Military success had been followed by national indolence and apathy, and so while the one nation declined the other gradually arose, as if upon the ruin of its predecessor, and became the conquering and all powerful kingdom; and in the second place the time was coming nearer for the culmination of the great prophetic period in the coming into this world of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and we say reverently that it was necessary, in God’s great plan, that the ascendency of Rome should be assured in order that this event, by far the most wonderful in all the world’s history, should be brought about in the way and at the very time that God had ordained it should occur, and which in the Scripture is called “the fulness of times.”
In these preliminary words we would also just observe that it is remarkable to discover how these different empires historically overlap one another. While Assyria, Persia, and Greece, each in turn assumed supremacy, the beginnings of the following great Power can be traced far away back through the ages; and thus it was with Rome. For hundreds and hundreds of years the people who formed the nucleus of that eventually immense empire existed in a semi-barbaric state, and were almost unknown and unnoticed by the nations that had reached the zenith of their might; but all the time they were growing in power; and combining their interests in such a way, that when the conflict came with the older and really declining· empire they were prepared to make a bold struggle for the military supremacy of the world. Thus, as we shall see, it was with Rome, as Daniel called it, “the fourth kingdom,” which was to be as “strong as iron.”
We shall trace in a very simple manner, so that the ordinary reader can follow the story, the gradual rise of this great power, until its decline and fall, many years after the Christian era began.
The Story of the Roman Empire: Or, the Kingdom of Iron - 2
THE history of Rome is in many respects similar to that of the nations that had gone before. With Egypt, Assyria, Persia, and Greece the power and influence appeared to emanate principally from one dominant center, usually, of course, a city, such as Babylon, Persepolis, or Athens. Indeed, in ancient times the power of a nation was not so much associated with the territorial extent of its country as with the concentrated force of the military power attached to the capital city: and it was exactly thus with Rome.
Six or seven hundred years before the Christian era the peoples who occupied the remarkable peninsula which projects so far from Southern Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, were made up of various strangely-differing types: (1) the Gauls in the north: (2) the Ligurians in the western division of the land: (3) the Etruscans, who occupied territory which was bounded on the south and on the east by the River Tiber.
It is not our purpose to write at any length concerning the races that occupied the peninsula, but we would say that the study of the early history of the Etruscans is full of the deepest interest, and tends, in our belief, to explain the wonderful progress in civilization of the nation that eventually exercised such a mighty influence in the world. The manners and customs of the Etruscans were totally different from the rest of the various tribes by which they were surrounded: and it is surely worthy of note that even when Rome itself was scarcely known as a city these people were governed upon perfectly equitable and civilized principles, and there is no doubt that the great influence of the Etruscans in matters of religion, and in the ordinary civil administration of the State, the Romans were much indebted to these early inhabitants, and, indeed, also to the Greeks, who had planted many colonies all along the coast of Southern Italy.
There were various tribes, such as the Umbrians, the Volscians, the Samnites, the Latins, and, indeed, other bodies, all being governed quite independently, and very frequently being in open hostility to each other, and at the period of which we are writing, about 550 B.C., the Latins, who became the dominant power, were really quite an insignificant race, whereas the Etruscan power was the foremost and the most influential in every respect.
Such, briefly stated, was the position of the Italian peninsula about the time when any reliable history concerning the people begins.
The origin of the great empires of the world has more or less been enshrouded in legend and uncertainty, and it was so with Rome. We can pass over the stories connected with the childhood of Romulus and Remus, but no doubt there is truth in the tradition that they became the first kings. Anyway, it is pretty clear that Ascanius built a city and called it Alba Longa, that is, “the Long White City,” but Romulus and Remus loved the Tiber, on which river it was said they had been placed in a cradle, and were carried by the current to the foot of the Palatine Hill: on this spot, therefore, they determined to found a city, and if there is any truth in all that has been told in song and story, this was the real starting point in its marvelous history.
The Story of the Roman Empire; or, the Kingdom of Iron - 3
IT is well, in considering the might and power of Rome in the zenith of her imperial authority in the world, to go back in our minds to the beginnings of her history, and to remember that all her greatness and worldwide domination were achieved, at the most, in a space of 750 years.
There is a singular parallel in the record of our own land: we should have to go back to the days of Edward I., and know what England was then, and compare it in regard to conquest and progress with the days in which we live, to get anything like an idea of what was the advance of the power of Rome and the manner in which she had imposed her iron will upon other nations, during the centuries previous to the coming into the world of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And whatever we may think about the method adopted by Rome to accomplish her military purposes, and however cruel and intolerant she may have been in conflict with her foes, yet we cannot read the remarkable story without an assured conviction that century after century God made even the wrath of men to praise Him, and eventually so marvelously focused events, as to make the period of the advent of Christ a crisis in the world’s history such as had never been known before. We are anticipating much we may have to say about the preceding ages, but it is to us a marvel to know that for hundreds and hundreds of years Rome had never been at peace, the battle flag had never been furled. The mighty legions had marched victoriously throughout the then known world, and the appearance of her fearful eagles in the vanguard of her conquering armies had sent terror for generations into the hearts of myriads of the inhabitants of far distant provinces: but after seven centuries of such conflict Augustus, as if in preparation for the coming of the Lord, entered the city and kept high festival to announce that their enemies had been subdued, and that Rome was at peace with all the world.
Writers of the period tell of his triumphal reception during the month of August, 29 B.C., and how on the 11Th of January of that year he had closed the Temple of Janus, the god of war, as an indication of the profound peace throughout the Roman Empire. Think of this time, and contrast it with the events of well-nigh 750 years before, when it is said Romulus yoked a bullock and a heifer to a plough and made a furrow round the Palatine Hill, and thereby indicated that this should be the limits of the city. Visitors to Rome now can form some idea of what that meant, and are better able to estimate the change that had transpired when, amidst its mighty palaces, temples, and monuments, Augustus and his invincible forces re-entered Rome in 29 B.C.
The Story of the Roman Empire or, the Kingdom of Iron - 4
THE history of Rome might very well be divided into four distinct epochs, each consisting, in round figures, of 250 years.
The first period would comprise the time dating from the foundation of the city, 750 B.C., until the downfall of the monarchy, when Tarquin, after having reigned for 25 years, returned to Rome and found the gates closed against him.
The second period dates from the establishment of the Republic, under the Consuls L. Brutus and P. Valerius, until the first Punic War, as it was called—that is, the first struggle for supremacy between the Empire and Carthage about 250 B.C. The third period would include the wonderful conflict with Hannibal, the conquest of Macedonia and Syria, the subjection of Spain, and ultimately the destruction of Carthage by Scipio Africanus. Certainly the most remarkable events in Roman history occurred about this date, until Caesar was made Consul about 59 B.C., when, without doubt, the power and supremacy of Rome were almost universally recognized. This great man was only fifty-six years of age when he was assassinated He was in our judgment the greatest general, and in many other respects the greatest man, that ever lived. As a statesman and writer, as well as a soldier, he had no equal in his own age, and as we think neither has there appeared one greater than he in any other, and probably as the invader of Britain his name is more interwoven with our own history than that of any other ruler of the Roman Empire.
Moreover, the supremest event of the world’s strange story brought to a termination the third great epoch to which we have referred. At the very close of it, in the days of Augustus, THE great crisis in the world’s history occurred, viz., the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for men may say what they choose about that, but it is the central point in all records, the mighty center from which radiates all that concerns the best and highest and noblest interests of men the wide world over. We affirm unhesitatingly that it forms the crux of the world’s history.
Then began the fourth period, from the death of Augustus, A. D. 14, until say the days of Constantine the Great, as he is called, through whom the Roman Empire was once more consolidated under one Emperor. The recognition of Christianity by this monarch, whether it tended to the advantage of practical religion or not, was assuredly a marvelous epoch in the world’s history. Time and often terrible persecutions had arisen, and myriads of Christians had suffered martyrdom rather than sacrifice to the pagan gods, or take part in the multitudinous festivals arranged to do honor to the many deities of Rome. It was therefore a wonder when persistency and faithfulness were victorious and the great potentate and his rulers professed, not only to tolerate, but to accept personally the tenets of these hitherto persecuted followers of Christ.
It is, however, none the less remarkable that from the days when true religion and political expediency seemed to join hands, the real downfall of the great Empire whose history we are considering began, and no sooner had its recent royal convert laid the foundations of his new Eastern Capital on the promontory of Thrace, that reaches out into the Black Sea, and called it Constantinople, than disintegration set in, and its great builder had hardly passed away when at the very heart of the Empire terrible internal evidence began to be manifest of dissolution and decay.
IF a great thing can be done at all, it can be done easily. But it is that kind of ease with which a tree blossoms after long years of gathering strength.
The Story of the Roman Empire: Or, the Kingdom of Iron - 5
WE have spoken of the four periods in the early history of Rome into which the story of its gradual development can be divided. If we obtain a general idea of these, we shall be able to understand better how eventually the people were able to wield such mighty power.
There is something wonderful in being able to trace the growth of a kingdom. Just like an acorn, at first it is buried and almost unnoticed, then it sends forth its tiny tendrils, and afterwards the deeply embedded roots, until at last it rises tall and strong as the noble oak, and is able to withstand the blasts of the terrible storm: or, as the little spring of water, gradually increasing as it flows onwards, until it becomes the broad, deep, magnificent river. So it was with Rome. Its beginnings enshrouded in mystery, gradually its power was felt, until, in the very crisis of the earth’s history, her people manifested their strength and power, and enforced, as their influence spread, almost universal submission.
We venture to repeat that this was intended to be and was permitted by an over-ruling Power. The world would not be what it is today had not Rome arisen to shape its destiny, and by its Imperialism to train men’s minds upon principles, which, however severe they might appear, were calculated to have the effect of producing self-control and proper obedience to a legitimately constituted authority.
We ought also to bear in mind that even during the days of pagan Rome, when the great men of the land looked to heathen gods and goddesses for help in the days of adversity and for guidance in almost all the affairs of daily life, yet that even then they should have formulated laws for the government of the people of a most beneficent character, or that the greatest possible good, so far as equity and justice and freedom were concerned, should be the prerogative and privilege of every member of the great Commonwealth.
During the first 250 years of the authenticated records of Rome, there were seven kings, namely, Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Martins, L. Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, and Tarquinius Superbus, who reigned from 534 to 510 B.C. The sincere desire of each of these appears to have been to rule righteously, and although often conflicts arose with neighboring tribes, yet the great idea was to consolidate and strengthen the kingdom, so that the people might live in peace and profitably cultivate the land.
And, surely, it seems strange to read that all those ages before the Christian era, in the time of Romulus, for example, there was a definite constitution and government very similar to that under which we live now. The small colony dwelling in the Palatine was, in every sense of the word, a limited monarchy. A senate, consisting of one hundred members, elected by the people, and presided over by the king, had laws for the welfare of the populace submitted to it, and the members had the power to pass or to reject, as they pleased, the proposals brought forward. A little later on, during the reign of the third king, this method of government was amplified. Several of the adjoining states had coalesced with the Palatinate colony, and were given at once a proper representation in the government, so much so that our own Houses of Lords and Commons are just copies of this ancient type. The patrician class formed the senate, and the general assembly was, as a rule, chosen from the plebeian class. There was also another element called clientes, consisting of emancipated slaves. Their designation is connected with the word cluere (“to hear”), hence our term clients, because these men were dependents, and were supposed to listen to their masters’ word.
The authority of the king was great, although he was regarded more as a chief magistrate, and one of the fundamental features of the Roman Commonwealth was, that the ruler should never go to war, or undertake any important work, or make any change in the government of the country, without first consulting his advisers. Surely in all these things we can see how similar principles in our land have tended for 1,000 years to ensure liberty to the subjects generally, so far as the constitution is concerned, peace and equity to law-abiding citizens.
The Story of the Roman Empire: Or, the Kingdom of Iron - 6
THE second epoch of Roman history, that is from the year 500 B.C. until the time of the conflict with Carthage about 250 B.C. was a period of remarkable interest for Rome itself and her citizens generally.
After the banishment of Tarquinius Superbus, as mentioned in our former article, the people resolved to have no more kings, and established a Republic and elected one from among themselves as Dictator. He was only appointed for one year, and very soon they became afraid that this official might assume too much power, and so they chose two officers called Praetors (or leaders). These men were eventually called Consuls (or deliberators). The first two thus elected were L. Brutus and P. Valerius. The latter was known as Publicola or “The People’s Friend,” because he had a law passed that every Roman citizen when condemned by a magistrate should have a right of appeal, and we know in after years how the Apostle Paul and others availed themselves of this high privilege. No matter where a Roman citizen might be, he always afterwards was able to exercise this right to appeal unto Caesar or to the Roman people, if he desired to do so. About this time, too, Tarquinius endeavored to recover his throne, and the exciting incidents that occurred are graphically described by Macaulay in his celebrated lay, telling
“How well Horatius kept the bridge
In the brave days of old.”
Lars Porsena, the great leader of the Etruscans, approached the city at the head of an enormous army, and would have entered had not Horatius and his heroic companions kept the invaders at bay while the bridge was broken down. Although the Etruscans were after a siege successful in obtaining possession of the Janiculum, and other parts of the city, they soon were obliged to retire, and when not long afterwards they were defeated at the battle of Lake Regillus the security of Rome became far more firmly established.
Before long, however, the different classes came into conflict. The Patrician element had always striven to tyrannize over the Plebeians, until once after a campaign against the Volscians, the common people in a body refused to remain in Rome and left the city to the care of the Patricians. They were, of course, alarmed at the possibility of having to do all the ordinary labor themselves, and so they sent an old man named Menenius Agrippa to reason with them. He told them a singular fable which has been handed down in history, and it so went home to their hearts that, upon the understanding that they might have officers or tribunes of their own, and that more liberal treatment should be accorded to them, they came back, and several new laws were at once passed. One was that all existing debts should be cancelled, and all debtors be given liberty. Then the people demanded an interest in the land, and the first agrarian law was passed which gave a portion of the public land as the inalienable right of the people. Strange to say, Spurius Cassius, through whom this famous law came into existence, was one of the foremost leaders of the Patrician party. The Plebeians also insisted that two of their number should be represented on the tribunal that settled these affairs, and it is remarkable that, in the light of councils and such regulations now, these men then had also the charge of the public buildings, and the roads and streets, and also arrangements for the safety of the city. This, for such an early era, is surely like the beginnings of county and borough councils, but at any rate it was tending to secure the better government of this gradually expanding kingdom.
The Story of the Roman Empire; or, the Kingdom of Iron - 7
WE told in our last paper how the old Romans deposed their king and established a Republic, and made laws which were just and equitable: but this did not ensure either internal or external peace for any length of time. War amongst themselves, or against their enemies, was just as frequent during the days of the Tribunes as when the Tarquins ruled.
Ever since sin came into the world and ambitious designs entered the hearts of men, conflict and strife have been inevitable, and will be until Christ comes whose right it is to reign. Not till then will true and lasting peace be known upon this broad earth, and as we read the history of this ancient people, a verse from God’s Word often recurs to our minds which declares, that surely “the wrath of man shall praise Thee, the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain” (Psalm 65:10). For men may go to intolerable lengths: they may assert their own wills in an extraordinary fashion: they may exercise commanding influence, as in the days of the Pharaohs, of the Kings of Assyria and Persia and Greece, but a limit seems to be placed upon the power of the mightiest conqueror, and at last he has to bow to the authority of a greater than himself.
We have seen in the history of the nations that have arisen and declined how God’s Hand seemed to be above it all, controlling, and eventually leading to the fulfilment of His great purposes: and so now, although well-nigh five hundred years had yet to be, before the Son of God was to come into this world in Judea’s Land, yet the devout and careful reader can trace the mighty Hand of God in the story, and perceive how events so apparently remote were tending to show that the very “wrath of man” would work out to the “praise” of God, and that His restraining might would hinder even the tyranny of kings or nations going beyond such lengths as were known to, or permitted by, Him, as His Word declares, THE REMAINDER OF WRATH SHALT THOU RESTRAIN.
We can only give the general trend of events in the story of old Rome. It is not our purpose to occupy our readers with all the war and strife and internal tumult that troubled the empire during the period we are now considering. It has well been said that the history of a nation is generally the story of its battles, and this is especially true concerning the second epoch of Rome’s history which we are now considering. The people were increasing in numbers and advancing in power. By alliances with some of the surrounding Latin and other nations, their forces were consolidated, and they were better able to resist the attacks of the barbaric tribes. The incident connected with Coriolanus (amongst many that are manifestly legendary) is generally accepted as true. He had fought bravely for his country, but was ultimately exiled, and then joined the Volscians in their attack against Rome. The people knew how brave he was, and feared the consequences of his anger. At first ten of the foremost men of the Senate went out to appeal to him to forbear, then all the priests and augurs and others associated with the Pagan worship of the temples went out in all their white and beautiful priestly vestments, but to no purpose. Then his aged mother, Venturia, and his wife, Volumnia, went out leading her little children. They were accompanied by the most famous matrons of Rome, and as they appeared before the tent of the warrior, his old mother and his wife prayed him, for their sakes, to spare the city of Rome. Their appeal was irresistible, and Coriolanus said, as he give evidence of his tenderness of heart, “Mother, thou hast saved Rome, but thou hast lost thy son,” because he knew his present masters would condemn him as a traitor for yielding.
The story of Cincinnatus is also interesting. He was found ploughing in the field clad only in the ordinary country costume, when the Senators appeared, calling upon him to take command of the Roman army. He obeyed the summons, and by a series of remarkable maneuvers managed to surround the AEquian army and forced it to entirely surrender.
The way in which he treated the enemies of his country has almost passed into a proverb, as he made them all, as a sign of submission, “pass under the yoke.” Two spears were fixed upright in the ground, and a third secured across the top, and each man had to pass thereunder, and ever since the idea of passing under the yoke has been indicative of complete subjection upon the part of an enemy.
The Story of the Roman Empire; or, the Kingdom of Iron - 8
THE Story of Rome is so vast that it is extremely difficult to compress within the column or so of a magazine, month by month, even the merest outline of it: but we desire, if we can, just to trace the various leading features of the history of this ancient Empire, in order that our readers may perceive how all the events connected with the development of this wonderful nation tended to manifest the design and purposes of God in history.
It has been observed by interested friends that we are disposed to take too favorable a view of the rulers and of the general government of this great Empire. But it is not so. We are fully alive to the fact that for ages the administration of the ruling powers in Rome was cruel and intolerant indeed: but admitting this, we can perceive, as we have over and over again stated, that the very cruelty, whether of kings or people, was often restrained in a singular manner, and the tyrannical power of this indomitable people was controlled by a Power above and beyond their calculations.
This, perhaps, was most evident during the remainder of the second epoch of their history. We venture to say that during the period, say, from 450 to 250 B.C., nothing could be finer than the efforts of many wise men amongst the people to frame just and wise laws, and to secure equity for all. Let any one study carefully the various codes of laws that were proposed by celebrated men for the just government of the people during this era, and he would be bound to confess that they would have done credit to our own times and generation; because they were, on the whole, generous and perfectly equitable: but this even, as now, frequently led to open conflict between those who desired to secure more liberty and a greater share in the land and in the general jurisdiction of the country.
So much in earnest were the people to obtain enlightenment upon matters that might tend to the general good, that actually in 462 B.C. three commissioners, or Triumviri as they were called, were sent into Greece to collect information concerning the laws of Solon at Athens, and to elicit useful information for the guidance of the rulers at home as to the government of other Greek States. The result of all this was the tabulation of the laws into what they termed “the Twelve Tables,” and these were for long ages regarded with the greatest veneration as the basis of all Roman law, and some of the tenets therein, however little they may have been observed nationally, bear a striking resemblance to the Decalogue.
During the time when many of the citizens of Rome were busy law-making, the military forces were doing all they could to gradually subjugate the surrounding nations and tribes. We can understand how necessary this was, so as to pave the way for the greater dominion the Romans were afterwards to secure. Their power must be unquestioned at home before the vast armies that would eventually arise could march forth to the uttermost limits of the known world. One of the most singular struggles of old Rome was against the King of Veii. The siege of the city itself lasted, like that of Troy, ten years, and its ultimate capture was almost as singular. The waters of the Alban Lake rose to a great height, and submerged the adjacent country. It was said by an oracle that Veii would never be taken until a way was made for the overflowing waters to reach the sea, and so the old Romans started to make a tunnel. It was six thousand feet long, and four and a half feet wide, and although two thousand years have passed away, it serves the same useful purpose even now: but the making of it gave the commander of the Roman forces an idea how he might take the city, for he made another tunnel under the city, and one day, when the priest was engaged in offering a sacrifice to Juno, a band of brave men emerged at the Capitol. The army outside surrounding the city made vigorous assaults at the same time, and the inhabitants were thrown into such terror that the Roman soldiers inside opened the gates to their companions, and Veii was occupied by the Romans.
It is only another example of the uncertainty of all human greatness, for Camillus, the conqueror, and the man who had so cleverly compassed the capture of the town after the long siege, returned to Rome. He entered the city in magnificent triumph, drawn in a chariot by white horses, and erected on the hill of the Aventine the statue of Juno, which had been the guide and boast of Veii. But his countrymen envied Camillus. He was accused of appropriating spoil for his personal use, and was arraigned before the tribunes. He went voluntarily into exile, and as he went he prayed that judgment might overtake his ungrateful people, and so it did, for even then an enemy was at the doors. The powerful Gauls had crossed the Apennines, and Rome, grand Rome as she was even then, was left a mound of ashes by these terrible foes. Then the Romans resolved to recall Camillus from banishment and elect him Dictator.
The Story of the Roman Empire: Or, the Kingdom of Iron - 9
THE Gauls who vanquished the Roman army and destroyed the city were undoubtedly a branch of the Celtic race, which had spread over the greater part of Western Europe, and inhabited the country we now know as France, and also our own Islands. They took possession of Northern Italy and eventually marched on Rome. Their battle cry was always, “Our way lies for Rome,” and on the 16th of July (390 B.C.), about eleven miles from the city, they met the Roman legions on the banks of the little river Allia and totally defeated them. With the exception of the Capitol, the city immediately fell into the hands of the victors, and the tradition is that this central point was only saved through “the cackling of the geese” that were held sacred to Juno. Their cries warned the sentinels of the approach of the Gauls, and enabled them to successfully defend the citadel.
The defeat of the Romans at this period of their history was not an unmixed evil, for it taught them the necessity of greater care in estimating the power of their enemies. They began to imagine they were invincible: but the disaster on the borders of the little river so close to their own home was ever a black-letter day in their record, and indicated that sterner discipline was an absolute necessity to secure victory, and the result of the lesson was, that very soon the invaders were driven back and for many years never ventured to definitely oppose in battle the Roman army.
Indeed, the position occupied by the Roman power about this era was very remarkable. She was surrounded by enemies ready to take advantage of her disaster, but she reorganized her forces, and so united all the military powers over which she had any control, that they presented an unbroken front to the foes of her country, and caused her to triumph more decidedly than ever over all the different races that either singly or in combination endeavored to subdue her.
And so for the next 130 years, until the great conflict with Carthage began, Rome surely became the undisputed master of Italy. Over and over again the Samnites tried to crush her, but it was all of no avail. This powerful nation, like the Latins years before, was obliged to yield to the mightier power of Rome and to accept a treaty of peace which left them practically under the domination of their conquerors. Other trials, however, came upon the city of Rome about this period. A fearful pestilence raged, which carried off very many of the ablest citizens: the Tiber overflowed its banks and did terrible damage: moreover, an earthquake shook the city, which had but recently been rebuilt, and, as the story runs, a chasm opened in the Forum, into which a noble youth Mettus Curtius leaped, all mounted as he was on his horse and clad in armor, in order to satisfy the wrath of the gods who demanded such a sacrifice. The incident is often cited, and reminds us of ONE who did go into the breach for sinners and died that they might live.
The Story of the Roman Empire: Or, the Kingdom of Iron - 10
THE history of Rome from the time of the retirement of the Gauls until the first Punic war, that is, the commencement of the long struggle with Carthage, was full of exceeding interest. The people began to rebuild the city, and the very troubles that arose produced a steadiness in their public conduct that had not been so noticeable heretofore. New laws, of a just and generally acceptable character, were passed, and the comfort and care of the workers in the community were more considered.
The enactments known as the “Licinian Laws” had a salutary effect, and made the citizens more ready to unite with the Patrician party in the common effort to render their position safer against the repeated attacks of their foes. One of these new laws prevented the acquisition of large areas of land by the wealthier classes, and ran thus: “That no citizen should possess more than 500 jugera of the public land, nor should feed upon the public pastures more than zoo head of large, and 500 of small cattle, under penalty of a heavy fine.” In former days the powerful men had monopolized all the public pasturage, and had rendered it impossible for the poor man’s sheep or oxen to be fed.
When, therefore, fresh enemies attacked the country, the people were more united, and time after time withstood bravely the most terrible onslaughts. One of the most stirring episodes recorded occurred in relation to Pyrrhus, king of Epirus. The Tarentines, originally a colony of Lacedaemonians, resented a breach in the treaty made with the Romans, and sent an Embassy asking this ruler to help them. Pyrrhus had boundless ambition, and listened to the appeal. He had a large army, noted particularly because of the elephants that accompanied it. The first battle took place on the banks of the River Siris. The Romans crossed it, and on both sides the most daring valor was exhibited: but at last the king ordered his elephants to attack, and the Romans, being utterly unaccustomed to this mode of warfare, and their horses being startled by the appearance of these huge creatures, they turned and took to flight, and the Romans left their camp in the enemy’s hands. Afterwards, as Pyrrhus looked upon the fallen soldiers, with all their wounds in front, he said, “If these were my soldiers, or if I were their general, we should conquer the world,” and he added, “Another such a victory as this and I must return to Epirus alone.” Indeed, so much was the king impressed with the splendid heroism of the defeated foe, that he sent Cineas his ambassador to endeavor to conclude peace with the Republic. His eloquence before the Senate almost prevailed, when a patriotic old member rose—Ap. Claudius Caecus—and declared that “Rome never negotiated with an enemy on her own soil.” This proud reply led Cineas to return to his master, saying, “The city was like a city of the gods, and the Senate like an assembly of kings.”
Soon after this the Romans sent C. Fabricius to secure, if possible, the exchange or ransom of prisoners. He was a typical Roman. When at home he just cultivated his own farm, but was trusted because of his known inviolable integrity. Pyrrhus tried his utmost to induce this splendid specimen of a true man to accept terms which the Senate considered dishonorable, but it was all unavailing. He offered him large sums of money, but it was entirely useless. Moreover, when persuasion failed, Pyrrhus caused an elephant that had been concealed behind a curtain to wave his enormous trunk over his head, as if to inspire fear: but Fabricius stood calm, steady, and apparently unmoved, without appearing to notice the creature. Finally the negotiations failed, but so impressed was the king with the nobility of the ambassador that he offered to let all the prisoners return to Rome to celebrate a certain festival, upon the understanding that they voluntarily returned, if the Senate ultimately refused the terms previously announced by Cineas. This it resolved to do, and the prisoners to a man returned, in accordance with the promise given to their conqueror.
Surely these things speak to us, even in this day, and show how elevated ought to be the character and the conduct of those who bear the name of Christ. Alas, how often we do not come up to the standard of honor and integrity exemplified in the histories of these famous men in days of old, pagans though they were.
The Story of the Roman Empire: Or, the Kingdom of Iron - 11
THERE is no doubt the most remarkable period of Roman history was that comprised within the two hundred and fifty years immediately preceding the advent of Christ Jesus the Saviour into the world.
Pyrrhus, of whom we wrote in our previous paper, had been slain. He was defeated at Bene-ventum, and ultimately lost his life, through a tile, thrown by a woman from a housetop in the City or Argos, having fatally wounded him. Then his forces retired from the Latin peninsula, and the Romans were left for a very short time in comparative peace.
About this time, however, began the formidable struggle with Carthage. This wonderful city was founded by the Phoenicians of Tyre, and, therefore, the people were, strange to say, connected with the Semitic race. They were active traders, and possessed a splendid fleet, with which they carried on a considerable commerce, and also with their ships of war attacked and captured some of the Roman towns on the coast. Some great and brave men resisted strenuously the efforts of Regulus and other generals who endeavored to break the power of the Carthaginians. One of them, Hamilcar, was a noble defender of the integrity of his country. When his young son was only nine years of age, he told him of the efforts the Romans were making to subjugate their land, and he asked the young lad to declare in the presence of all the people that he would never be a friend of the Roman people. That boy’s name was Hannibal, and who has not read how he kept his promise to his father? His marvelous march over the Alps into Italy, the victory of Cann, when it is said 70,000 Romans were slain, and all his wonderful deeds, until in the year 202 B.C. he met Publius Cornelius Scipio on the decisive battlefield of Zama, when his army was destroyed, and he had to flee for his life. All these historical facts are well known to every reader, and the final defeat of the great man Hannibal left Rome free to pursue her career of conquest almost unopposed.
Very soon the kingdoms in the East, over which Alexander once held sway, came under Roman domination.
About the year 133 B.C., Macedonia, Greece, Asia, Spain, and, indeed, all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, were under the direct authority of Rome and were governed as Roman provinces. Carthage also was utterly destroyed, for, singular to say, although so powerless the Romans had all along been afraid of her, and eventually set the city on fire and burned it so that hardly a vestige of it remained.
It is singular how often in the history of the rise and progress of nations many of the best men have been treated with neglect. Scipio Africanus, who had done so much for Rome, died in exile, and the words “Ungrateful Country” were written on his grave. Cato, another patriotic citizen, said, “What will become of Rome when she has no other state to fear.” The brothers Tiberius and Caius Gracchus, too, tried their utmost to guide the state in a way that would be worthy of her mighty power. But all their efforts were unavailing, and both lost their lives at the hands of their own countrymen. When they were boys their mother Cornelia, when asked to show her jewels, called for her sons and put her arms around their necks saying, “These are my jewels.”
We have not space to tell of Marius, or Cinna, or Sulla, or of Marcus Tullius Cicero, and others who labored for the welfare of the state until the time of Caius Julius Caesar. He was born in the year 100 B.C. Descended as he was from an old noble patrician family he in early life gave evidence of remarkable powers and that he was a born leader of men; but few would have imagined that he was destined, not only to subjugate the proud spirit of the Roman nobility and to overthrow the republican power, but also to become the absolute ruler of the Roman world, and to pave the way, through the controlling power of the Eternal God, for such momentous events as have proved of the highest concern to men of all ages ever since, and will do so to the end of time.