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Acta Diurna: Vol. 1, #4

Acta Diurna Volume 1 Number 4
Aprilis 29 2016 AD

The Month of the Two Wars
by The Republic of Novo Senatus et Populusque Romanus

This month our glorious Imperium has witnessed two short wars, both presenting The Commonwealth of New Aglore as a protagonist of sorts. This warmongering during election times has distracted the Empire from what should truly be happening right now, were it not for our Imperator we could have easily forgotten that this is are times were the Empire is most vulnerable because of the change of administration in our government. One wrong move could result in a total fallout within Rome.
Furthermore, while the idea of having new faces in seats of power is enticing and most certainly welcome, we must never forget the nations that ensured our Empire is where it stands now. There is no official that has had a perfect run, and thus, constantly rubbing the mistakes of our current Cabinet without acknowledging the good they've done is as mature as claiming victory in a senseless discussion.
As a final note, I would like to end with a quote by american social critic James Baldwin, which in my opinion signals what will become of our future officials should we continue to disregard the accomplishments of all previous administrations.
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them" - James A. Baldwin

A Brief Overview of Julius Caesar
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore

Most of you might already know Julius Caesar, but for those who don't, here he is!
Rome's most famous citizen was no doubt Julius Caesar. He was a Roman politician and general who, without having any orders to do so, conquered the vast territory of the Gauls to the north of his province in France.
In the year 49 BC Caesar crossed the small river between his province and Italy, called the river Rubicon, and conquered Rome itself which he then ruled as a dictator.
His military campaigns also took him to Egypt where he met the famous Cleopatra.
His life though was ended as he was infamously murdered in the senate in Rome.
So famous and respected was Caesar that a month of the year is still named after him and his heirs today, July (after Julius Caesar). Also the great English poet Shakespeare wrote a famous play called Julius Caesar about his famous murder.

The Famous Emperors of Rome
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore

1)Augustus: Rome's first emperor. He also added many territories to the empire.
2)Claudius: He conquered Britain.
3)Nero: He was insane. He murdered his mother and his wife and threw thousands of Christians to the lions.
4)Titus: Before he was emperor he destroyed the great Jewish temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.
5)Trajan: He was a great conqueror. Under his rule the empire reached its greatest extent.
6)Hadrian: He built 'Hadrian's Wall' in the north of Britain to shield the province from the northern barbarians.
7) Diocletian:He split the empire into two pieces - a western and an eastern empire.
8)Constantine: He was the first Christian emperor. He united the empire again chose his capital to be the small town Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople.
9)Romulus Augustus: He was the last emperor of Rome, nicknamed Augustulus which means 'little Augustus'.
10)Justinian: He was the last 'great' emperor. He conquered many territories, created the 'Justinian Code' and built the fantastic church Santa Sophia.
11)Constantine XI: The last emperor of Constantinople. He died defending his great city against the Turks

The Great Fall of Ancient Rome
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore

The Roman empire in the end was overrun by millions of barbarians from the north and east of Europe. It is believed to have happened two or three times in history that huge migrations took place across Europe, where peoples moved to settle in new territories. The great migration proved too much for the Romans to stem. Their armies were designed to defeat other armies, not entire folks and peoples flooding toward them. The collapse was completed when Rome itself was conquered by the Visigoth Odoacer and his men in the year AD 476.
But what is generally referred to as 'the Fall of Rome' doesn't include the eastern empire. This, with its centre in Constantinople, managed to cling on for almost another thousand years until it was eventually conquered by the Turks under their leader Mohammed II in the year AD 1453.

Geese of Gold, Dogs of Death!
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore

The supplicia canum ("punishment of the dogs") was an annual sacrifice of ancient Roman religion in which live dogs were suspended from a furca ("fork") or cross (crux) and paraded. It appears on none of the extant Roman calendars, but a late source places it on August 3 (III Non. Aug.).
In the same procession, geese were decked out in gold and purple, and carried in honor. Ancient sources who explain the origin of the supplicia say that the geese were honored for saving the city during the Gallic siege of Rome. When the Gauls launched a nocturnal assault by stealth on the citadel, the geese raised a noisy alarm. The failure of the watch dogs to bark was thereafter ritually punished each year.

Latin Student Problem of the Week

Acta Diurna: Vol. 1, #3

Acta Diurna
Volume 1 Number 3
dies Mercurii ante diem VII Idus Aprilis MMDCCLXIX ab urbe condita (Wednesday April the 20th 2016)

Historical Committee to the Rescue!
by The Republic of Novo Senatus et Populusque Romanus
The Roman administration is now working on assembling a committee of scholars from all over the empire to create a long needed Historiarum Romanarum, finally all the accounts will be separated into facts and myths. Among the members of this committee is our honoured Legatus Teruko.
The disambiguation this committee will bring forth shall help our glorious empire better understand our current situation, and most importantly, it shall allow us to learn from our past mistakes so that we may avoid repeating them today.

The Republic of Rome?
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore
During 509 B.C, Early Rome was governed by kings, but after only seven of them had ruled, the Romans took power over their own city and ruled themselves.
They then instead had a council known as the 'senate' which ruled over them. From this point on one speaks of the 'Roman Republic'.
The word 'Republic' itself comes from the Latin (the language of the Romans) words 'res publica' which mean 'public matters' or 'matters of state'.
The senate under the kings had only been there to advise the king. Now the senate appointed a consul, who ruled Rome like a king, but only for one year. - This was a wise idea, as like that, the consul ruled carefully and not as a tyrant, for he knew that otherwise he could be punished by the next consul, once his year was up. But during 27 BC, Rome itself was reclassified as an Empire and it lives up to its title until now!

The Roman Classes
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore
Ancient Rome knew four classes of people. This division was very important to the Romans.
The lowest class were the slaves. They were owned by other people. They had no rights at all.
The next class were the plebeians. They were free people. But they had little say at all.
The second highest class were the equestrians (sometimes they are called the 'knights'). Their name means the 'riders', as they were given a horse to ride if they were called to fight for Rome. To be an equestrian you had to be rich.
The highest class were the nobles of Rome. They were called 'patricians'. All the real power in Rome lay with them, some cultural Romans today during modern times still believe in this classification of people.

The Carthaginian War
By The Commonwealth of New Aglore
The greatest challenge the Roman Republic faced was that of the Carthaginians. Carthage was a very powerful city in North Africa which, much like Rome, controlled its own empire. The fight between the two sides was a long one and took place on land and on sea.
The most famous incident came when the great Carthaginian general Hannibal crossed the mountain chain of the Alps to the north of Italy with all his troops, including his war-elephants, and invaded Italy!
Though Rome in the end won and Carthage was completely destroyed in the year 146 BC, Ave Romae!

Latin Student Problem of the Week
 

Acta Diurna: Vol. 1, #2

Acta Diurna
Volume 1 Number 2

Natale di Roma, Rome's Birthday!
by The Commonwealth of New Aglore
Not all cities celebrate their birthday... but Rome, 'born' in 753 BC, is no ordinary city. On the 21st of April, Rome will celebrate it's birthday with every Roman citizen! The bulk of the festivities take place at the Campidoglio. The city hall and the other palazzi on the hill are illuminated, and enormous quantities of fireworks are set off! Be sure to celebrate this special moment with 21st Century Rome!
dies Jovis Kalendis Aprilis MMDCCLXIX ab Urbe condita (April the 14th 2016 A.D)

The Parilia Festivity Arrives!
by The Republic of Novo Senatus et Populusque Romanus
Inactivity Leads to Vacants in Government
The Roman Senate has recently congressed to pass a new law proposed by the Imperator, which establishes that all government officials that are declared inactive by the Censor at the ante diem XVIII Kalendas (the 27th day) of each month will have to resign from their position. But fear not fellow romans! This does not mean we will have to do without a government official for months, on the contrary, any position left vacant will be open for elections during the first day of each month. Of course, this new election will not alter the normal terms, the newly elected official will act as an interim and finish the term of the previous official. For example, if the Praetor were to be declared inactive by the Censor, their position would be open for elections and voted upon on the first day of Maius (May).
This system seams to be quite efficient as it will ensure that no officer lags behind on his duties, ensuring an efficient and more dynamic government to Rome.

Latin Student Problem of the Week Image

Editorial disclaimer: I do not write these things. All credit to their original poster (http://latin-student-problems.tumblr.com/)

Acta Diurna: Vol. 1, #1

Acta Diurna
Volume 1 Number 1
840 ab urbe condita (87 anno domini)

The Will of Vesta Wavers
by The Republic of Novo Senatus et Populusque Romanus
Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus has announced this very evening that no other than Virgo Maxima Cornelia has committed crimen incesti. Since this crime is committed ever so rarely I would like to remind our readers that this crime is the worst amongst roman society, having sexual incursion with a Vestal Virgin, this being the highest act of treason because the body of a Vestal Virgin is sacred to the point where even touching it is forbidden.
The College of Pontiffs is currently holding judgment over this most heinous crime, standing accused Valerius Licianus has pleaded guilty of committing crimen incesti along with the Virgo Maxima. While the most severe punishment he will receive will be exile from Rome, the treasonous Virgo Maxima will most likely be buried alive soon.
This is an enormous disappointment for the People of Rome as the Virgo Maxima is supposed to protect the Flame of Vesta, the protecting light of Rome. If Cornelia is not executed the gods are sure to punish the entirety of Rome for her crimes, I say Imperator Domitianus is right to have brought the charge forward! Let Plinly say what he will, but the word of our Imperator is divine, surely our Caesar would never dare to present false charges agains the College of the Vestals?
Field of Mars to be Opened for the Public
by The Republic of Novo Senatus et Populusque Romanus
After the Campus Martius was filled with buildings because of the constant expansion of our beloved city, our glorious Imperator has decided to devote the lands of exiled Senator Lucius Macius Estefanus for the new Field. The project to remove all buildings from the Field will commence tomorrow during the Hora Prima of the Vigilia Prima. The cost of the project is an estimate of 100,000 denarius, a cost well worth the result.
All young romans should rejoice with the project as our city has long lacked a place for the young citizens to hone their military skills in front of their fellow romans. It was in such a place that the legendary Publius Cornelius Scipion Africanus first showed himself to the People of Rome when he bested his uncle with the expertise of an adult, who knows, our next great general may have the beginnings of his training on this very Field.
Dies Saturni ante diem VI Kalendas Aprilis MMDCCLXIX ab Urbe Condita (Saturday April the ninth 2016 anno domini)

The Parilia Festivity Arrives!
by The Republic of Novo Senatus et Populusque Romanus
The Emperor has announced it, the time is here! Rome's day of birth! Wether you fall in line with the story of legendary Romulus and Remus or heroic Aeneas, this is a day indiscriminately celebrated by all! What is more, the festivities will include glorious gladiator fights in the Flavian Amphitheatre. We must all remember we are indebted to Glorious Gaius Julius Caesar, who was the first roman to add games to the festivity.
Additionally, we must also remember this day is dedicated to Pales as well. While most shepherds carry out the ceremony of cleansing in the privacy of their homes, the priest of Pales will be carrying out a public sacrifice to honour this deity. While attendance to the ceremony still holds some sway among the people of Rome, most citizens are more interested in the games that will follow the sacrifice this very day.

Latin Student Problem of the Week Image