What a confusing decade the 410s have been. It's definitely time for a Partial Recap! We run through what the ancient sources tell us about this decade. The Partial Recap – The 410s BCE Want to get all the details? Jump in at Episode 140: The Commonwealth of Slaves . Sound Credits Our music was composed by Bettina Joy de Guzman . Transcript Dr Rad – Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 410s BCE! Dr G – I’m Dr G Dr Rad: and I’m Dr Rad Dr G: and this is our highlights edition of the 410s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 419 to 410 in an epitome of our normal episodes. Dr Rad: Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee – but please be warned – the Roman world is a violent one. Dr G: Get ready for a recappuccino. 419 BCE In 419 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Agrippa Menenius Lanatus, Publius Lucretius Hosti Tricipitunus, Spurius Nautius Rutilus and Gaius Servilius Axilla. This was a year of high drama, mama! Some of the slaves in Rome decided to stage a pretty audacious uprising – setting fires all over the city and then taking control of the Capitol whilst everyone else was distracted. Naturally, Rome’s best bud – Jupiter – made sure their plot failed. In other words, some of the slaves turned informer and were rewarded with their freedom and a healthy bonus As for the rest of the slaves – they were simply showered with attention – of the sharp and pointy kind. It’s a sad tale that does not end well. The Aequians and the Labici started rumbling in the distance this year – there was no major military action, but the Romans had their eyes peeled. 418 BCE In 418 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Lucius Sergius Fidenas, Marcus Papirius Mugillanus, and Caius Servilius Axilla. Ambassadors from Tusculum arrived in Rome in this year with very expected news – the Labicani were ready for war. They were so ready, they had already teamed up with the Aequians and started attacking areas in the countryside. The Romans did not need to hear any more – it was war! The Senate dispatched two of the military tribunes to campaign whilst one would remain in the city. The military tribunes immediately started slappy-fighting over who got to command the armies Quintus Servilius – the dictator who had captured the slippery city of Fidenae and father of one of the military tribunes – had to step in and send them all to their rooms whilst he sorted out the mess. Servilius placed his son in charge of Rome and packed off the other military tribunes with a hefty smack around the ears and some stern marching orders – “You’ve bragged an awful lot about yourselves so – You’d better WERK!” Almost as though the ROmans knew something was going to go wrong, only ten tribes were levied – and it was just as well because the military tribunes started swinging their ….swords around before they had even left the city. They could not agree on anything – the struggle was real. Things were so out of control that their lieutenants had to insist that the military tribunes held supreme command on alternate days Now, none of Rome’s wars happened very far away, so word made its way back to the city. Quintus Servilius told his son to get ready – disaster was on the horizon. Sure enough, Sergius ended up falling for the Meryl Streep performance given by the Aequians in an engagement and many of his men were slaughtered. The following day, the Roman camp was almost entirely surrounded and they had to abandon ship. OH THE SHAME! The leaders managed to grab their standards on the way out and headed for their most adorable allies – the Tusculans. With the rest of the Roman forces scattered as they fled – confusing reports reached Rome The general impression was – WORLD APOCALYPSE. Thanks to the wise leadership of Daddy and Sonny Servilius, the rest of the tribes were levied and readied. Sonny Servilius’ scouts tracked down the surviving soldiers at Tusculum, and it was a real morale booster to see that they were, you know, alive. The Romans felt a little more positive, but they knew they weren’t out of danger yet! Just to be safe, Daddy Servilius was made dictator. Servilius Snr chose Jnr to serve as his master of the horse – or perhaps he chose Mr Servilius Armpit (AHALA)? The Servilii trotted off into the fray and wouldn’t you know it? The Aequians were so overly confident after winning that Oscar in the previous battle, they started to get sloppy. In the very first engagement, Servilius Snr caused major disruption amongst the Aequian forces. Just to prove that he was the most serious Servilii in the camp, Servilius Snr killed a standard-bearer who hesitated when he ordered his troops to advance quickly. There’s no time for thinking!!! Just act, now, move, move, move. The Romans were feeling his energy and went full berserker The Aequian
