The Partial Recap – 410s BCE

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 mi...