Introduction to Roman Triumph

A Roman victory was celebrated with spectacular celebrations in ancient *** City of Rome against a military commander who won an important victory on the battlefield. Approved by the Senate, it was a lavish and entertaining propaganda campaign, a reminder of the glory of Rome and its military superiority over all other nations.

Later, as victories became so popular and important in commanders' ambitions, they were reserved only for the emperor. Over time, *** became more and more extravagant, as sometimes deeply unpopular rulers tried to curry favor with the Roman people by putting on an unforgettable show.

Ancient Sources

Many of the victories, because they were so important to political life and celebrated for so long, were well recorded by the Romans, even though later sources Keen to impress the royal family and therefore prone to exaggeration. Initially, victory belonged to any high-ranking commander who had performed great military exploits (or commanded junior officers who had performed so) and brought his army back to Rome, but in the late Roman Republic, the rules were often twisted, and in the Empire Period, privileges became less frequent. This is because the emperor, in order to maintain the public's affection for himself, made *** the exclusive right of the royal family.

According to the 5th century AD historian Orosius, by the 1st century AD, Rome had 320 victories. We also have a partial list (part of the Fasti Triumphales of all Roman and Roman victories, which probably first appeared in the 20 BCE arch) of Augustus in the Roman Forum. However, no matter how many people there are, when the city does host a victory, it must be one of the most impressive sights that citizens see in the city and is anything but an entertaining spectacle.

Victory of *** and the Party

Roman historians even describe early kings as celebrating victory, but this may be pure fiction. *** What may have originally been entirely religious (and it did always maintain a religious element) involved offering food to Lieber, the god of fertility, to ensure a good harvest. It is also possible that this is a tradition borrowed from the Etruscans, but evidence is lacking.

The star of the show, the godlike victor would ride in a spectacular high-sided chariot drawn by four horses for a lavish parade through the streets of Rome.

The first celebrations of Roman military victories were undoubtedly much more modest and direct, but from the Punic Wars onwards general procedures were established. First, the commander may receive a standing ovation from his regiment, for which he has earned the honorary title of Grand General. Then it was common to send tablets and laurel wreaths (symbolic of great victories since the Olympic Games, the Archaic period), known as litterae laureatae, to the Roman Senate. If the Senate confirms the victory, its importance will be equally confirmed by his salutatio imperatoria. The commander now had the right to add a laurel wreath to his girdle (a bundle of sticks and axes, a symbol of authority) and call himself the honorary title of emperor. He could do this until the end of his public victory (if he was granted one) or until he crossed the Pomerium, the sacred border of the Roman city.

The next step is for the commander to go to Rome in person and wait outside Pomera Palace. There, he would carry with him his auspicia militaria, a gift from the city before his campaign. They could only be returned in the city on the day of the public victory he now had to give to the Senate ***. Instead of going to the Senate, they came to him and held a meeting in the Temple of Bellona to hear his claims. Sometimes there is much debate, but a charismatic leader who is considered popular with the people and influential friends always has a good chance of victory.

Each triumphal ceremony is different, but many similarities are evident. They usually spend the entire day delivering speeches before breakfast. The victorious commander would address the Senate, the magistrates, his troops, and the public. After being saluted by the crowd and then offering appropriate prayers of thanks to the gods, he would praise his legion and mention the services of specific individuals, award medals for valor, and distribute money to his soldiers.

After breakfast, the victors donned special purple robes and made sacrifices to the gods. He's ready for his big moment.

*** The procession entered the city at a specific point, the Arc de Triomphe, a gate used solely for this purpose, and then followed a route chosen by the commander through the streets and forums of Rome. Consuls and statesmen would lead the way, followed by some impressive captives from the battlefield - most importantly the captured royals, perhaps dramatically shackled. Certain episodes of the battle may be represented in *** through paintings or even performances involving real prisoners. If the occasion marked a naval victory, the ship's beak and captured equipment might take on a nautical theme. Musicians, torchbearers and flag-wavers joined the pageant, as well as examples of exotic flowers and animals from the conquered regions. Next comes the war with more-booty gold and silver showing better. This is followed by the lictors (acolytes of the peace) carrying the phasay decorated with bay leaves, and then by the commander himself.

The star of the show, the godlike victor will ride in a spectacular high-sided chariot drawn by four horses. He wears a laurel crown on his head and holds a laurel branch in his right hand. In his left hand he holds an ivory scepter with an eagle on it, symbolizing victory. He was accompanied by a slave, whose job was to hold a golden crown over his head and constantly whisper in his ears that in all this worship he should remember that he was only a mortal and not a true god. . To do this, he would repeat the seasoning or "look back." Behind the chariot come the commander's children and the mounted officers. Finally came the army, who would usually sing to ward off the jealousy of the gods, if any, and a group of grateful civilians who had won their freedom by defeating their enemies in battle.

The victor is accompanied by a slave, whose job is to hold the golden crown high above his head and constantly whisper in his ear "Look behind you."

When the entire procession reaches the Temple of Jupiter Optimus on the Capitoline Hill, the Commander-in-Chief may graciously release one or two prisoners (in Imperial times they were often imprisoned en route in the Forum Prison kill), then sacrifice a bull and offer some spoils in honor of Jupiter. He also offered some bay leaves, thus completing the cycle that began with the swearing-in before he set off on the campaign trail. Finally, the distinguished guests sat down and held a grand banquet in the temple; from the late Republic of China onwards, feasts were also offered to ordinary people. After the party, a large crowd makes sure the commander gets home safely after his big day.

Cheers

One level below victory is applause. This was to defeat easy opponents (fewer than 5,000 casualties) or those deemed to lack honor, such as pirates or slave revolts. An example of this is the enthusiastic applause Marcus Licinius Crassus received after quelling Spartacus' uprising. Applause is also considered more suitable for indecisive combat. Some of the main differences, besides the lower prestige and pomp, were that the commander was not on horseback but on horseback or even on foot, the soldiers often did not participate, and at the end of the *** a sheep was sacrificed, not a bull. There was nothing special about the commander's attire. He wore a magistrate's robe and a myrtle crown, not a laurel wreath. Sometimes commanders, after being denied public funds and the right to appropriate acclamation or victory from the Senate, staged their own small-scale version at Mount Alban. There were one or two others who attempted to achieve victory outside Rome - Albusius held one in Sardinia in 104 BC, Mark Antony in Alexandria in 34 BC - but these were dismissed by Rome's ruling elite Think it's very bad.

Imperial Victories

Over time, each victory becomes greater than the previous one, and the entire event can last for days. This is especially true when commanders like Julius Caesar in 46 BC and Octavian in 29 BC actually celebrated multiple victories over consecutive days. Pompey must be credited with extending this spectacle, for he won three victories in 80, 71, and 61 BC, each more jaw-dropping than the last. A master of commemorative propaganda, he even built Rome's first stone theater to ensure that his glory would continue for centuries to come. Julius Caesar went a step further and established an entire forum, and thereafter it became common practice to finance construction work from the spoils of victory.

However, it was Rome's first emperor, Augustus, who had the most lasting impact on the institution, as he ensured that only the royal family enjoyed the public glory of victory. The last non-royal victory was that of Cornelius Balbus in his campaign in Africa in 19 BC, which was effectively denied by Marcus Agrippa in 14 BC. More or less setting the precedent that Rome's greatest honor was now a whole. More exclusive. Augustus, on the contrary, offered the victorious commander the possibility of wearing a laurel wreath when participating in competitions, which had long been the privilege of those who achieved victory in wars and ages.

Vespasian and his son Titus won a victory in Judea in 71 AD, famous for showing off the wealth of the Temple in Jerusalem, but thereafter, victories became rare event, probably less than 20 in the next 200 years. Records of victories during the Imperial period are incomplete, but we know that one of the last, after the victories of Diocletian and Maximian in Africa and Britain, may have occurred in AD 303. Some historians consider the final victory to be that of Belisarius over the Persians and Vandals, but this time the victory took place in Constantinople rather than Rome.

In another development during the imperial period, when they celebrated victories, it was sometimes solely for political reasons rather than as a sign of military success. Furthermore, the construction of monumental arches became the ultimate, more lasting way for rulers to commemorate their military victories and personal contributions to Roman greatness. Perhaps a wise decision, of all Roman architecture, these arches are among the best surviving monuments of Roman vanity, and even after 2000 years they still dominate the urban landscape of many modern cities.