al interest. They called themselves Optimates: they might properly be described , in contemporary definition, as a faction or gang

son therefore inherited ‘urbana gratia’ (Caesar, BC 3, 83, 1): he is described as designate to the consulship from birth (Ad Att

on to the needs of the Commonwealth. 1 The coalition may summarily be described as four ancient and eminent families, linked clos

personal ambition. Like his father before him, Pompeius could not be described as a consistent party politician, for good or for

ars, either as a centurion or as an equestrian officer. 1 Saxa may be described as an immigrant or colonial Roman. Balbus, the Ga

os. suff. A.D. 1) presumably belong to the same family. 3 So Cicero described him (Pliny, NH 7, 135) and so did Plancus (Ad fam

an (P-W XV, 1947): by birth he was M. Satrius (P-W II A, 190), and is described as ‘patronus agri Piceni et Sabini’ (Cicero, De o

her names are mentioned, P. Servilius, L. Piso and Cicero: they are described as neutrals, their policy dishonest. 2 No word he

About the same time Cicero had also been at work upon the Laws, which described in detail the institutions of a traditional but l

ring back order again. The decisive act in a policy of treason may be described as ‘laying the foundations of settled government’

unc legibus locus, ad arma civilia actum’; cf. ib. 1, 10, where it is described as a fraudulent pretext. 5 Dio 48, 5, 4: δτὰ γὰ

cord was not always easy when he had to deal with enemies whom he had described as ‘madmen’, ‘raging brigands’ or ‘parricides’. 7

auctoritas; 3 the bribery of the troops of the Roman State was coolly described as the generous investment of a patrimony for the

, 221. Cicero’s proposal to have the proconsul outlawed can hardly be described as constitutional. ‘Eine staatsrechtliche Unmögli

ies of this influential and wealthy country gentleman could have been described in very different terms. 2 Ad fam. 12, 4, 1: ‘n

to fight against their fellow-citizens had the result that they were described as ‘Madmen’ by the adversaries of Antonius. 1 The

early April, after a quarrel over a vote complimentary to Plancus, he described Servilius as ‘homo furiosus’. 6 If a consul was

er preceding, the Fourth and the Martia, ‘heavenly legions’ as Cicero described them, had declared for the Republic. The Senate m

nse of craft or crime. ‘Non mos, non ius. ’3 So might the period be described . But the Caesarians claimed a right and a duty th

ad been his plight at the time of the War of Perusia has already been described . He was saved in war and diplomacy by his daring

ntimental politicians, the sturdy peasant-farmer. Varro, however, had described the land of Italy as no desolation but fruitful a

ὶ єὐєρλέ|τᾳ και κτιστά δєυ|τέρω τᾶζ πατρ ὶδ ζ. This sort of thing was described by Tacitus as ‘Graeca adulatio’ (Ann. 6, 18). 3

lus took his own life (27 B.C.). 2 The offence of Gallus is variously described as base ingratitude, statues erected to himself a

es or to the power of Augustus. His attention to ancient monuments is described as ‘sacrati provida cura ducis’ (Fasti 2, 60).

on, but merely guardians of the frontiers. Nor need the new system be described as a military despotism. Before the law, Augustus

on. The ‘constitutional’ settlement of the years 28 and 27 B.C. was described in official language as ‘res publica reddita’ or

m was suddenly introduced in the year 27 B.C.—Augustus’ men should be described as legati in his provincia rather than as governo

hunned the holding of a magistracy, his powers in public law might be described as magisterial, an impression which was carefully

ed from this year. The legal and formal changes have been summarily described , the arguments indicated which might have been in

ays there was no love lost. The men of the Revolution can scarcely be described as slaves to tradition: but the dour Agrippa, ple

d in disgust and resentment,6 in another his residence in the East is described as a mild but opprobrious form of banishment. 7 T

they all supported for Rome’s sake. The service of the State might be described as a ‘noble servitude’. For Agrippa, his subordin

sium, 947, cf. 5346; Histonium, 915; Larinum, CIL IX, 730. 4 Florus described the leaders of the insurgent Italici as ‘municipa

| L. Tario Ruf. pro | pr. | leg. X Fret. | pontem fecit. ’ He is not described as ‘proconsul’. This may mean that the Princeps h

sinius Gallus (cos. 8 B.C.), certainly in 6–5 B.C., ILS 97. Fabius is described as ἀπò т ς κ∈ίνου δ∈ξιâς κα γνώμης ἀπ∈σταλμένος (

Cicero had C. Pomptinus (Ad Jam. 15, 4, 8). Flaccus and Pomptinus are described by Sallust (BC 45, 2) as ‘homines militares’. Rig

lly, quaestorian in rank, cf. ILS 931 and 945. The first person to be described as legate of a definite legion is P. Cornelius Lc

s experience as military tribune and legionary legate gained by a man described as a ‘vir militaris’, and destined after his cons

obably present at most deliberations. Whether the rule of Augustus be described as Republic or Monarchy, these advisory bodies we

f the great northern armies, passing from Illyricum to Germany. He is described as cruel, arrogant and extravagant, a skilled cha

is called L. Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus; and his son in turn is described as the ‘a[bnepos]’ or ‘a[dnepos]’ of Pompeius Mag

was put to death; 2 the others, the consular T. Quinctius Crispinus, described as austere in appearance, unspeakably wicked with

t more merciful but none the less arbitrary and effective. Agrippa is described as brutal and vicious. 5 NotesPage=>432 1

etrothed to Drusus, son of Germanicus (Tacitus, Ann. 6, 40). Velleius described M. Lepidus (2, 114, 5) as being ‘nomini ac fortun

ans who were a little shocked at hearing the army of the Roman People described as ‘Italians’: hinc Augustus agens Italos in pr

ed his capture of Rome in the next year. Cicero in a political speech described his young ally as ‘divinus adulescens’. 2 The epi

9). Note, as fighting for Rome in 10 B.C., Chumstinctus and Avectius, described as ‘tribuni ex civitate Nerviorum’ (ib., 141).

d could make another; and the change from Republic to Empire might be described as the provinces’ revenge upon Rome. Army and pro

in justification of his own adhesion to the better cause. Q. Dellius described the eastern campaigns of Antonius in which he had

ry and unemotional fashion of writing. ‘Durus et siccus’, he was well described :1 he seemed a century earlier than his own time.

16, 7 ff.). 4 Seneca, Epp. 55, 2 ff., cf. Münzer, RA, 374 f. He is described as ‘ille praetorius dives, nulla alia re quam oti

rius Caesar down to the end of Nero. Period and subject might also be described as ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Aristocracy

mous Persicus, whom Claudius, an emperor not averse from cruel irony, described as ‘nobilissimus vir, amicus meus’. 4 The succe

oras. 6 Augustus’ relation to the Roman Commonwealth might also be described as organic rather than arbitrary or formal. It wa

‘Legiones classes provincias, cuncta inter se conexa. ’1 So Tacitus described the Empire and its armed forces. The phrase might