The George Long translation of 1862:
Is it not better to use what is in thy power like a free man than to desire in a slavish and abject way what is not in thy power? Marcus Aurelius. Meditations. Book 9.
Chrystal's 2017 rendering based on the Foulis translation of 1742:
Is it not better to use that which is in your own power and preserve your liberty, than to set your heart on what is beyond your power and become an abject slave?
Image: An embassy led by Marcomanni chieftain Ballomarios meets with the Roman governor of Pannonia, Marcus Jallius Bassus at Carnuntum in 167 CE by illustrator Radu Oltean. This is the caption provided on Pinterest.
In late 166 or early 167 CE, a force of 6,000 Langobardi and Lacringi invaded Pannonia. This invasion was defeated by local forces (vexillations of the Legio I Adiutrix commanded by a certain Candidus and the Ala Ulpia contariorum commanded by Vindex). In their aftermath, the military governor of Pannonia, Marcus Iallius Bassus, initiated negotiations with 11 tribes. In these negotiations, the Marcomannic king Ballomar, a Roman client, acted as a mediator.
However, Ballomarios eventually formed a coalition of Germanic tribes, crossed the Danube and won a decisive victory over a force of 20,000 Roman soldiers near Carnuntum. Ballomar then led the larger part of his host southwards towards Italy, while the remainder ravaged Noricum. The Marcomanni razed Opitergium (Oderzo) and besieged Aquileia. This was the first time that hostile forces had entered Italy since 101 BCE, when Gaius Marius defeated the Cimbri. The army of praetorian prefect Titus Furius Victorinus tried to relieve the city, but was defeated and he was possibly killed during the battle. Because of inconsistencies in the Historia Augusta, some scholars think this battle occurred in 167 CE, causing a panic in Rome between 167 -168 CE. By the end of 171 CE, though, the invaders were evicted from Roman territory. Then in 172 CE the Romans crossed the Danube into Marcomannic territory, subjugating the Marcomanni and their allies, the Varistae or Naristi and the Cotini and Marcus Aurelius added the title Germanicus to his name.
Quite honestly, to me this illustration looks more like the subjugation of the Marcomannic than a negotiation as indicated in the caption on Pinterest. The file name refers to "Total War", a game produced by Creative Assembly, publishers of "Total War: Rome II". I've been told it first appeared in the excellent magazine "Ancient Warfare," though. I should have remembered it as I subscribe to both "Ancient Warfare" and "Ancient History," both published by Karwansaray Publishers.
Comments
Post a Comment