Characters of Ancient Rome

Kingdom of Rome Early Republic Punic Wars Decline of Republic Early Empire Fall of the West Byzantine Empire

Kingdom of Rome (753 to 510 B.C.)

Character	Date B.C.	Description
Romulus	771–716	Legendary founder of the city of Rome, with brother Remus.
Numa Pompilius	died 674	Second king of Rome, instituted calendar, holidays, worship practices.
Tullus Hostilius	died 642	Third king, conquered Alba; made Rome the greatest city of the Latins.
Horatii	fl. 650	Three brothers who won man-to-man combat against the Curiatii to resolve Rome/Alba dispute.
Tarquin the Elder	died 559	Fifth king, built great sewer, circus, temple of Jupiter, and forum.
Hanno the Carthaginian	fl. 600	First Mediterranean sea-farer to explore the West coast of Africa and give report.
Servius Tullius	died 535	Sixth king, built Servian Wall; helped plebeians, murdered by daughter
Tarquin Superbus	fl. 535	Killed Servius and usurped throne; eventually overthrown; tried to regain throne by force.
Lucretia	died 510	Virtuous matron, killed herself after assault by son of Tarquin Superbus.

Early Republic (510 to 275 B.C.)

Character	Date B.C.	Description
Junius Brutus	died 509	First Consul of Rome; executed sons for plotting against the republic.
Horatius	535–509	Hero who held the Sublician Bridge against Porsena's entire army.
Mucius Scaevola	535–509	Hero who burned his right hand to defy Porsena.
Publicola	died 508	Consul of Rome during the wars with Porsena.
Lars Porsena	fl. 508	Etruscan king and supporter of the Tarquins who raised an army to march against Rome.
Menenius	fl. 503	Roman noble who negotiated with the plebeians after their walk-out during a war.
Fabii	fl. 480	Fabian brothers build a camp on the Cremona to defend Rome from Veii. They were ambushed and slain.
Appius Claudius	died 452	Evil law giver who usurped power, then attempted to enslave Virginia.
Virginia	died 451	Heroine slain by her father to rescue her from slavery and dishonor.
Coriolanus	500–450	Hero, provoked to turn traitor. Convinced by his mother to spare Rome from destruction.
Cincinnatus	519–439	Called to be dictator when Roman army was trapped. Saved them, and then returned to his farm.
Marcus Manlius	died 384	Defended the capitol from the Gauls.
Manlius Torquatus	died 384	Consul who slew his son for a minor disobedience.
Camillus	446–365	Great military leader; conquered Veii, saved Rome from Gauls, organized legions.
Marcus Curtius	died 362	Rode a horse into a large chasm in the Roman marketplace.
Decius Mus	died 340	Sacrificed self in war against the Latins.
Caius Pontius	fl. 321	Samnite general who captured the Romans at Caudium Pass.
Pyrrhus	318–272	Renowned general, won victories in Macedon, Italy, and Greece, but failed to follow up wins.

Punic Wars (274 to 146 B.C.)

Character	Date B.C.	Description
Fabius	died 291	Hero of the Battle of Sentinum, defeated the Gauls and Samnites.
Fabricius	fl. 284	Incorruptible Roman ambassador who negotiated with Pyrrhus. Emblem of Roman Republican stalwart virtues.
Appius Claudius	340–273	Built first aqueduct, public buildings, and "Appian Way", the great Roman road to Capua.
Valerius Corvus	370–270	Defeated a gigantic Gaul in one-on-one combat; lived to be 100.
Regulus	300–250	Captured by Carthage in First Punic War; urged Rome to fight on at cost of own life.
Hamilcar	died 229	Carthage's most able General in First Punic War; father of Hannibal.
Aemilius Paulus	died 216	Consul at the Battle of Cannae; opposed the confrontation, but died on battlefield.
Archimedes	287–212	Eminent scientist and inventor. Held off Roman siege of Syracuse with clever defenses.
Marcellus	268–208	Besieged Syracuse during the Second Punic War, but the ingenious war weapons of Archimedes frustrated the Romans.
Hasdrubal Barca	died 207	Brother of Hannibal. Fought against Scipios in Spain; killed after he crossed the Alps to aid Hannibal.
Fabius Cunctator	250–203	Elected dictator to resist Hannibal; counseled delay rather than direct assault.
Eratosthenes	275–192	Early Greek scientist from Alexandria who correctly predicted the precise size of the earth in 200 B.C.
Hannibal	247–182	Carthaginian general, invaded and laid waste to Italy for sixteen years.
Carus	died 179	Celt-Iberian Chief of the Belli tribe. Won a victory over the Romans at Caravis before being killed.
Flamininus	230–175	Led Rome against Philip V. in Second Macedonian War.
Aemilius Paulus	229–160	Led Rome against Macedonia at the Battle of Pydna. Awarded a great triumph.
Hasdrubal	fl. 150	Commander of Carthaginian army during the third Punic War, and Siege of Carthage.
Cato the Censor	234–149	Roman censor. Brought Spain under Roman subjugation after 2nd Punic war, then urged destruction of Carthage.
Scipio Africanus	234–149	Roman hero of Second Punic War. Led Armies in Spain and Africa. Defeated Hannibal at Zama.
Masinissa	238–148	King of Numidia, allied with Rome against Carthage; fought at Zama.
Polybius	203–120	Taken as Greek hostage during Macedonian wars; historian of Punic Wars.
Scipio the Younger	185–129	Led the siege of Carthage during the third Punic War.

Decline of Republic (146 to 44 B.C.)

Character	Date B.C.	Description
Viriathus	180–139	Lusitanian chief who resisted Rome for years, and incited other tribes to revolt.
Tiberius Gracchus	163–132	Promoted land reform and fought for people's rights. Murdered by senators.
Gaius Gracchus	154–121	Continued reforms of his brother, but was undermined by the senate.
Jugurtha	156–104	Numidian king, flagrantly bribed senate to maintain power. Enemy of Rome.
Mithridates	160–104	King of Pontus, enemy of Rome, raised rebellions in Greece and Asia Minor.
Cornelia	185–100	Mother of the Gracchi. Highly revered Roman matron.
Metellus	died 91	Commanded troops in Numidia against Jugurtha. Enemy of Marius.
Marius	155–86	Renowned General. Modernized legions. Waged a bloody feud with party of Sulla.
Cinna	died 84	With Marius, raised an army, and took possession of Rome for populist party.
Sulla	138–78	Defeated Mithradates in Greece. Marched on Rome, defeated the party of his enemy Marius.
Sertorius	122–72	Led rebellion against Rome in Spain; held out for 8 years.
Spartacus	111–71	Gladiator who led a slave revolt. Held out for two years.
Lucullus	120–70	Led Rome against Mithradates in Third War. Known for extravagant lifestyle.
Catiline	108–62	Led conspiracy to overthrow Senate; discovered and put down by Cicero.
Cicero	106–43	Orator. Leader of aristocratic party. Put down Catiline Conspiracy. Well known writer.
Julius Caesar	100–44	Conquered Gaul, prevailed in civil war. Mastermind of Roman Empire. Killed by senators.
Ariovistus	fl. 58	King of the Germans in Gaul. Defeated by Caesar at the Battle of Vosges.
Crassus	110–53	Very wealthy general. Fought Spartacus. Formed triumvirate with Pompey and Caesar.
Clodius	93–52	Violent enemy of Cicero. Populist rabble-rouser and demagogue.
Fulvia	77–40	Wealthy and scheming Roman matron. Married to Clodius, then to Mark Antony. Enemy of Cicero.
Pompey	106–48	Very renowned general. Defeated pirates. Led opposition to Caesar in Civil War.
Cato (the younger)	95–46	Highly principled republican who opposed Caesar, killed self after defeat of Pompey.
Vercingetorix	72–46	Leader of a Gallic revolt against the Romans. Surrendered after being defeated at Alesia.
Verres	120–43	Extremely corrupt governor of Sicily; was prosecuted by Cicero.
Cassius	died 42	Mastermind of conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. Committed suicide at Philippi.
Atticus	109–32	Wealthy private citizen. Recipient of hundreds of letters from Cicero.
Augustus Caesar	63–14	First Emperor. Reigned for over fifty years. Established the Imperial system.
Antony	83–30	With Octavius, led the Empire after Caesar's death. Liaison with Cleopatra caused downfall.
Cleopatra	70–20	Queen of Egypt. Lover of both Caesar and Mark Antony.
Virgil	70–19	Great Epic Poet of the Augustan Age. Wrote The Aeneid.
Agrippa	63–12	Most trusted general and advisor of Augustus Caesar. Married his daughter Julia.
Drusus	38–9	Son of Livia, father of Germanicus. Died on campaign in Germany.
Horace	65–8	Great Lyric Poet and satirist of the Augustan Age.
Maecenas	70–8	Advisor and ambassador of Augustus. Patron of the Arts and Literature.

Early Empire (44 B.C. to 180 A.D.)

Character	Date A.D.	Description
Marbod	died 37	King of Marcomanni during the early days of the Republic. After a war with Hermann, he settled in Bohemia.
Julia Caesara	39 BC –14	Profligate daughter of Augustus Caesar. Fell from grace, and was banished from Rome.
Tiberius	42 BC –37	Second Emperor. Stepson of Augustus. Retired to Capri.
Livy	59 BC –17	Roman Historian. Wrote History of Rome from its founding.
Germanicus	15 BC –19	Roman military hero and heir to the throne. Probably murdered.
Hermann	16 BC –21	Hero of Germany. Annihilated three Roman legions at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.
Livia	58 BC –29	Wife of Augustus Caesar. Empress of Rome for over fifty years.
Sejanus	died 31	Leader of Praetorians. Conspired to seize the throne from Tiberius.
Saint Peter	died 64	Leader of the Apostles and first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Caligula	12–41	Third Emperor. Sadistic and probably insane.
Claudius	10–54	Fourth Emperor. Manipulated by wicked wives, Messalina and Agrippina.
Marcus Brutus	84–42	Leader of conspirators to assassinate Caesar. Committed suicide at Philippi.
Caractacus	fl. 51	King of the Britons who resisted the Roman invasion. Convinced Claudius to spare his life.
Nero	37–68	Fifth Emperor. Murdered mother, wife, and brother. Famously fiddled while Rome burned.
Agrippina the Younger	16–59	Mother of Nero. Murdered Claudius to make way for his rise to the throne.
Poppaea	died 65	Wicked mistress of Nero. Urged him to kill his mother and first wife.
Seneca	3–65	Tutor and minister to Nero. Forced to commit suicide after falling from Grace.
Saint Paul	3–67	Apostle who traveled throughout the Eastern Roman Empire spreading Gospels. Wrote Epistles.
Galba	3–69	Declared Emperor after Nero was deposed. Served less than a year.
Otho	32–69	Emperor for 3 months in 69 A.D. Committed suicide rather than continue civil war.
Vitellius	died 69	Emperor for 9 months in 69 A.D. Known as an incompetent glutton.
Vespasian	9–79	First Emperor of humble origins. Founder of Flavian Dynasty.
Pliny (Elder)	23–79	Scholar, author of encyclopedias, naturalist. Wrote Natural Histories. Died at the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Titus	40–81	Second Flavian Emperor. Conquered Jerusalem. Reigned with father Vespasian.
Domitian	51–96	Third Flavian Emperor. Known for purges and persecutions near end of reign.
Decebalus	fl. 87	Chief of Dacian tribes. Conquered by Romans but rebelled. Killed by the Romans when they reconquered Dacia.
Agricola	40–93	Roman General and Statesman. Governor of Britain. Pacified Wales.
Nerva	30–98	First of the "Five Good Emperors". Ruled briefly between Domitian and Trajan.
Trajan	53–117	2nd of "Five Good Emperors." Ruled with justice and integrity. Conquered Dacia.
Josephus	37–100	Jewish Historian. Captured by Romans at Jotapata. Wrote the Jewish War.
Martial	40–102	Poet and satirist. Wrote twelve books of Epigrams.
Pliny the Younger	63–113	Roman statesman and orator. His letters are important historical sources.
Hadrian	76–138	3rd of "Five Good Emperors". Talented artist and architect, good administrator.
Plutarch	46–122	Most outstanding moralist and biographer of ancient times. Wrote Lives of Greeks and Romans.
Antoninus Pius	86–161	4th of "Five Good Emperors". Continued policy of consolidation. Ruled justly.
Marcus Aurelius	121–180	5th of "Five Good Emperors". Stoic philosopher. Improved condition of poor.

Fall of the Western Empire (180 to 476 A. D.)

Character	Date A.D.	Description
Commodus	161–192	Corrupt son of Aurelius, misruled for twelve years and was murdered.
Septimus Severus	146–211	Seized Imperial throne after the death of Commodus. Put down many rebellions.
Caracalla	188–217	Brutal and iron-fisted emperor. Murdered brother Geta. Built "Baths of Caracalla."
Julia Domna	170–217	Wife of Severus; Mother of Caracalla. Influential in Imperial government.
Elagabalus	205–222	Third Severan Emperor; assumed throne at 14; effeminate and profligate; deposed by army.
Alexander Severus	208–235	Fourth Severan Emperor; ruled well under the regency of his mother; overthrown by Maximinus.
Maximinus	died 238	Thracian Giant. Rose to head of army, seized imperial throne, and reigned as a barbarian.
Zenobia of Palmyra	fl. 267	Queen of Palmyra. Attempted to control the eastern empire, only to be crushed by Rome.
Aurelian	214–275	Emperor who reunited the empire during the Military anarchy. Led campaign in Palmyra against Zenobia.
Diocletian	245–313	Restored order to the empire after fifty years of chaos. Broke empire into four regions.
Constantine	272–337	First Christian Emperor. Unified Empire. Moved Capital to Constantinople near Black Sea.
Ulfilas	310–383	Missionary bishop who translated the Bible into the Gothic language and converted the Goths to Arian Christianity.
Julian the Apostate	331–363	Last emperor of the Constantinian dynasty. Tried to restore paganism.
Fritigern	died 380	Visigoth Chief who asked received permission to cross the Danube, then overran the Balkans.
Saint Athanasius	298–373	Bishop of Alexandria. Opposed the Arian Heresy.
Theodosius	346–395	Emperor excommunicated by Ambrose for massacre of civilians at Thessalonica.
Alaric the Visigoth	370–410	Chieftain who led the Visigoths into northern Italy, and then besieged and sacked Rome.
Honorius	384–423	Western Emperor during the Visigoth raids of Alaric. Moved capital to Ravenna. Murdered Stilicho.
Saint Ambrose	340–397	Bishop of Milan. Resisted Arian heresy, advised emperors, advocated for Church interests.
Stilicho	359–408	Roman General who fought off the Visigoths before they overran Rome. Murdered by Emperor Honorius.
Pulcheria	399–453	With Theodosius II, Empress of the Eastern Empire. Promoted Christianity, condemned Nestorianism.
Hypatia	380–415	Philosopher and teacher who lived in Alexandria.
Saint Jerome	340–420	Translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate.
Genseric	390–477	Leader of Vandals. Conquered Northern Africa and Sicily. Invaded and Ransacked Rome.
Saint Augustine	354–430	Greatest Christian theologian of the Middle Ages. Wrote Confessions and City of God.
Attila the Hun	406–453	Barbarian Chieftain who overran and terrorized much of Europe. Defeated at the Battle of Chalons.

Byzantine Empire (476 to 1453 A.D.)

Character	Date A.D.	Description
Odoacer	435–493	Deposed last Roman Emperor and became King of Italy. Later overthrown by Theodoric the Ostrogoth.
Theodoric the Ostrogoth	454–526	Ostrogoth King who invaded Italy, and successfully formed a Gothic-Roman Kingdom.
Justinian the Great	483–565	Ruled Byzantine Empire for 40 years. Well known for legal reforms known as Code of Justinian.
Empress Theodora	500–548	Born in humble circumstances, she married the Emperor and became his trusted advisor.
Saint Benedict	480–547	Established the Benedictine order of Monks. Founded the monastic movement in Europe.
Belisarius	505–565	General associated with Julian the Great, reconquered much of lost Roman territory.
Heraclius	575–641	Eastern Emperor during a critical period. Fought Goths in the West, Persian and Moslems in the East.
Leo III the Isaurian	685–741	Byzantine Emperor who stabilized the Byzantine Empire after the Moslem Conquests and destroyed statues and artwork in the Christian Churches.
Saint Irene	752–803	Empress of the Byzantines during the era of Charlemagne and Harun Al-Rashid, who tried to restore the use of images and icons in the eastern church.