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In order to populate his new city of Rome, Romulus turned to their neighbors, the Sabines. He invited the Sabine women to a celebration in honor of Neptune which turned out to be a deception. The Roman men were given a signal during the festival and quickly grabbed and violated the Sabine women in order to impregnate them and begin the population of Rome. Estimated to have occurred around 753 BCE, since that is the year of Rome's founding. -
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Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the 7th king of Rome, attacks and rapes the wife of Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. Lucretia, the victim, was drunkenly bragged about by her husband, leading Superbus to then act on his urges to violate her reputation and virtue. After the attack, Lucretia is burdened by the shame of the act and informs her husband of the attack then quickly commits suicide. -
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This battle is considered part of the Latin Wars which occurred from 499-338 BCE. The battle was between Roman and Latin forces, with Tarquinius Superbus leading the Latins. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Romans, and a later treaty that stipulated the combination of both parties to defend against Italic tribes. -
Greek console Autilius Regulus is captured by Carthage. He is sent back to Rome under an agreement to negotiate peace between the two parties, but is quick to support Rome in their endeavors against Carthage. Keeping true to his promise, he returns to Carthage where he is tortured and killed for opposing them. -
The new leader of the Numidian Empire, Jugurtha, challenges Rome in battle. He is able to bribe many Roman forces, revealing deep rooted corruption in their government and society. Jugurtha is later defeated and captured by Roman general Gaius Marius in 106 BCE. -
After being declared an enemy of the state, Julius Caesar leads an army to Italy. In a dramatic fashion, he pauses at the Rubricon river, which aligns with the border of Italy, contemplating crossing it and therefore breaking the Lex de Maiestate of Sulla. He decides to cross, declaring war on Rome with the notable quote: "Alea iacta est." -
On the Ides of March, Marcus junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus led a group of Roman Senators in the murder of Julius Caesar. They were fearful of the power he had accumulated, so they stabbed him to death. This event is marked as the end of the Roman Republic. -
Octavianus, M. Antonius, and M. Lepidus have a meeting in Bononia shortly after the remaining legitimate Republican power in Rome falls. At this meeting, the men establish themselves legally as the Second Triumvirate. This allows them all to hold greater power than they were previously granted. -
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On August 19, Augustus dies at the grand age of 75. He was buried in the Mausoleum of Augustus. His role as a leader is given to Tiberius, who is less than happy to accept the responsibility. -
The Domus Aurea or "Golden House" was built by Nero in 64 CE after the Great Fire of Rome. It was disliked by the Roman people because the highly decorated palace was very out of place. -