Domitian, last Flavian emperor (81–96 apr. J.-C.), ruled Rome with autocracy and reform. His reign combined military successes, administrative discipline, and cultural patronage amid senatorial opposition. This article examines his complex legacy, debating whether he was a tyrant or a pragmatic ruler who stabilized the empire during turbulent times.
Augustus’s role as princeps blended republican forms with imperial power, preserving legitimacy while centralizing authority — the Principate’s defining paradox.
Roman military tactics — disciplined formations, engineering, and logistics — shaped modern warfare: standing armies, siegecraft, and strategic mobility across Europe.
From Augustus to Constantine, the Praetorian Guard evolved from imperial protectors into kingmakers—policing Rome and wielding military force to decide succession.
Caius Marius transformed Rome’s legions in 107 BCE: recruiting the poor, standardizing arms, creating cohorts and the eagle standard—paving the path to empire and civil war.
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus: the young Roman general who turned the tide of the Second Punic War—conquered Spain, defeated Hannibal at Zama, and secured Rome’s supremacy.
The Roman Senate: how SPQR, auctoritas vs. imperium, and figures from Cato to Cicero and Caesar shaped the Republic, its fall, and the Senate’s lasting legacy.
