that I realized that I had picked a side in the political shenanigans between Flavius Aetius and Boniface. I mean, as it turns out, I'm definitely an Aetius partisan and the author of this book was not.I will gracefully accept my nerd points for admitting this, since it is even nerdier than having a favorite Roman emperor (Vespasian.)
Still, Kelly's book makes for an excellent read thus far, even if he did spend ten or fifteen pages talking trash about my man Aetius.
I used to write doggerel about some of the Roman emperors:
ReplyDeleteEmperor Marcus Aurelius
Stoically died of a pain
In the bellius.
Emperor Maximinus Thrax
Skilled at war, inept at pax,
When funding for his orgies lacks
Amends it with a nova tax.
Emperor Antoninus Pius
Was quite a nice gius.
I was spending too much time reading Ogden Nash during those years.
Your posts on ancient history are the main reason I've added the likes of Tacitus, Thucidides, and Xenophon to the list of audiobooks I listen to while driving.
ReplyDeleteFor serious, is "the Hun" really necessary?
ReplyDeleteAnd doesn't everyone have a favourite Roman Emperor?
staghounds,
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't want to get him confused with, say, Attila the Cornish Fishmonger.
Vespasian? That's your favorite? Really? Didn't he invent the scooter?
ReplyDeleteNow that we know your preference in the Aetius/Boniface matter, we really want to know the imnportant stuff:
ReplyDeleteAre you pro-Green or pro-Blue?
I think the crowd in the Hippodrome during the Nika Riots didn't take half the stomping it had coming.
ReplyDeleteJust finished reading Attila by Willian Napier. Young Aetius comes off well, as does the young Scourge.
ReplyDeleteHonorius and Galla get two thumbs down.
Gerry
I think the crowd in the Hippodrome during the Nika Riots didn't take half the stomping it had coming.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, a couple more calliopes and blowers, and it might have been overkill. Might.
Noah D,
ReplyDeleteNobody who's read Drake or Pournelle will ever have an unbiased opinion of that event. ;)
It was a fun book, but perhaps too colored by the writing of a Roman ambassador's secretary who wasn't in on the big secret.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the Huns first show up as mercenaries in the pay of the Romans.
The odd thing is Odoacer, acting as General of Eastern Roman Empire closed down the Western Roman Empire pretender (Romulus) while ignoring or perhaps paying lip service to the rightful emperor, Nepo.
The fall was to some extend fabricated by subsequent Byzantine writers, who wanted to distance themselves from their support of Gothic foederates who were taking down Western Romans.
Then Odoacer failed in his negotiations with Theodoric. Ocoacer fell the need for a .45 about then...
ReplyDeleteI dunno I'm more of a 'Mithradates' man, myself...
ReplyDeleteAll The Best,
Frank W. James
Scipio Africanus could have used a better PR guy in his later years, I always thought.
ReplyDeleteGeez, I dunno if I like this or not. I come here for the snark and I end up gettin' edukated and everything. Well, sorta, anyhoo.
ReplyDeleteAnother book after you finish that is "Belisarius: The Last Roman General" - by Ian Hughes
ReplyDeleteOf course some will prefer "Count Belisarius" by Robert Graves
Actually, Billy Joel fans need "the Hun" so we don't think you're talking about the duo he had with Jon Small.
ReplyDeleteThe real question is, "Does Tam have a favorite Consul?"
Don M: Robert Graves FTW!
ReplyDelete(Goes off to library site to see if they have Ian Hughes' book...)
WV: dinglue. There's a Rep Weiner joke in there somewhere, but I ain't goin' there, nope.
"The real question is, "Does Tam have a favorite Consul?""
ReplyDeleteJust how much of a nerd do you think I am, anyway?
Κωνσταντίνος ΙΑ' Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος
ReplyDeleteNow, there's a man! The West gets a boy, Romulus Augustulus. But, the East got Constantine XI Dragases. His story inspired me to major in history.
Where are his kind today?
Ulises from CA
Favorite Consul? Scipio Africanus of course. Although Quintus Fabius Maximus is a second choice if only for his cognomen "Verrucosus" for wartface. (The equivalent of the Mafia's nicknames).
ReplyDeleteFor emperor, Hadrian was such a sourpuss that I always felt an attachment cross the millenia ... sorta.
Hanibal, after his 'retirement in exile' was asked who the three greatest generals of all time were.
ReplyDeleteHe answered, "Alexander, Scipio Africanus, and Myself.".
"But you lost to Scipio!"
Hanibal: "If I had defeated him I would have put myself first."
WV: impot
These word verifications are the impot part.
Just how much of a nerd do you think I am, anyway?
ReplyDeleteIf you gotta ask...
WV: adict. Damned captcha can't spell...
Don M. - I preferred the former.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Tam, I liked both the Drake and Pournelle versions of that classic case of crowd control.
I'm partial to Julian, m'self.
ReplyDeleteJohn Farrier beat me to it. A magnificent throwback - but I'm quite sentimental ...
ReplyDeleteAnd can I just say that not just this post, but the comments are filled with win.
I think Honorius is the one I'd hop into the Delorean to kick in the butt. Bumping off Stilicho?
ReplyDeleteFrickin' moron.
Actually, maybe I'd arrange a meeting between him and Claudius Pulcher. So long to your stupid chickens, asshole!