Hello, AARland. My name is Issac Wolfe (if only had I double-checked when I was signing up), a new-ish member to this community. I have only written one AAR prior to this one --Blood, Order, and Kingdom-- but it fell apart after College was back in session. So, I hope that I can produce something for you to read and to enjoy. I thank all who read, and hope it was worth your time.
So, I would like to present...
Rome, for the past one hundred years, has been a desolate place. She has been full of violence and intrigue, racked by unemployment and abject poverty, and almost constant instability and civil war. Furthermore, not much attention was paid to its problems. As once tyrant would take the reigns of power, another was strike him down and fill the vacuum. It was a vicious cycle that was destroying the Roman World from the inside out. Rome had, or could, conquer all of its neighbors, but it could not conquer itself. It could not end the lunacy of hungry patricians looking to exploit the mob and accomplish a lengthy set if ridiculous goals. If stability could not be had, sooner of later, the city and her empire would collapse in on herself.
Where did this problem begin? Romans thank Gaius Marius, the seven term Consul, for that. Having raised illegal armies for illegal wars was what sent Rome into the downward spiral that it now rides. Armies became loyal to their commanders, and not the state, as originally they had been for centuries. They became tools of their generals, in which they turned them upon Rome for less-than-honest purposes. Sulla used them to oust Marius. Catiline raised an army to butcher the Senate, and Caesar crossed the Rubicon and marched straight to the Seven Hills, ousting Pompey and fellow optimates. “Private armies,” as they came to be known, had became a very unhealthy blight upon the failing Republic.
Coinciding with private armies were the patricians, sapping the life out of Rome, her empire, and her people. Squandering resources for one family took a meal off the table for another. Large conglomerates of land worked by slaves, or latifundia, siphoned jobs from the ones that truly needed them, which were generally run by senators and other senatorial officers. Aside of normal corruption and intrigue, Rome is no longer the shining light of civilization as one once believed. She is dark, damp, and not a place one would ideally live if given the choice. Exploitation and civil strife are the order of the day, and there is no apparent compromise between justice and criminality.
However, there is hope. With Gaius Julius Caesar’s senatorial proclamation to Dictator perpetuus, Rome has emerged as a changing city. Caesar increased the standard of living, employed thousands of citizens for public works, returned some power to the people, threw banquet after banquet, and even distributed solid currency amongst eligible citizens. The mob has, in return, given their love for Caesar -- having been several attempts to crown Caesar a Rex. Having graciously refused every time, the Senate gradually became more wary of Caesar’s power. He held massive influence over the city. Having once been loved by the people, but having no glories like Caesar’s multiple triumphs, naturally, a power struggle emerged that would, again, throw the Republic into anarchy…
So, I would like to present...
DIVUS JULIUS
A Story of the Empire-That-Was
Gaius Julius Caesar Victrix Augustus Divus
A Story of the Empire-That-Was
Gaius Julius Caesar Victrix Augustus Divus
Rome, for the past one hundred years, has been a desolate place. She has been full of violence and intrigue, racked by unemployment and abject poverty, and almost constant instability and civil war. Furthermore, not much attention was paid to its problems. As once tyrant would take the reigns of power, another was strike him down and fill the vacuum. It was a vicious cycle that was destroying the Roman World from the inside out. Rome had, or could, conquer all of its neighbors, but it could not conquer itself. It could not end the lunacy of hungry patricians looking to exploit the mob and accomplish a lengthy set if ridiculous goals. If stability could not be had, sooner of later, the city and her empire would collapse in on herself.
Where did this problem begin? Romans thank Gaius Marius, the seven term Consul, for that. Having raised illegal armies for illegal wars was what sent Rome into the downward spiral that it now rides. Armies became loyal to their commanders, and not the state, as originally they had been for centuries. They became tools of their generals, in which they turned them upon Rome for less-than-honest purposes. Sulla used them to oust Marius. Catiline raised an army to butcher the Senate, and Caesar crossed the Rubicon and marched straight to the Seven Hills, ousting Pompey and fellow optimates. “Private armies,” as they came to be known, had became a very unhealthy blight upon the failing Republic.
Coinciding with private armies were the patricians, sapping the life out of Rome, her empire, and her people. Squandering resources for one family took a meal off the table for another. Large conglomerates of land worked by slaves, or latifundia, siphoned jobs from the ones that truly needed them, which were generally run by senators and other senatorial officers. Aside of normal corruption and intrigue, Rome is no longer the shining light of civilization as one once believed. She is dark, damp, and not a place one would ideally live if given the choice. Exploitation and civil strife are the order of the day, and there is no apparent compromise between justice and criminality.
However, there is hope. With Gaius Julius Caesar’s senatorial proclamation to Dictator perpetuus, Rome has emerged as a changing city. Caesar increased the standard of living, employed thousands of citizens for public works, returned some power to the people, threw banquet after banquet, and even distributed solid currency amongst eligible citizens. The mob has, in return, given their love for Caesar -- having been several attempts to crown Caesar a Rex. Having graciously refused every time, the Senate gradually became more wary of Caesar’s power. He held massive influence over the city. Having once been loved by the people, but having no glories like Caesar’s multiple triumphs, naturally, a power struggle emerged that would, again, throw the Republic into anarchy…
Chapter One: The Ides of March
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Chapter Two: Consolidation
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Chapter Three: Thrace
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Chapter Four: Carpe Noctem
1
Extras
The World of 709 Ab Urbe Condita
Awards
WritAAR of the Week Award - November 15th, 2009
Awarded by Mr. Capiatlist of Homelands: Tales of the Anglo-Prussians
Honorary Senator of Assam - November 27th, 2009
Awarded by L Lawliet of An extremely Assam AAR
Weekly AAR Showcase - December 23rd, 2009
Awarded by Remble of The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944
Favourite Rome ARR - February 7th, 2010
Awarded in the 4th Round of the AARLands Chose AwAARds
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Chapter Two: Consolidation
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Chapter Three: Thrace
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Chapter Four: Carpe Noctem
1
Extras
The World of 709 Ab Urbe Condita
Awards
WritAAR of the Week Award - November 15th, 2009
Awarded by Mr. Capiatlist of Homelands: Tales of the Anglo-Prussians
Honorary Senator of Assam - November 27th, 2009
Awarded by L Lawliet of An extremely Assam AAR
Weekly AAR Showcase - December 23rd, 2009
Awarded by Remble of The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944
Favourite Rome ARR - February 7th, 2010
Awarded in the 4th Round of the AARLands Chose AwAARds
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