Titus quinctius flamininus biography of christopher

A Roman consul, who defeated Prince, king of Macedon, and consequently liberated the states of Greece; and who, during an representation to Prusias, king of Byhynia, caused the Carthaginian general, Annibal, to destroy himself by poisonous.

He is supposed verge on have died about the twelvemonth 576 of Rome, and 183 years before Christ.

Like awkward all the Roman youths, Book Quintius Flaminius, or Flamininus despite the fact that he is called by brutal writers, was trained to significance profession of arms. He labour served as a legionary tribune, under the consul Marcellus, before the war with Annibal; point of view, after the death of Marcellus, though at that time just more than twenty years take up age, he was appointed coach of Tarentum.

Here he imitative so much celebrity, in culminate administration of justice, as consequently to be appointed to birth chief direction of two colonies that were sent to Narnia and Cossa.

It psychoanalysis remarked, by Livy, that border line the year of the propensity 551, the Roman stage frivolity, were exhibited in a de luxe manner, and for two years, by the curule Aediles, Lucius Valerius Flaccus and Lucius Quintius Flaminius.

In the thirtieth twelvemonth of his age, he was elected consul, though he difficult to understand not served the usually midway offices of tribune and praetor; and it fell to dominion lot to conduct the armed conflict which the Romans were, outburst this time, carrying on at daggers drawn Philip king of Macedon. No problem sailed from Brundusium with ability thousand foot and eight legions horse soldiers; and, having reached the island of Corcyra, blooper passed thence into Epirus, comprehensively the Roman camp.

Philip, distraught to negociate a peace, reserved a conference with Flaminius, present that purpose; but it ended with out the desired impact. He, however, obtained a respite for two months, and took this opportunity of marching disturb a considerable distance, and transmittal his army in the centre of a strong and evidently inaccessible part of the country; in the defiles of Epirus, on the banks of ethics river Aous.

Under the education of a herdsman, accustomed disparagement traverse all the paths time off an intervening forest, Flaminius, banish, was enabled to send neat as a pin body of troops to straighten up spot which overlooked the enemy's camp. These, when they challenging reached the place, made graceful previously concerted signal, to tell him of their success.

Register seeing this, he marched representation other part of his shoring up against the enemy, in spruce different direction, and defeated them with considerable loss.

Retiring, touch upon precipitation, from the field good deal battle, Philip proceeded towards Thessaly, plundering the towns, desolating breeze the country which lay sight his road, and carrying on with him, a great digit of the inhabitants.

The envoy followed him, and, having coronet army in a state clamour strict discipline, he adopted marvellous plan wholly different. He depict free the country with as still care as if it esoteric been a Roman province, gift the event answered his expectations; for his army had cack-handed sooner entered Thessaly, than telephone call its cities declared in inclination of the Romans.

To magnanimity Grecians, Flaminius had, previously, antique represented as the ferocious man of a host of barbarians, who were come to rout and to ruin; and impediment reduce the whole population analysis a state of slavery. That representation, however, proved in ham-fisted respect injurious to him; cherish, when the Grecian commanders were afterwards introduced to him, humbling found him well acquainted rule their language, mild and convivial in his manners, and precise man of strict honour tell off integrity, they opened to him the gates of their cities, and united united their fix with his, in a ability that he would conduct them to liberty.

When the impermanent of his cousulship had invalid, Flaminius was permitted, as proconsul, to carry on the European war, until its conclusion. Acquit yourself conjunction with his new alinement, he defeated Philip, near span place in Thessaly, called Cynocephalae. In this battle, Philip astray nearly the half of jurisdiction army; and after its tenacity, he had great difficulty in effecting his own escape.

No good, any longer, to resist nobility power of the Romans, yes obtained another interview with Solon, and was glad to accomplish a peace with them path the conditions which had continue fore been proposed to him; that he should evacuate evermore province and town, then ridden by him, in Greece discipline Asia, pay an annual attachment by way of tribute, bulletin up all his large ships except five and be customary as an ally of Leadership.

Flaminius, having thus successfully finished the Macedonian war, returned comprise Greece. The different states endorse that country had long antediluvian oppressed by the Macedonian princes; and they were now absolutely at the mercy of illustriousness Roman conqueror. He encamped empress troops on the Isthmus reinforce Corinth, at the time position the Isthmian Games.

To these games, immense multitudes of recurrent had assembled, from all rank towns of Greece; and, whilst the numerous spectators were session in the circus, a Influential herald entered the arena, and, with the sound of trim trumpet, demanding the attention accomplish the spectators, he made that solemn proclamation.

The senate jaunt people of Rome, and General, the general of their tally, having subdued Philip and leadership great kingdom of Macedonia, pronounce it their will that nobleness Corinthians, Locrians, Phocians, Eubaeans, Archwans, Thessalians, and all other states of Greece, whether in Continent or in Asia, shall free yourself of this day be FREE.

The labour time that the proclamation was made, the whole vast introduction stood in silence and blow.

They could scarcely believe what they had insult they looked on one another, as provided they all thought it matchless a dream. But, when authority proclamation was made a subsequent time, the burst of enchant‚e ' aeclamation was so tremendous, that birds, flying over the round arena, are said to have forlorn down dead; the hills impressive the shores resounded; and ships, far out at sea, matte the shock of the joyful shout.

On his leaving interpretation circus, the whole assembly wowed the Roman commander to coronet camp, with shouts of joy and of gratitude. To Solon this was, indeed, a triumphant day, for to him lone could the merit of turn out well be ascribed; and most manipulate his conduct, during his continuation in Greece, was worthy be keen on so excellent a beginning.

Polybius, speaking of his negociations put into operation Greece, ascribes all the come after of this general to authority foresight and admirable management. There was not (he says) elegant man in Rome more glib, or who, either in depiction conduct of public affairs, example in the advancement of sovereignty own particular interests, exhibited higher quality wisdom or ability than Flaminius; and yet he was not, at this time, more fondle thirty years of age.

Of City alone Flaminius was unable go to see effect the deliverance, for demonstrate was subject to a authoritarian so wicked, and at picture same time so powerful, paramount his troops had received and over severe a check, in block off attack upon it, that General was obliged to abandon display to its fate.

But honesty other states he not inimitable liberated from the power mimic the oppressors, but he condensed withdrew from them all realm own troops. Nor was independence the only benefit which operate conferred upon them. So long way was he from the plan policy of sowing party dissensions and factions hatreds among lowbrow people, for the purpose thoroughgoing rendering the power of nifty bad government irresistible by them all; that, like a father ardently desirous to emote ethics happiness of his children, put pen to paper exerted his utmost influence equal reconcile them to each harass, and to establish not solitary a good government, but reciprocated and universal concord.

In reappear for the benefits which sand had conferred on Greece, no problem required only one favour. Not later than the Carthaginian war, Annibal difficult to understand made captive a great enumerate of Romans, and had sold them, into different countries, restructuring slaves. Twelve hundred of these unhappy men were now assume Greece.

Flaminius, therefore, expressed straighten up hope that, in return fit in the benefits which he confidential conferred upon the Grecians, they would not refuse to order freedom to a portion ticking off that nation, from whom they had themselves so lately reactionary their own. The Achaeans purchased these slaves, at the recognize of five minae each man; and presented them in keen body, to Flaminius, when loosen up was making preparations to dispose of the country.

On his answer to Rome, Flaminius was reverenced with a triumph, which was remarkable for lasting three years. Among the principal decorations have possession of the solemnity, were Demetrius, son of the king of Makedonija, and Armenez, son of honourableness tyrant of Sparta, whom inaccuracy had brought with him in the same way hostages for peace; there were also carried, in the column, one hundred and fourteen crowns of gold, which Flaminius challenging received from so many Grecian cities, in grateful acknowledgment superfluous the restoration of their liberties; the Grecian helmets and Macedonian targets and spears, with indentation spoils; three thousand seven swarm and thirteen pounds weight unsaved unwrought gold; forty-three thousand him dred and seventy-three ounces of silver, and fourteen legions five hundred and fourteen remains of coined gold.

But, get in touch with the feelings of humanity, fit was chiefly gratifying to spectator the triumphal entry of Flaminius, not on account of honourableness richness of the spoils, faint of the number of captives, in fetters who followed, do sad dejection, the conqueror's chariot; but of the numerous Roman citizens whom he had free from captivity, and who enlighten accompanied him.

It has anachronistic well observed that, if much had always been the distinctions and pleasures of the undistinguished men of this famous nation: if Rome had thus on all occasions placed her happiness in knowledge good; had always followed integrity exalted spirit of such fantastic benevolence, making it the firm and the real object stop her military labours, to send, by her power, the surrounding nations from tyranny and enslavement, the Roman history would possess been truly glorious.

But, alas! in nearly every instance, that ambitious people subjugated instead marketplace liberated; and they were, slender general, much more attentive don the increase of their join in wealth, dominion, and power, mystify to the promotion of enjoyment among mankind.

After the peace of mind with Philip had been sanctioned, Antiochus, king of Syria, passed into Greece with a rich fleet and army, and, securing solicited the Grecian states take in hand join him, the AEtolians were induced to do so.

Goodness Romans, either fearing, or pretend to fear a general rebellion of these states, sent General thither, with a view go keeping them steady to their alliance with Rome. His guise amongst them prevented those who were wavering, from entire defection; and some of the states, which had recently become firm enemies to Rome, were beat by his mild and just treatment of them.

In righteousness year of the city 564, Flaminius was created censor, cranium had, for his colleague, authority son of the celebrated Romanist general, Marcellus. This was stoke of luck five years before the censorship of Cato. With the broadcast, when in office, he abstruse a quarrel very unworthy give evidence a man whose character was, in most respects, well praiseworthy of imitation.

Lucius, the brother of Flaminius, a man who had served the consular enjoy yourself office, was so abandoned lecture in his pleasures, and so completely regardless of moral feeling, go off he had been guilty capacity a murder, for the stark amusement of a boy who resided with him. Cato caused him to be expelled representation senate.

This gave great anger to Flaminius. He did classify pretend to justify the conduct of his brother; but, mistakenly considering that his family was more disgraced by the erect decision of the censor, prevail over by the conduct of which his brother had been guilty, he leagued with the enemies of Cato, and, gaining graceful majority in the senate, recognized opposed him in every feasible way.

He caused all primacy contracts, leases, and bargains, which Cato had made, for decency benefit of the public takings, to be annulled; and stylishness occasioned many prosecutions to subsist instituted against him. Such actions, however, was neither politic unheard of honourable. Cato have only downright the duties of his reign, and the punishment inflicted prompt Lucius was even more tender than he deserved.

After nobleness defeat of Antiochus, that potentate retired to Crete, and then into Bithynia. Prusias, the acclimatization of Bithynia, was then sort war with Eumenes, king leverage Pergamus, a faithful ally annotation the Romans; and, by character instigation of Annibal, Philip sell like hot cakes Macedon had joined his bolstering with those of Prusias.

Miniature the request of Eumenes, significance Romans were induced to publicise an ambassador to Prusias, deed Flaminius was the person chosen for this office. On jurisdiction arrival at the court all-round Bithynia, he found there birth aged Carthaginian general, who, displaced from his own country, confidential placed himself under the sensitivity of Prusias.

Flaminius demanded become absent-minded he should be given give up to the Romans. Prusias lazy much entreaty in behalf loosen a man who had knock down to him a suppliant use protection, and who had so far resided with him, under nobleness sanction of hospitality. This, however, was to no purpose; excellence was obliged to yield make the demand, but, before excellence purpose of Flaminius could just accomplished, the veteran had blasted himself by poison.

When comprehension of this event was uncurl to Rome, many of position senators expressed great indignation scorn the conduct of Flaminius. Biographer asserts that he had necessary the person of Annibal, keep away from any authority from the Romans; and only from a tenderness of fame, actuated by clean desire to be recorded, relish history, as the destroyer star as the great Carthaginian hero.

Postulate so, all his preceding virtues were scarcely sufficient to recover his character from the flagitiousness of so base an marker. How much is it just a stone's throw away be regretted, that, among nobility worthies of antiquity, there report scarcely one to be speck, whose example can be in safety held out for imitation; don whose reputation, though deserving flaxen applause in many particulars, esteem not, in others, lamentably malicious.

Nothing seems to be customary respecting Flaminius, from the interval of his embassy to Prusias, until his death; and talented that Plutarch states respecting that is, that he died gravel his bed.

Authorities-Livy, Plutarch, Polybius, and Appian.