My Science School

          Constantine is perhaps best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor. Constantine defeated the emperors Maxentius and Licinius during civil wars. He also fought successfully against the Franks, Alamanni, Visigoths, and Sarmatians during his reign. He transformed the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium into a new imperial residence, Constantinople, which would be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years.

        

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                Diocletian was a Roman emperor at the end of the third century AD. He was chosen emperor by his troops on the 17th of September 284. In order to restore order in Gaul, and to prevent competition for the throne, he named his friend Maximian as coregent, and placed the western part of the empire under his rule.

                 Diocletian continued to directly govern the Asiatic part of the empire, and Egypt. He secured the state borders, and implemented a new territorial partition of the empire. He separated the military from civilian administration, and reconstructed the inner organization of the army and state bureaucracy. Diocletian took away from the Senate their former rights. Rome was no longer the capital. Then, in AD 293, Diocletian took another huge step into the unknown by founding the ‘Tetrarchy’, the rule of four. This new idea of imperial government meant that four emperors would rule the empire. But, this system eventually collapsed, leading to civil war. 

              Zhao Yun was an important commander of the civil wars of the late Han dynasty, and the Three Kingdoms period of China. For most of his career, Zhao Yun served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of Shu Han.

                 In 192, Zhao Yun became a subordinate of Liu Bei, who was serving as a major under Gongsun Zan. Then later, when Liu Bei formed his own personal army, Zhao Yun was his right hand man, and followed him in his battles. In 208, Zhao Yun distinguished himself at the Battle of Changban against the forces of the powerful Cao Cao. After this battle, Zhao Yun single-handedly saved Liu Bei’s only infant son, slaying numerous enemy soldiers along the way.

                     After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhao Yun played a major role in conquering additional territories for Liu Bei. He gained fame as one of the five tiger generals of the Shu Kingdom - a term used to refer to the five best military generals serving under one ruler. 

         Aurelian was Roman emperor from 270-275 AD. He was the second in a succession of emperors who were originally soldiers. These ‘soldier-emperors’ helped the Roman Empire regain its power, which had waned considerably during the latter part of the third century, and towards the beginning of the fourth century.

             Aurelian was a highly regarded general, who saw action in many wars. One of his most noteworthy victories occurred in the year 268 AD, when he successfully fought back the well equipped and well trained Gothic cavalry force in the much celebrated Battle of Naissus. When the Emperor Claudius died, the army supported Aurelian as Emperor. At that time, external enemies from almost all sides threatened the Roman Empire. There was the constant threat of rebellious uprisings from within its own walls. The economic state of the empire was also quite bad at that time, with the agricultural and the commercial sectors in particular, suffering under the general political instability.

            One of the first acts Aurelian undertook was to recover the huge territories that the empire had lost in the previous years. After fifteen years of uprisings, and the devastating losses of Rome’s territories, it was under Aurelian’s rule, that the empire was finally fully united. History will forever remember Aurelian as the emperor, who brought an end to the crisis in Rome during the third century. 

             Sun Quan was the founder of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period in Ancient China. As a brilliant politician, he showed his talent at an early age, and followed his elder brother Sun Ce in battle when he was 14. After Sun Ce’s death, the 19 year-old Sun Quan succeeded his brother’s throne. Sun Quan promoted the development of the southeastern region. He kept diplomatic relations with surrounding countries such as India.

 

           Cao Cao was King of Wei, Prime Minister of the Han, and self styled warlord of the Three Kingdoms era of China. Modern historians view him as a brilliant politician and a skillful general.

            Cao was initially a minor garrison commander who rose to prominence as a general when he suppressed the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The Yellow Turbans were a Chinese secret society whose members’ uprising, called the Yellow Turban Rebellion threatened the last years of Han rule. The rebellion weakened the country, and is divided it into three kingdoms. Cao Cao took the emperor with him, and moved the capital to Xuxian. By invoking the emperor’s name, he took command of the other generals, and gradually assumed all imperial powers. His domain was known as the Kingdom of Wei.

            Cao became one of the most popular figures of Chinese legend and folklore, with various evil magic powers ascribed to him. 

          Lu Bu was a Chinese Han warlord, who lived during the Three Kingdoms period. He was a master of horse riding, archery, and armed combat. He was tall and strong, and because of his speed, skill and strength, he was nick-named ‘The Flying General’. He had a very fast moving horse called Red Hare.

          Lu Bu was appointed cavalry commander and Imperial corps commander by Dong Zhuo, a warlord from the Liang province. Dong Zhuo adopted Lu Bu as his son and, Lu Bu became Dong Zhuo’s closest bodyguard. However, in the end, he was responsible for Dong Zhuo’s death.

          Lu Bu was known to have no equal in battle, and was probably one of the greatest warriors to ever exist. His only love was war, and his only loyalty was to himself. He was finally executed by an enemy warlord, Cao Cao.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Zhou Yu was a general of Wu of the Three Kingdoms of China over 1700 years ago. He was handsome, intelligent and a famous militarist and strategist. He served Sun Ce during the late Han Dynasty. After Sun Ce’s death, Cao Cao led a massive force southward. Zhou Yu defeated this force at the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs in 208. 

         Septimus Severus was the first of the soldier emperors of Ancient Rome. He rose improbably from the ranks of soldiers to become a military reformer. He was the first of the Severan emperors of Rome.

          Septimus Severus was born in Africa, at Leptis Magna, on April 11th, 145. He was of Carthaginian descent. Severus was a successful soldier, and when his predecessor, Emperor Commodus died, Severus’ troops proclaimed him emperor. Under Severus, Middle Eastern provinces were represented in the Senate for the first time. Severus died in Britain fighting the Caledonians, and was succeeded by his son, Caracalla.

 

           Decebalus was King of Dacia, which is today known as Romania. His name means ‘the brave one’. He was called by this name because he proved to be a formidable opponent to Rome for over 20 years.

           Decebalus ruled the Dacians between 87 and 106, and is famous for fighting three wars against the Roman Empire, and negotiating two peace treaties without being eliminated. Decebalus was shrewd both in his understanding of warfare, and in the waging of war. He judged well when to attack, and chose the right moment to retreat. He was an expert in ambushes, and a master in pitched battles, He knew not only how to follow up a victory well, but also how to manage well in defeat. He fought against the Roman Emperors Domitian and Trajan, and when he was finally defeated, he committed suicide. He is considered a national hero in Romania to this day. 

           Trajan was a soldier who spent most of his life involved in campaigns. He was adopted by the Roman Emperor Nerva, but even after Nerva died, Trajan remained in Germany until he had completed his campaign. Trajan’s eventual entry into Rome in AD 99 was a triumphant one. Jubilant crowds rejoiced at his arrival. The new emperor entered the city on foot. He embraced each of the Senators, and even walked among the ordinary people. Under Trajan, the programme of public works was enlarged substantially. The road network in Italy was renovated, and many bridges were built. Also provisions for the poor were also made, especially for children. Trajan was a brilliant general, as shown by his military achievements. Quite naturally, he was very popular with his troops, especially due to his willingness to share in the hardships of his soldiers.

          Trajan’s most famous campaign is undoubtedly that against Dacia, a powerful kingdom north of the Danube in modern Romania. Two wars were fought against it, resulting in its destruction and annexation as a Roman province in AD 106. He annexed Armenia, and spectacularly conquered the whole of Mesopotamia, including the Parthian capital Ctesiphon.

         Trajan died while returning to Italy from the east on 9th August AD 117, after suffering a stroke.  

                  Hadrian was a Roman emperor known for his many building projects. Hadrian spent most of his period in office travelling all over the empire. He is most famous for the wall that he built across Britain, from Tyne to Sol-way, designed to keep the barbarians out of Roman Britain. Hadrian was a capable administrator and a good soldier and leader, and is known as one of the ‘five good emperors’ of Rome. 

        Domitian was confirmed as emperor by the Roman Senate on September 14th, 81 AD. During the preceding twenty years, Rome had experienced two great fires, and a civil war. Domitian responded by erecting, restoring, or completing some 50 structures. In order to facilitate this recovery, the provinces were taxed more heavily. While Domitian raised taxes in most parts of the Empire, he also took aggressive steps to eliminate corruption and mismanagement.

          Rome was not seriously threatened by its enemies during Domitian’s reign. In 88-89 CE, there was a revolt in upper Germany. Domitian had the revolt quickly crushed, by using the legions of lower Germany.

          By the latter part of his reign, the Emperor had taken almost all power away from the Roman Senate. He became increasingly paranoid of plots and plans to remove him. In 96 AD, a real plot against Domitian finally did succeed. He died at age forty-four, and was the last emperor of his dynasty - the Flavian dynasty. 

               Germanicus was a popular imperial Roman general. He stifled a rebellion in the west on the death of Augustus in AD 14. Though urged to take imperial power, he deferred to Tiberius. In the East, he came into conflict with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, governor of Syria. His death may have been due to poisoning ordered by Piso, though Tiberius was also suspected. He was immensely popular among the citizens of Rome. 

           Gnaeus Julius Agricola was a Roman statesman and soldier. He became governor of Britain, and conquered large areas of Northern England, Scotland and Wales. Agricola began his career as a military tribune. Later, he commanded a Roman legion in Britain, and in 78 AD, he was made governor of Britain.

            Agricola was successful in establishing Roman authority in North Wales. He then moved to Scotland, where he consolidated Roman military control and masterminded the building of a string of forts across the country from west to east. He confronted the Caledonian tribes under Calgacus at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 84 AD.

            Agricola was a successful soldier, and a political leader in Britain. Agricola died peacefully at his estate in Italy. Did you know that Agricola was the first Roman to realize that Britain was an island?