![]() May and June were also named for Roman gods. It was followed by April – taken from the Latin word that means “to open” – due to the sign of spring and newly awakened life from earth. ![]() It was considered the first month of the year. March was named after the Roman god, Mars. In ancient times, the first two months of the year, January and February, were basically ignored and nameless because little could be accomplished during those wintry months. At that time, it was named Quintilius, meaning the fifth month. That is why we still have two months named after them. Yet, compared to the insane Caligula and the narcissistic and brutal Nero, these original Caesars seem benevolent. He also levied heavy taxes upon his conquered subjects – which is even mentioned in the Bible. When a conquered rival asked to be properly buried after his ensuing execution, Augustus casually answered that the carrion would decide. When a unit of troops proved insolent, he ordered that they draw lots and every tenth man was executed. While he won the admiration of most of his subjects, like his uncle Julius, Augustus could be cruel and harsh. He ruled Rome for the longest of any of the Caesars, for a total of seventy years. When his great-nephew and promised heir, Octavian, succeeded him, the new ruler took the name of Augustus Caesar. He reigned for just three years, then was assassinated by (guess who) the members of the senate, on March 15, 44 BC. Being overtly and extremely ambitious, Julius invoked a civil war on the Roman Empire, then took over as a totalitarian ruler when he was victorious. Julius Caesar, a famous general at the time of the waning of this republic, enjoyed great military success. ![]() Within a few centuries, most of them had become corrupted and did not want to give up their power (sound familiar?). The senate controlled most of the laws and liberties. Our months of July and August are named for the ancient Roman ruler Julius Caesar (100 BC-44 BC) and his successor, Augustus Caesar (63BC-14 AD).īefore the time of the Caesars, Rome was a republic, and had been for centuries. ![]()
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