Episode 92 - The Pestilence of 463 BCE

We're jumping back into the narrative. The title might be a bit of a giveaway, yes yes, we'll be talking about … pestilence! But before we get there we need to consider the circumstances.

Rome has been having lots of problems with their neighbours, particularly the Aequians and we've seen a shift in tactics from Aequians engaging in guerilla style raiding to seeking out the Romans in pitched battle. To say that Rome has been vexed by this is an understatement. Livy has offered some portents for the times ahead which, in a narrative history of Rome, can't be good!

Our
Main Players

The
Consuls for c. 463 BCE:

• Lucius
  Aebutius Helva
• Publius
  Servilius Priscus

HARK,
PLAGUE!

Livy kinds informs us of some dreadful details about a plague that is sweeping through the countryside. We take you through the grisly details from both Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus.

What
initially seems confined beyond the city though soon moves within and
this means problems for urban citizens, visitors, and the body
politic (both figuratively and literally).

AN
OPPORTUNITY?

While Romans struggle just to stay alive, the Aequians and the Volscians consolidate their growing friendship of mutual convenience into a straight up alliance. This places Rome in a difficult spot between needing to keep her own allies – the Latins and the Hernicans – appeased as well as the knowledge that their previous irritations have formally combined forces.

COME
FOR THE PLAGUE, STAY FOR THE…

…Other
excitement afoot!

Things
to look forward to in this episode. We'll
consider:

• The
  first acts
  of the new Aequian-Volscian alliance
• The
  Roman response to their allies' call for support
• The
  defence systems of the City
• The
  power of divine intervention
• Some
  reasons why Rome doesn't fall in this moment
• And
  questions and discussion about the role of the interreges

Episode 92 – The Pestilence of 463 BCEThe angel of death striking a door during the plague of Rome.
Engraving by Levasseur after J. Delaunay
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons and Wellcome Images

For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/

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