A Few, the Proud, the Generals

Who received triumphs.  These generals were the victors who ousted the competition and came back to Rome triumphantly.  They were the generals who conquered and had very sizable kill ratios, generals who brought back unprecedented amounts of booty and for that, were distinguished with one of Rome's highest honors: a Roman Triumph.  There were many generals who received triumphs; it is actually recorded in one year, that over 100 triumphs were given out.  Rome was expanding at an unprecedented rate into the Mediterranean area.  These are some of the generals that Rome distinguished apart from the rest.  Men who distinguished themselves with more that one, of these god-like celebrations of glory.

Ameilius Paullus:
 After returning home, Paullus a fierce general received a triumph for his feat of monumental size: a very long and grueling battle lasting 3 days.  Paullus's triumph is one recorded by very detailed inscriptions.  Much more is known about this particular triumph than many others that occured. The first day of festivities was a show and tell day;  Paullus and his army revealed many paintings, statutes, and other brilliantly carved images drawn through the streets of Rome in over 300 chariots.
 Day 2 was followed with the riches, aimlessly placed all over the carts, shined up beautifly and gleaming in the warm Roman sun.  3000 men then walked the streets at a 1/5 mile an hour pace dressed in their winning armor.  These soldiers were pulling 750 vessels of silver and coins.  The last day of this enormous triumph began with the Roman trumpeters sounding encouragement chants, symbolic to the battle field.  Young men in purple tunics lead 120 oxen to be sacrificed to the gods as token of good faith.  These oxen were elaborately decorated, and were pulling cart upon cart of gold,  jewels and eye awing wealth.   The captives were then drawn through the parade.  The king of the taken land was next in line and his children were right behind him.  In some triumphs the kings were killed right in front of their children.  This brutal scene was supposed to make the children grateful to the generals for not killing them, in theory this would work.  Also in theory, this demonstrated to the children that:  if they were to try and revolt, they too would be killed like their fathers.
 After the prisoners, came friends and family of Paullus, and then the general himself dressed in a long purple gown with gold all over; he was carried in his chariot holding a branch of a laurel in his right hand.  All of the army was also holding  laurel branches.  Their final destination the Capitaline Hill, where he would receive his highest honors.

Caesar the great.  The general of all generals.
Honored with 5 triumphs, Caesar was one of the mightiest generals to grace Roman soil.  Four of these triumphs were actually celebrated for him in 1 month, with only a few days in between to rest and get ready for the next one to follow.  All 5 of his triumphs differed in the amount of booty won and the contents of it.   His Pontic triumph gave way to the saying "I came, I saw, I conquered."  In his Gallic triumph, Caesar climbed to the capital using torches to guide his way and with 40 elephants climbing the hill on either side of him.  No doubt, his celebrations were extraordinary and a joy to watch for some time.  During these celebrations and honors, much booty was acquired, and Caesar gave his veteran legions 24,000 sesterces, 12 times as much as the 2000 sesterces paid in the beginning.  To every man he gave land and grain.  Caesar used all the wealth that he acquired to better as many people as he could, making him one of the most well known and well liked generals and leaders that Rome ever had.

Augustus.
 Two bronze pillars in Rome stand tall, forever marking the accomplishments of this great general and leader.  Honored with 3 triumphs for his duty to Rome, Augustus declined the state 4 others times for trying to award him with triumphs.  [link....triumphs for emperors and not generals].  Though not much is known about the triumphs themselves, Augustus had at one high point in his command, 500,000 men under military oath to him.  During his command he captured over 600 ships, which is an astounding number for his time.  These ships were used to strengthen  Rome's Navel powers.  His captures were very immense and the share of booty went well beyond that of the average general.
 

Pompey "Ganeus Pompeius Magnus"
 Upon his arrival back to Roman soil Pompey was awarded, for fulfilling his duty to Rome, with an enormous triumph.  During which he unveiled his plans to dedicate buildings to Rome.  Pompey's major contribution came in the form of a full rock theater with an enclosed public garden, that was the first Rome had never seen.  These types of offerings to Rome and its people by distinguished generals were very common gifts, however Pompey's gifts were well beyond that of the average general, and the Romans looked upon them with great respect.  A triumph was a perfect place for such a dedication.  Pompey's charitable donation was seen as one of extraordinary wealth and power, then again Rome spoiled these generals for one day with god like status.

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