Name:
Theodora Sicinius Vargas.
Representative of:
Ancient Rome.
Gender:
Female.
Age:
Human: 35.
Historical: Born 753 BCE.
Brief personality:
Since in Rome, one would never have just one lover, Theodora tends to be flirty. She’s over confident about herself, being very patriotic about her Roman heritage. Even though she seeks attention of men for fun, this doesn’t stop her from being a motherly figure to her grandchildren. She’s close to her grandchildren, but she’s not afraid to show them tough love and care. Along with her motherly instinct, she is quite sharp. She’s brilliant and tactical and she can analyse the situation well. No matter what, she is known to be a tenacious go-getter. Naturally, she’ll never back down from a fight, no matter what the odds are. On top of all of this, she’s fearless and fierce.
Theodora is quite an artsy individual, as she likes to paint and make pottery. Another hobby of hers is cooking, a trait that has been passed down to her grandsons. She embraces the Greek philosophy of Epicureanism, so she enjoys to lounge around and she loves to take long baths. Sword fighting is a fun activity to her, so when she’s not lounging around, you may find her practicing her swordsmanship. More than anything, she loves to spend time with her grandchildren. She wouldn’t give them up for the world.
Brief physical description:
Theodora is 5’4” with soft olive tinted skin and a curvy body. Being the greatest empire of her time, she carries herself with confidence, as comfortable in her own shoes. Like her spirit, her hair is wild and it shoots in every direction as it falls off her shoulders. Since long hair is a sign of fertility, her hair falls down to her waist. As a spirited woman, she has radiant, fierce amber eyes that can bring an enemy to cower in fear. She also has sharp cheek bones and a round nose, along with soft, full lips. Because her nation was filled with warfare, she has calloused hands and feet.
Silk was a luxury in Ancient Rome; everyone wanted it and everyone wore it. So naturally, Theodora wears silk everywhere. Purple is a sign of royalty, so she always wears purple as well. Her favourite outfit is a white, silk tunic with purple trim. She could also be seen wearing a silk tunic with a purple sash, or even a silk toga with a purple palla. Women typically wore closed toed shoes, but since Theodora is of a higher status, she wears brown sandals with black straps that goes up to her mid-calf. In Rome, pearls were very popular, so she often wears them around her neck. She also adorns her hands with golden rings to show off her high status. Earrings were popular as well, so she often wears gold or pearl earrings.
Brief history:
Conflicts With the Roman Republic
The conflict started between the plebeians and the patricians. The patricians were the rich, powerful families who managed to secure power over the less fortunate plebeians. They were in a constant power struggle, and in 494 BCE, the plebeians refused to serve the Roman army. The patricians on the other hand were ready to reform. They added tribunes which were voices for the people and could veto decisions. In 449 BCE, the Twelve Tables were written down, which were laws that protected the citizens. In 390 BCE, the Gauls sacked Rome, taking women, food, money, and many other items.
The Punic Wars: Rome vs. Carthage
The First Punic War lasted from 264 to 241 BCE. This fight was between Carthage, a Phoenician colony that had three times the population of Rome, a huge navy, and plenty of mercenaries and Rome with its loyal citizen soldiers that were skilled in the art of war. In the end of this war, Rome defeated Carthage, taking over Sicily.
The Second Punic War was from 218 to 202 BCE. This war was still between Rome and Carthage, but this time, Carthage had Hannibal on its side. Hannibal was a very skilled general at war tactics. One of Hannibal’s more famous achievements and show of his cunny mind was his march with 50,000 soldiers, 9,000 cavalry, and 60 elephants across the Alps before winter came to surprise Italy with an attack. Scipio, the Roman general at the time, attacked Carthage after the battle of Cannae, which killed 40,000-70,000 Romans, to make Hannibal have to return home. In 202 BCE, Scipio was able to defeat Hannibal at the battle of Zama.
The Third Punic War lasted from 149 to 146 BCE. Scipio Aemilianus, the grandson of Scipio Africonus, destroyed Carthage by burning it and selling the survivors into slavery.
First Roman Civil War: Gaius Marius vs. Lucius Cornelius Sulla
In 88 BCE, Marius started to use his army for personal gain. He acquired his army by paying for the poor people’s weapons and armour, which was not common, and in 87 BCE, Marius seized Rome and hunted down his opponents. This made him be elected as consul, seeing as the Romans were scared of him. He was elected 5 years in a row. In 83 BCE, Sulla seized Rome and began to execute over 10,000 people.
The First Triumvirate
The first triumvirate consisted of Julius Caesar, Crassus the rich, and Pompey. Caesar was elected consul, stepping down after a year. After this, he goes off to Gaul and becomes its governor in the year 58-50 BCE.
The 15th of March, 44 BCE, Brutus and Cassius murder our homeboy Caesar. In the play that Shakespeare writes about this event, he adds the very famous lines “Et tu Brute?” or “And you, Brutus?”
The Second Triumvirate
This triumvirate consisted of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. During the early days of the triumvirate, the conspirators against Caesar are killed, such as Brutus, Cassius, and Cicero (the leader of the senate). Octavian and Mark Antony began a relationship with the Empress Cleopatra, both of them falling in love with her, Mark Antony first. They both do the diddly with her. After Mark Antony dies, Octavian Augustus begins he rule as Emperor, therefore; beginning the Pax Romana “Peace of Rome.” This time for Rome consisted of the creation of the common coin, aqueducts, and the creation of great buildings such as the Circus Maximus and the Pantheon, along with the removal of the tax on trade.
The Problem of Succession
After the death of Octavian Augustus, there is the problem of succession. In the years 235-284 BCE, there were what is known as Barracks emperors. These emperors were chosen and killed by the Praetorian Guard, the protector of the emperor.
The Five “Good”/“Adoptive” Emperors
This starts out with Emperor Nerva, then Trajan in the year 100 BCE, after him comes Hadrian, Antonius Pius is chosen next, and lastly, Marcus Aurelius. These emperors chose their heir based on their political skills, then adopting them. Marcus Aurelius died before he could adopt an heir, so succession went to his real son, Commodus. Commodus was known as a monster as he would stage fights between him and men of smaller stature, midgets, and slaughter them to show off his power whilst wearing the skins of a tiger.
Christianity Spreads Throughout the Roman Empire
In the year 6 AD, the providence of Judea is added under Rome’s control. During the Roman rule of the area, King Herod became an Ally to Rome and Jesus the Christ travelled around the territory gathering his 12 apostles and spreading his teachings. In 30 AD the Romans crucified Jesus in Jerusalem, starting Paul of Tarsus’s letters to citizens and other Christians looking for guidance. In the year 64 AD, Nero began the persecution of Christians, going as far as using them as human torches to light the paths around Rome.
The Crisis of the Third Century
During this time, Rome began to see economic decay, rising inflation, the end of the Pax Romana, and military decay as the soldiers no longer were loyal to Rome. Because of the lack of patriotic soldiers, Rome had to hire Barbarian soldiers.
A Time For Reforms
The next emperor was named Diocletian. He doubled the size of the Roman armies, persecuted the Christians to restore faith in Roman gods, and divided the empire into two halves. One side being Rome, the Latin speaking half, and Byzantium, the Greek speaking half.
The Reforms of Constantine
Constantine, first, ended the persecution of Christians with the Edict of Milan, written in 313 AD. Constantine created a new capital in this eastern half of the empire. He named this city Constantinople, “The City of Constantine.” The nest emperor, Theodosius, made Christianity the official religion of Rome in 395 AD.
Barbarians Overrun the Roman Empire in the West
German tribes began to invade the Roman Empire with the Huns quick on their heels. Attila the Hun sacked Rome, the first of many which will lead to Rome’s downfall. Alaric and his Visigoths also sacked Rome in 410, making Rome have to clean up the mess. Attila the Hun attacks Rome again in 452 AD, but he is stopped by Pope Leo I, or Leo the Great, as he said Rome was ravaged by disease. Gaiseric and the Vandals sack Rome in 455 AD, leaving Rome unstable and weak. The last attack happened in 476 CE with Odoacer, a barbarian general who disposed of the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus.
Religious affiliation:
At first, Rome was pagan, worshipping Roman gods such as Jupiter, Mars, and Neptune. Then, Rome converted to Christianity around the time 395 AD.
Any special powers or abilities:
N/A.
Theodora’s colour code is #663366.
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Subject: Salve, mihi nomen est Theodora Vargas~ 
Mon Dec 14, 2015 3:14 am