Livy VII: Books XXVI and XXVII

"The History of Rome" in Fourteen Volumes #26-27

by Livy

Ex library in dust jacket, usual stamps, bookseller's marks. Shipped from the U.K. All orders received before 3pm sent that weekday.

Genres: History, Roman

434 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 28

About the author

Titus Livius (Patavinus) (64 or 59 BC – AD 17)—known as Livy in English, and Tite-Live in French—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Books from the Foundation of the City) – covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to take up the writing of history. Livy and Augustus's wife, Livia, were from the same clan in different locations, although not related by blood.

Reviews

[Darwin8u · Rating 5 out of 5]

No! Let there be some survivors, to carry the news both of the enemy's disaster and of our valour."
Livy, Book XXVII. xlix 9



Book 26 (The Fate of Capua)
&
Book 27 (Scipio in Spain)

My seventh (of fourteen) Livy's History of Rome covers books 26 through 27 (211-207 BC). Volume VII details Hannibal coming up to the bank of the Anio in Rome, the fall of Capua (taken by Quintus Fulvius and Appius Claudius), Publius Scipio's storming of New Carthage at age 24, , the reckless death of Marcellus in an ambush. In Spain Scipio fights with Hasdrubal and Hamilcar. Hasdrubal leaves Spain as things in Spain. After crossing the Alps, 56,000 of Hasdrubal's troops are killed at the Battle of the Metaurus. The Battle of Metaurus is for the Carthaginian as big a defeat as the earlier Battle at Cannae was for the Romans.

It is fascinating to read Livy. Obviously, there is a bit of a bias against Hannibal and the Carthaginians built into Livy. However, Livy does a good job of being mostly fair when discussing Hannibal and his generals and the Roman generals. Many of Hannibal's failures seem to stem from Hannibal's occasionally and costly political mistakes, and the fortunes of war. He was never a great 'hearts and minds" general like Publius Scipio, aka Scipio Africanus, aka Scipio the Great.

One of the great things (and I understand we are talking about war and not a sport) about the Second Punic War is how damn dramatic it is. There are great players: Hannibal, Hasdrubal & Mago; Scipio Africanus, Marcellus, & Fabius. It has so many ebbs, flows, dramas, and stunning turn-arounds there is a reason why people still read, write, and talk about it. Livy is best here when he is describing battles and delivering speeches from generals before a battle.

[Lukerik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of this volume is slower than previous ones, but you’ve come this far so I’m sure you can take it. It does actually work as a book and builds to crescendo with the destruction of Hasbrubal. Earlier parts seem to work together as packets of five books (two volumes in this edition). Not sure if this will the case here as I’ve not read volume VIII.

Still much to enjoy though, even if it is sparser. Scipio Africanus has appeared briefly as a teenager in a previous volume, but here we get a proper introduction as he takes control of an army in Spain.

“Scipio was remarkable not only for his real abilities, but thanks to a certain skill also had from his youth adapted himself to their display, doing most of his actions before the public either as if they were prompted by visions in the night or inspired by the gods, whether because he also was possessed by a certain superstition, or in order that men might carry out without hesitation his commands and advice, as though emanating from an oracular response.”

A clever man. There’s some good advice in here for would-be cult leaders. Particularly interesting is the taking of New Carthage. Scipio plans the assault by taking account of the physical properties of the site, but spurs his soldiers to the attack by framing it in religious terms.

Also interesting is when Hannibal camps at the gates of Rome. For the second time he has the empire in his grasp, but doesn’t take it because it’s raining and he takes this as a sign from god. Really makes you think about how the flow of history can hinge on irrational decisions, and how horrific the consequences can be.

“Relieved of their religious scruples, men were troubled again by the report that at Frusino there had been born a child as large as a four-year-old, and not so much a wonder for size as because, just as at Sinuessa two years before, it was uncertain whether male or female. In fact the soothsayers summoned from Etruria said it was a terrible and loathsome portent; it must be removed from Roman territory, far from contact with earth, and drowned in the sea. They put it alive into a chest, carried it out to sea and threw it overboard.”

Well, I suppose that solves the problem of whether it’ll be playing men’s or women’s sport.

[James Violand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is the same for each of his volumes: Livy is the quintessential historian of ancient Rome. He had his obvious flaws - no one could consider him unbiased in his approach, and he creates dialogue between historical figures that encourage the virtues of the citizens. Still, he is very entertaining. Each of his extant works - most of his books have been lost - presents a far nobler Rome than we have come to expect. Reading Livy is a luxury few are privileged to partake of. Fantastic.