LOST ROMAN HEROES

Quintus Sertorius, perhaps one of the most remarkable Lost Roman Heroes that are truly lost, someone we had never heard of before we started researching this episode.  A contemporary of Marius, Sulla and Cinna, distinguished in battle, respected by friend and foe, proud of his one-eye earned in battle, who through no fault of his own it would seem found himself an exile, pitted against the entire Roman military.  And through it all, he handled himself with dignity.  

Sulla, you are not at all what we expected!  The Roman Civil War, the first civil war, kicks off in earnest in this episode, and Sulla navigates the minefield left by his old mentor and adversary, Marius.  Is Sulla the savior of the Republic as he thought himself, or did he leave breadcrumbs on the path to tyranny that Caesar would follow?

Part 1 of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, Marius' lieutenant and fallen patrician devoted to the old order and the primacy of the Senate.  Was he an opportunist as well?  Did he ultimately do more harm than good?  For whom does the bell toll?  

Novus Homo!  Marius, you were one complicated dude and your story complex.  Innovative on the battlefield, savior of the Republic, lauded as the Third Founder of Rome yet you, perhaps more than the Gracchi, but the Republic on a fast path for extinction.  Hero or Villain, or victim of your own inferiority complex.  You made us work hard on this one...

Tiberius Gracchus!  Hero of the people trying to cure the rot at the heart of the Republic, or populist demagogue determined to destroy the old order and make himself king?

Adopted grandson of Scipio Africanus, and grandson of Consul Paulus (of Cannae fame) - setup well at birth.  Loved by the Senate, sent to Africa for the third installment of the Punic Wars.  Successful in war and peace, Carthage didn't stand a chance.  What is that music we hear building in the background, is that the Imperial March???

The grand clash of Titans between Scipio and Hannibal, Roman and Carthage, that would determine supremacy of the Mediterranean.  Scipio shows his quality on and off the battlefield, and perhaps the old generals find peace after war.

SCIPIO AFRICANUS!  History remembers his nemesis, Hannibal, as the GOAT.  Why do they not remember this humble young man who watched his father fall in battle, and after learning from his mortal enemies, while most of Rome cowered behind the walls, took the fight to Carthage?  In Part 1 of this special 2 part series on Scipio, he steps onto the stage and ejects Carthage from Spain, setting up the final showdown with Hannibal (coming in Part 2).

Cunctator, 'the Delayer', was a tricky character.  Hannibal's original Roman nemesis, with a big wart on his upper lip, he did the Republic a grand service, before turning cranky in the end and opposing Scipio.  This might be our biggest challenge yet.

A plebeian Consul, led the new Roman navy in the largest navy battle of history against Carthage in the First Punic War.  But more important to his story was what he did off the battlefield.  Perhaps the most remarkable story of self-sacrifice in history.  Regulus, we salute you!