The Latin triumph ─ in triumphus ─ was a Roman ceremony during which a victorious general ravelled in Rome with the head of his troops. In the absence of this major triumph, a victorious general could receive a Ovatio (ovation). Starting from Auguste, the triumph is reserved for the emperor and the imperial family.
Reward with the winner
This procession was allotted by the Roman Sénat, and constituted a reward for the victorious general. It could take place a long time after its countryside (like that of Jules César for its conquest of Gaules, completed in 51 front J. - C., and celebrated in 46 front J. - C.). One of the important criteria was the brought back spoils, but there could not be triumph if the Ager romanus , the territory of the Republic, had not been increased. The victorious general was to have also held the Imperium (like Consul, dictator, or Préteur). Lastly, the general-in-chief ( dux ) was to bring back his army to Rome, which meant that the war was finished, the overcome enemy and Rome in safety.In theory, one could not triumph for a victory gained against over other Romans. Triumphs of César in - 46, of Octave-Auguste after the victory of Actium over Marc Antoine and Cléopâtre VII, of Vespasien and Titus in 71, of Constantin Ier after the defeat of Maxence to the Bataille of the bridge Milvius however are not stripped of a double-direction. If only their victory against the external enemies were officially celebrated there, these triumphs marked also the end of civil wars which they had gained.
One could not triumph either but over other free men. Crassus, victorious of the servile revolt of Spartacus, was thus bitterly frustrated honors of the triumph, and had to be satisfied with ovation.
There existed several kinds of triumphs , most important being the curule triumph . Any general having obtained the triumph had the right to carry a particular Toge, the toga picta .
Starting from the principat of Auguste, the triumph becomes held with the emperor alone, and his family. The victorious generals must then be satisfied with the ovatio or the triumphal ornaments.
It was not necessary to an emperor to have fought in person to obtain the triumph. In thirteen years of reign, without to have ever ordered an army personally, the emperor Claude (41-54) obtained the triumph 27 times, for the victories gained by his generals.
The procession: ceremony of return to the civil life
The course of the procession immutable, is regarded as a return to the civil life of the soldiers citizens. By crossing the Pomœrium , the victorious general gives up his capacity of military command ( Imperium ), symbol of his return to his condition of ordinary citizen. On the basis of the Champ de Mars, where the legionaries deposited the weapons, being symbolically diverted of the god of the war, the triumphal procession passed to the Circus Maximus, on the Palatin, borrowed the Via Sacra (Sacred way) and finished on the Capitole, where the victorious general purified stains of blood. It sacrificed to it itself of oxen to Jupiter Capitolin, Optimus and Maximus (largest and the best).The procession of the triumph starts with the procession of tanks of spoils (works of art, currencies and weapons). Then the members from the Senate, follow-ups of the overcome chiefs and their families come. The procession continues with the triumphal tank, drawn by four white horses, on which the victorious general ( imperator ), the face painted with minium like that of the Jupiter Capitolin statue, crowned bay-tree (symbol of victory), passes in the middle of the acclamations of the public. The legionaries, without weapons (the procession took place inside pomœrium), crowned bay-trees and of oak, followed.
During this ceremony, all is implemented to recall at the same time the winner who it returns to the anonymity of the ordinary citizen, and at the City that it consolidated its power. On a side, in the triumphal song of the soldiers, the general was made fun and turned into ridiculous to avoid the Hybris and the jealousy of the gods. The slave holding above the head of the triumphant victor the laurel wreath repeated formulas to him calling it with modesty like cellar cadas , “take guard not to fall! ” or Memorandum mori (remember that you are mortal). Other, the procession of the signs recapitulating the conquests, represented the control of Rome on the world. The citizens wishing to witness a triumph were to wear the toga obligatorily, in order to confer more solemnity on this ceremony.
To complete the triumph, a monument is sometimes set up: it is the origin of the Arc of Titus and the Arc of Constantin, close to the Colisée, or the Trophy of Trajan.
Famous triumphs
triumph famous is that which with the return of the Second war of Macedonia sees the treasure of the Macedonians, quiest-EC-which remains on the one hand treasure taken with Persians by Alexandre Large the one century and half earlier, ravelling during several days.One can also announce the quintuple triumphs over César for his victories over Gaules, Africa, the Bridge, Egypt and Palestine, which was spread out 46 with 45 front J. - C., during which it offered sumptuous feasts to the inhabitants of Rome. Among the prisoners to be ravelled behind his tank, were the sister of Cléopâtre, Arsinoé, and the chief of the Gallic rebellion of - 52, Vercingétorix, which was put at died at the Tullianum according to the habit, little before the end of the ceremony.
The slowness deliberated on the Senate to make be held its triumph froissa Pumped Large the, and contributed to the bringing together of this last with Crassus and César (conclusion of the First triumvirate, - 60).
The last celebrated triumph was that of Bélisaire for its victory over the Vandales.
See too
Sources
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