Key insights

• ⚔️ Being the first on the wall in a siege often meant certain death
• 🏅 Dispute between soldiers led to a prestigious military decoration for both
• 👑 Corona muralis was a prestigious ancient Roman military decoration
• 🏰 Successful conquest of the wall during a siege was rewarded for its pivotal role
• 🛡️ Roman soldiers valued military success for social standing and political backing
• ⭐ Courageous acts were rewarded with social and political status in ancient times and continued into the Middle Ages
• 🗳️ Military achievements and decorations were crucial for winning supporters and political backing
• 🏴 In the early modern period, coordinated assaults replaced individual acts of courage in warfare

Q&A

• How were courageous acts like being the first to storm a wall rewarded in ancient times?

  Courageous acts such as being the first to storm a wall led to social and political advancement for the individual and their family in ancient times. The practice of rewarding courageous acts continued into the Middle Ages, with knights being rewarded. In the early modern period, coordinated assaults replaced individual acts of courage in warfare.

• What was the significance of military success in Roman society?

  Military success was crucial for social standing and political backing in Roman society. Roman soldiers were willing to risk their lives for the corona muralis, symbolizing the importance of military success. Military virtues, bravery, and courage were highly valued, and military achievements and decorations were crucial for winning supporters and political backing.

• Why was the successful conquest of the wall during a siege rewarded?

  Conquering the wall was a dangerous and costly phase of a siege. Successful conquest of the wall could quickly end a siege, motivating armies to offer a reward to their soldiers. Quintus Trebellius and Sextus Digitus were possibly awarded the corona muralis for their decisive role in the battle at New Carthage.

• What was the corona muralis and how was it awarded?

  The corona muralis was a prestigious ancient Roman military decoration given to the first person to scale a wall during a siege. Recipients became famous war heroes, received financial rewards, and could use their military success as a political stepping stone. It was rarely awarded and often went to centurions. Awards were not typically given posthumously, and recipients were not distinguished by rank or status.

• What led to a dispute between two soldiers during the attack on New Carthage?

  During the attack, General Scipio's plan to sneak 500 men across the lagoon and open the city gate led to a dispute between two soldiers, each claiming to be the first to enter the wall, resulting in a prestigious military decoration for both.

• What event in ancient history illustrates soldiers' willingness to face death to be the first on the wall?

  The attack on New Carthage in Spain in 209 BC demonstrates how soldiers in ancient Rome were prepared to risk their lives to be the first to scale the city walls during a siege.

• 00:01 Soldiers in ancient Rome were willing to face death to be the first on the wall, as seen in the attack on New Carthage in Spain in 209 BC.
• 01:15 Scipio's plan to sneak 500 men across the lagoon and open the city gate led to a dispute between two soldiers who both claimed to be the first to enter the wall, resulting in a prestigious military decoration for both.
• 02:33 The corona muralis was a prestigious ancient Roman military decoration awarded to those who were the first to scale the wall during a siege, providing fame, financial reward, and political opportunity. It was rarely awarded and often went to centurions. Awards were not typically given posthumously, and recipients were not distinguished by rank or status.
• 03:54 Successful conquest of the wall during a siege was rewarded due to its pivotal role in ending a siege quickly. Quintus Trebellius and Sextus Digitus were possibly awarded the corona muralis for their decisive role in the battle.
• 05:06 Roman soldiers were prepared to go to extreme lengths for military success, which was crucial for social standing and political backing in Roman society.
• 06:34 Courageous acts in ancient times, such as being the first to storm a wall, were rewarded with social and political status for the individual and their family, with the practice continuing into the Middle Ages and evolving in the early modern period.