Constantinople Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire replacing Rome as the heart of imperial power, it maintained influence and stability in the face of the decline of the West. In 324 AD, Constantine I the Great defeated rival Emperor Licinius at the battle of Adrianople, laying claim to sole mastery over the […]

The Legal & Bureaucractic Reforms of Constantine Diocletian had started the many processes of centralization, and Constantine first embraced them and then expanded on them. First he subjected the bureaucracy to a massive overhaul. All ministries were under the command of the MAGISTER OFFICIORUM (master of offices), who supervised the rapidly centralized government. Although this […]

The Monetary Reform of Constantine Monetary System Silver Miliarense The monetary system of the Roman Empire underwent a considerable number of changes during the reign of Constantine. While he was still only a junior partner holding the rank of Caesar, Constantine reduced the weight of the follis at the mints then under his control (London, […]

DONATIVUM The name (plural, donativa) given to the gifts of money or largesse distributed to the soldiers of the LEGIONS or to the PRAETORIAN GUARD by the Emperors. The purpose of a donativum varied as some were tokens of gratitude for favors received, and others bribes for favors expected. Donativa were normally rendered at the start of IMPERIAL DONATIVA TO THE […]

Curia Julia The Curia Julia was the building within the Forum that corresponds to the room in which the Senate of Rome met. It was founded by Julius Caesar in substitution of the Curia Ostiha. The Curia was left unfinished at the time of Caesar’s assassination, but it was eventually completed by Augustus in 29 […]

Lucius Cornelius SULLA Dictator, 82-79 B.C. Born 138 – Died 78 B.C., age 60 LUCIUS CORNELIUS SULLA began his career serving as Quaestor, a judge of criminal cases, and State Treasurer. In 107 BC, while serving under General Gaius Marius (155-86 B.C.), Sulla captured Jugurtha in the Jugurthine War. In the period 104-101 BC, two […]

Monetary Reform of Octavian (Augustus) Octavian’s monetary reform was a major change that would forever alter the course of Rome’s monetary history. Bronze coinage, which had virtually caesed to be minted after 84 BC, was restituted with the regular issue of the Roman As (struck in copper). In addition, a new Sesterius (struck in orichalcum brass) […]

Cynethryth Queen of Mercia Circa 757-796 AD Cynethryth was the wife of the powerful Offa, King of Mercia. Offa’s ambitions to carve out a united kingdom is also demonstrated by his monetary reforms. King Pepin in France introduced a broad silver denier with a weight of 20 grains (1.3 grams). This monetary reform in France was continued […]

Offa King of Mercia 757-796 AD Offa was King of Mercia who reigned between 757 and 796 AD until his death. Offa was a descendant of PENDA’S younger brother. Following the death of king ETHELBALD, Mercia was plunged into a period of civil war as rival claimants to the throne fought for the prize. Offa […]

George III Napoleonic War Issue During the Napoleonic Wars of 1797-1813, the finances of the state fell into desperate affairs. Silver and gold were in short supply and the regular issue of the gold guinea was stopped during the war altogether. It was also during this period that paper currency in England began to circulate […]