Although Rome had an empire, it didn't have an emperor until those who followed Julius Caesar created the position.
Greek heroes might not be considered heroes today. Some might even be considered criminals, but they were celebrated for feats so great a god must have helped them. Besides enjoying divine favor, heroes were often sons or grandsons of gods.
July 20 is one possible date for the anniversary of the birth of Alexander the Great, who was born in 356 B.C. Steven Pressfield's Virtues of War - Historical fiction on the battles on Alexander the Great
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Alexander image © Clipart.com
The first of the three greatest defeats the Romans suffered was at the Allia, a stream near Rome, in about 390 B.C. In this battle Brennus led the Gauls in a rout against a roughly evenly matched group of Romans under Quintus Sulpicius. The Romans needed to re-evaluate their battle tactics. As a result of the defeat, the Gauls could march on Rome. The Roman leader Camillus had to be recalled as dictator of the Romans to get rid of the invading Gauls. Photo © Clipart.com
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