Story 1: The story of Titus Manlius Torquatus

Titus Manlius Torquatus was a consul of Rome and led Rome in a war against the Latins. A firm believer in military discipline, he issued a law that any man who leaves his post will be punished with death. Later in the war, Manlius’s son, a soldier in the army, abandoned his post when he saw an opportunity to defeat the enemy in battle, and led Rome to several spectacular victories. He brought the captured goods of his victory home to his father. Manlius responded by publically reprimanding his son and then turning him over to be beheaded.

Story 2: The story of Lucius Junius Brutus

Lucius Junius Brutus was one of the Romans who led the overthrow of the Tarquin king of Rome, and he was also a founder of the Roman Republic. As a reward for his service, he was one of the first consuls of Rome. Not long after his rule began, a plan to overthrow the Republic and restore the king was exposed. Two of Brutus’s sons were found to be involved. The Roman Republic watched eagerly to see Brutus’s reaction and were amazed when he condemned them to death.

Story 3: The story of Gaius Mucius Scaevola

Gaius Mucius was a young aristocrat during the time when the Etruscans had surrounded the city of Rome to attack it. Mucius volunteered himself to the Senate and sneaked out of the city in and attempt to assassinate the Etruscan king, Porsena. Porsena’s men captured Mucius and brought him to their king, who ordered a fire to be lit and threatened Mucius that he would be burned to death if he did not reveal Roman secrets. Mucius responded: “See how cheap men hold their bodies when they care only for honor!” and thrust his own right hand into the fire, and stared at the king as it burned. Porsena was so impressed that he freed Mucius, who would be forever known as Scaevola, Latin for “Left-Handed Man”

Story 4: The story of Horatius Cocles

Horatius was a Roman general whose job it was to defend a bridge over the Tiber river from the attacking Etruscans. When it became clear his army would be overrun, Horatius sent his men over the bridge back to Rome and ordered the bridge destroyed. Horatius, protected by a wall of dead Romans, held off the Etruscans long enough for his men to escape. When he could fend them off no more (and was speared in the rear-end!) Horatius threw himself into the Tiber river and swam to safety.

Story 5: The story of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was a former consul of Rome who had retired to be a farmer when the Romans went to war with the Aequians and the Sabines. The Senate nominated Cincinnatus to be dictator – a position of supreme power – for a term of six months. Cincinnatus led the Romans to victory in twelve days, and rather than controlling Rome for the remainder of his term, he immediately gave up his power. Twenty years later, he was again called to serve as dictator to put down a plot against the government. Again, Cincinnatus earned an immediate victory and again willingly resigned his power rather than finishing out his term.

Story 6: The story of Marcus Furius Camillus

Marcus Furius Camillus was a great general of Rome who led them to victory against the city of Veii. During the attack on the city, a local schoolmaster who taught many of the city leaders’ children took his students out beyond the walls “on a walk.” The schoolmaster immediately brought the children to Camillus, in hopes of turning them over to the Romans to save his own life. Camillus, who now held the children of the enemy in his control, told the schoolmaster: “Rome does not make war on children!” He then gave the children whips and told them to flog their schoolmaster all the way back home to their city.

Story 7: The story of Marcus Atilius Regulus

Marcus Atilius Regulus was a Roman consul and general who was captured by the Carthaginians. The enemy released him to return to Rome so that he could negotiate a prisoner exchange (Rome would release their prisoners and the Carthaginians would release theirs, including Regulus). Regulus returned to Rome, nothing keeping him from running away, and told the Roman Senate not to agree to the exchange – the Carthaginians needed their men freed more than the Romans did. The Senate was convinced, and Regulus took himself back to the enemy’s camp to be imprisoned once again. The Carthaginians punished Regulus by forcing him to stand in a wooden box lined with nails until he died of sleep deprivation.

Story 8: The story of Cloelia

Cloelia was an unmarried girl who was one of many taken hostage by the Etruscan army of the king Porsena. One night, Cloelia evaded her guards and freed a number of the girl hostages. She led them to swim across the Tiber river back to Rome under a hail of arrows and spears. When Porsena heard what happened, he demanded that if Rome wanted peace, they would need to return Cloelia to him as a prisoner. To save her city, Cloelia willingly returned to the enemy camp, where even Porsena praised her bravery. The Romans honored her by building a statue of her on horseback along the Sacred Way, an unheard of honor for a woman.