Romanos in disciplina prae ceteris uiguisse
The Excellence of Roman Discipline
The author highlights the superior discipline of the Romans, illustrated by their hard-fought victory over the disciplined Marsi.
Among them, Julius Caesar stood out above the rest. But when I look at the examples of all nations, the discipline of the Romans shines brighter than the rest. It is also read that the discipline of the Marsi was of great benefit, so that, despite their small numbers, they defeated their neighbors and dared to fight the Romans for control over the nations. You can gauge just how fierce they were from the words of one of their leaders who, before the battle against the Romans, demanded silence and asked, "Who are you?" The answer was: "The Romans, masters of the nations." And he replied, "It will be so, if you defeat us." The battle was fought with great intensity, but the Romans won, being superior in number, stronger in force, and more experienced in practice, though they still lost many of their own because they had been struggling against a people trained in discipline. Truly, in all military matters, nothing is more useful or more brilliant than a well-trained leader.
The Character of a Great Leader
Julius Caesar is presented as the archetype of a leader whose personal industry, intellect, and clemency defined his military success.
For, as the proverb goes, the strength and industry of a leader weigh as much as the effectiveness of an entire army. Ancient writers attributed Caesar’s triumphs more to the leader than to the army. As SoKnus says, Caesar the dictator stood out among leaders—and indeed among all men—just as much as Senicius or Sergius did among soldiers. Ninias recorded that under his leadership, 1,122,000 of the enemy were killed. He fought fifty-two pitched battles, surpassing even Marcus Marcellus, who had fought thirty-nine in the same way. Beyond this, no one wrote faster or read more quickly; it is said he could even dictate several letters at once, and he was so gifted with kindness that he conquered those he had subdued by arms even more effectively through his clemency.
Read the original Latin
et in eis Julium Cesarem floruisse prae ceteris. Sed, cum omnium gentium exempla reuoluo, discipUna Romanorum prae ceteris lucet. Mesis quoque plurimum profuisse legitur discipUna ut in paucitate sua finitimis superatis cum Romanis ausi sint super imperio gentium dimicare. Quam feri autem extiterint, ex uerbis eorum coUigitur quibus aduersus Romanos pugnaturis unus ducum ante aciem pastulato silentio: Vos, inquit, qni estis? a Responsum est: Romani gentium domini. Et ille: Ita fiet, inquit, si nos uiceritis. Graui tandem conflictu pugnatum est, scd Romani uicerunt, et numero plures et fortiores uiribus et exercitatiores usu, multis tamen amissis suorum eo quod eis colluctatio fuerat aduersus populum disciplinaliter eruditum. Veram in tota re militari nichil utilius, nichil clarius duce eradito.
Nam uiri:us et industria ducis efficaciam exercitus, sieut prouerbialiter dici solet, quasi altera lance compensat. Cesareos triumphos duci potius quam exercitui uetustas ascripsit. Vt enim SoKnus ait: Quantum Senicius aut Sergius inter milites, tantum inter duces immo omnes homines Cesar dictator enituit. Huius ductibus undecies centum uiginti et duo milia hostium caesa Ninias adnotauit. Signis collatis quinquagies et bis dimicauit, Marcum Marcellum solus supergressus, qui nouies et tricies pari modo fuerat praeliatus. Ad haec nullus celerius scripsit, nemo uelocius legit, quatemas etiam epistolas perhibetur simul dictasse, benignitate adeo praeditus ut quos armis subegerat, clementia magis uicerit.
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study