The Roman Triumph

Welcome to our new subscribers! I’m excited to have you along for our journey through history. Check out the archives for past issues.

We’re leaving Ancient Greece and the time of Alexander the Great to focus on an Ancient Roman tradition, the triumphus. The Roman Triumph was a public celebration of military success, awarding an army commander a Roman Triumph for their skill in battle and protection of the Republic and later the Empire. The Roman Triumph was a great honor that almost all military commanders sought when off on campaign. It was also seen as a symbol of status and prestige, helping recipients transition from their military career into a larger political role.

In typical Roman fashion, there was much pomp and circumstance around the ceremony. A great parade welcoming the returning general would segway into a celebration with feasts, games, and entertainment for all citizens. During this ceremony, the celebrated general was revered as a king or demigod, increasing the ego of already ambitious men.

It’s important to note that Roman generals were typically appointed to their positions because of political power, familial ties, or their status in Rome. It was rare for a common soldier to rise through the ranks to become a general, although it has happened. For the most part, these returning generals were ambitious; they wanted more wealth, power, and status in the Roman political machine. The triumph was the perfect way for a Roman general to propel his status higher than it was before.

This sounds like a recipe for disaster. In some cases, it was. There were a few generals in Roman history who would go on to stage coups after receiving a triumph. In most cases, though, it was not.

During the parade for the returning general, a slave would sit behind their chariot, with one specific purpose. They would whisper, “Remember, you are mortal” into the ear of the general every few seconds during the parade.

It was this chilling reminder that helped check the ego of so many Roman generals who might have otherwise risen against the state. The reminder the saying, “Remember you are mortal,” brings us is something we could use more of in modern times.

Constant praise, recognition, and celebration can turn even the humblest leader into an ego-hound. The political leaders of the early Roman Republic understood this concept. They wanted to celebrate and praise their protectors, but they didn’t want the praise to carry more weight than future success.

They needed their successful generals to continue supporting the Republic. The reminder served its purpose. Triumphant generals knew they were no better than any other citizen. All citizens will die. Your actions in life are important. Reminding ourselves we are all mortal helps us avoid the ego trap. After all, it’s the great equalizer for the human species. We all die.

While modern leaders are not faced with the same drastic consequences, we can still learn from the guidance of this story.

As leaders, we should be seeking to always keep a level head. Past success does not mean we will have future success. Developing an invincibility complex will only lead to destruction. No one is invincible. We all must humble ourselves and check our egos for the greater good of our teams; just as Roman generals had to check their egos for the good of the Republic.

Think about how you celebrate success. Be careful not to let any success go to your head. But, remember to celebrate victories. We can bask in the glory of our wins without letting it go to our heads by following the guidance of the Roman Triumph.

Remember…we are all mortal.

Check back next week for a story about a special Roman triumph that set the stage for dozens of books and Hollywood blockbusters. We’re going to be diving into a leader I’m sure you’ve all heard about before.

See you next week!

Rick

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