When in Rome: The Conquest of Rome
The cache IS at the posted coordinates, but since this is a challenge cache you will need to meet the requirements to log the cache as found.
Historically, Rome was sacked eight times. Because the historians from Rome have recorded both what happened during their times, but also what happened centuries before, we have vivid (although not always accurate) details about what happened to Rome during these attacks and how the city recovered afterwards.
Perhaps most famously was the first time the walls of Rome failed to protect its citizens. In 390 BCE the Gauls under the leadership of Brennus, the Roman army was crushed just 11 miles from the city. Because the defeat was so lopsided, Brennus suspected a trick and failed to immediately pursue his victory. Once they realized their victory, they entered Rome but still had a force to defeat upon the Capitoline Hill. Instead of battle, they chose siege to defeat what forces Rome had left. The Gauls did find a secret path up the hill, but legend has it that geese alerted the Romans of the attackers, and the attack failed. Disease struck both forces and the Gauls offered to be bought off to leave the City. 1000 pounds of gold was the price and Rome was left to rebuild. Just like the Gauls, perhaps the first time you solve and found one of the hides in Rome, you felt as if you had found a huge pile of gold?
While Rome was stuck with intrigue and war in the centuries that followed, the great city itself did not suffer from foreign invasion until 410 AD. This time it was the Visigoths under Alaric I that attacked and invaded Rome not once, but three times. The third time led to a complete domination of the City and the capture of the Emperor’s sister. The Visigoths continued southward but just a few months later, Alaric died from disease. Rome and the Visigoths later banded together to fight the larger foe: the Huns under Attila. Maybe to help solve a puzzle, you too tried several times to make a solve? Maybe you even resorted to getting help from someone else?
The third time Rome was sacked was not 800 years later. The Vandals with Genseric as king, sacked and looted Rome in 455 - just 45 years later. Murder and usurpation started this war. The leader Vandal and Roman leaders had betrothed their children to each other as a sign of peace. When the Roman emperor was murdered however, his widow wanted revenge on Maximus (not the same person as Rome 9) - the man who had murdered her husband and taken the crown. The Vandals landed outside the city and after agreeing to not burn the city or murder the citizens, the gates were thrown open to them. Maximus tried to flee but was spotted and killed by a Roman mob. Genseric carried off the Empress and her daughters, the last of the original Imperial family to live in Rome. The Vandals looted the city for two weeks, hence the modern meaning of the word ‘vandal’. Perhaps you felt like going to downtown Rome and carrying off rewards after your third solve and find too.
Less than 20 years later, Rome was conquered again. It was not the same city that Alaric had defeated. This time, Italy was going through a civil war. The current emperor, Anthemius, was trying to maintain the power of his title against Ricimer. Ricimer had put Anthemius into power, but now regretted his action. After a five-month siege, Rome fell and Anthemius was killed. Ricimer himself died just a few months later from disease. Could be just like a puzzle cache that you realize was inspired by something you said to the CO while solving a different puzzle cache, only to lead to another one you struggle to solve?
A war between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ostrogoths led to the next sacking of Rome. In 545, forces under Totila laid siege to Rome for over a year. During this time, the commander of the Roman forces would only give grain to civilians if they could buy it. Starvation and disease ensued. When the walls were finally taken, Totila decided to tear one third of them down to prevent the need for another siege in the future and left only a token force behind. These troops were defeated and Rome retook the battered city in 546, hastily rebuilding the walls. Ever feel like you would bribe the CO for the answer to a puzzle?
Totila returned in 549. Another yearlong siege resulted in another destruction of the city and death for many of the male inhabitants. However, this time the city was rebuilt and repopulated after the devastation. You made a solve, but lost the answers, so now you need to do it all over again?
Peace came to Rome for quite some time. It’s wealth and treasures were rebuilt. In 1083, Pope Gregory VII was trapped in the Castle Saint Angelo by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV. The pope sent for Richard Guiscard to rescue him. Richard’s band of Normans left the Balkans where they had been fighting the Byzantine and came to his aid. His seasoned warriors quickly forced Henry’s men to retreat. Unfortunately, the people of Rome rioted. As a result, the Normans pillaged the ancient buildings along the Capitoline and Palatine Hills for three days, burning buildings as they went. Sometimes, everyone celebrates just a little too hard when they solve a puzzle.
Rome once again saw centuries of peace. The world around it changed. What once was the Roman Empire had become the Papal States. Christianity split between Catholic and Lutheran interpretations of the Bible. Wars were now fought between Christians. This led to the final sack of Rome. Once again, the Holy Roman Empire, now under Charles V, was laying siege to Rome. Pope Clement VII had created an alliance to have Charles forced out of Italy. Things went badly for the pope’s forces. Charles threatened to capture Rome, but his troops took his words as orders and entered the city without leadership. This led to two years of pillaging. Common citizens were captured and held for ransom. Don’t do this. It gives geocaching a bad name.
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- Brennus
- Alaric
- Genseric
- Ricimer
- Totila
- Guiscard
- Charles
Will you add your name to the list of conquerors of Rome?
Ok, you’ve read all of the above, what do you need to do to qualify? Simply solve and find 8 of the 10 mystery caches in the “When in Rome” series of caches. Any 8 count, you do not need to do them in numerical order. Caches found before the placement of this cache count towards completing of this challenge. You may sign the log before completing the challenge, but may not log this cache as a find until completing the challenge. You may provide a list of finds to show you qualify.
Part of the "When in Rome" series of caches.
Proudly brought to you by the students in the Ancient History and Outdoor Life departments as well as the party animals at Sandland Travel Bug University.