Search

The article examines the how defeats were recorded in Roman culture as negative "exempla", especially landmark defeats, such as Allia, Cannae, Carrhae or Teutoburg. According to the author, originally, the responsibility for military victories or failures was attributed not only to the commander but to the whole community. The dates of major defeats were registered as "dies nefasti" or "dies vitiosi". In the end of the Augustan period, the elaboration of a "black legend" of unfortunate commanders starts being recorded.