where is the rubicon_ historians clash over site of ancient italian river which caesar crossed...

7/27/2019 Where is the Rubicon_ Historians Clash Over Site of Ancient Italian River Which Caesar Crossed Triggering Civil Wa

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Where is the Rubicon? Historians clash over

site of ancient Italian river which Caesarcrossed triggering civil war in Rome

Three rivers in north-east Italy each claim to be the historical Rubicon

Historians will battle it out in mock trial this weekend to settle the questionJulius Caesar crossed the Rubicon with his army in 49 BC leading to war

By Hugo Gye

PUBLISHED:10:26, 8 August 2013 | UPDATED: 14:00, 8 August 2013

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Historic: The Rubicon passed into history after it was crossed by the arm y of Julius

Caesar, pictured
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The Rubicon has been one of the world's most famous rivers ever since Julius Caesar crossed it with hisarmy in 49 BC and triggered a Roman civil war.

But despite its prominent place in history, no one is actually sure where the river is, with three waterwayseach suggested as a possible candidate for the ancient Rubicon.

Now the long-running historical battle is due to be settled for good, as three local historians present theircases at a mock trial in front of a judge.

It is not disputed that the river runs from the Apennine mountains down to the Adriatic sea in the Emilia-Romagna region in north-east Italy.

'Crossing the Rubicon' has been a metaphor for an important and irreversible decision ever sinceCaesar took his army over the river from Gaul, starting a war against Pompey which would leave himvictorious and pave the way for the Roman Empire.

In recent years the phrase has been used by figures as diverse as David Cameron, who deployed it lastyear to warn of the dangers of Press regulation, and Mick Jagger, who sang it in the Rolling Stones'2005 single Streets of Love.

However, the river itself lost its political importance in the reign of Emperor Augustus, who abolished itsstatus as Italy's northern frontier, and for centuries it faded into relative obscurity.

Due to frequent flooding of the plains around the Rubicon, the river frequently changed its course and itbecame unclear which of three waterways it was.

Is this it? This bridge over the River Fiumicino is be lieved by some to have been the

crossing used by Caesar


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The moment: An artist's impression of Caesar leading his army across the river on

the m arch to Rome

Renaissance historians considered the claims of the Pisciatello, Fiumicino and Uso rivers, and anancient map called the Tabula Peutingeriana convinced many that the Fiumicino was the true Rubicon.

In 1933, fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who was intent on harnessing the country's Roman legacy tobolster his own power, made this judgment official, issuing a decree which changed the name of theFiumicino to the Rubicone.

But on Saturday the debate start up again in the town of San Mauro Pascoli as three historians eachpress the case for their own local river, according to the Guardian.

Journalist and former MP Giancarlo Mazzuca will insist that the question has already been answered,and that historians have long regarded the Fiumicino as the right answer.

'This history is often overlooked due to the fact that the person who gave this order was BenitoMussolini,' he wrote in a preview for the event.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/07/rubicon-river-italy-mock-court-case?INTCMP=SRCH


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Mystery: There are three main candidates for the location of the historical Rubicon


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Proverbial: The phrase 'crossing the Rubicon' has bee n used by the likes of Mick

Jagger and David Cameron

However, teacher Paolo Turroni will claim that the Pisciatello is the real Rubicon, pointing out thatevidence from official maps and the works of the author Giovanni Boccaccio point towards it.

'There was no definitive proof,' he said. 'The debate, which had been going on for centuries, was stillopen. 'In reality, Mussolini had political reasons for doing what he did.'


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The case for the Uso will be presented by archaeologist Cristina Ravara Montebelli, who plans to rely onthe presence of Roman ruins in the area as proof.

The debate will be judge by Gianfranco Miro Gori, president of the local business association, whoinsists that the fiery arguments are all good-natured and have never undermined relations betweenneighbours.

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Caesar also coined the phrase "The die is caste" for the same event.

-Arnold Ward, Weybridge, 8/8/2013 11:45

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Veni, vidi, vici

- LetsBeHonest, Engerrrland, United Kingdom, 8/8/2013 12:08


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8/10

We'll probably never know for sure. This "trial" isn't going to provide a definitive answer is it?

- Darran Clements, Retford, United Kingdom, 8/8/2013 12:13


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alea iacta est

- Rog, Chester, 8/8/2013 12:39


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Alea iacta est....

- Ginistera, Bristol, United Kingdom, 8/8/2013 12:41


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Ad hoc arguments. Maybe they can establis h a modus vivendi and not resort to ad hominem insults? Which way will the

corpus of evidence take us? Perhaps someone will present their magnum opus to the court?

- ashl0001, Sawtry_Hunts, 8/8/2013 12:47


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vidi, vici, veni

- Number Six, Portmeirion, 8/8/2013 12:53


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You can find Rubicon in all good s hops and some rubbish ones too.

- That guy..., Paradise City, United Kingdom, 8/8/2013 13:29


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After 2000 years you would think our society would have moved on from it's roman obs ession. Rome holds us back.

- Plebeian, Plebsville, United Kingdom, 8/8/2013 13:46


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"vidi, vici, veni" - Number Six , Portmeirion, 08/8/2013 12:53. Haha...Et tu, Number Six? Here I was thinking I had invented

that saying. Green arrow from me to you.

- Susan, Manchester, 8/8/2013 14:00


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9/10

Try Conn Igguldens Emperor series of five his torical novels on Julia's Caesar. Where you follow his life and wars . I'd

never read anything on the subject before. But what a story teller. Used in schools, his tory would never be the same

again. Sorry Julius iPad did that.

- ramblin rose, fertiliser, 8/8/2013 14:04


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"Caesar also coined the phras e "The die is caste" for the same event. - Arnold Ward , Weybridge, 08/8/2013 11:45"

The die is a social stratum? I didn't know that.

- palo, alto, 8/8/2013 14:18


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Thanks for the pictures of david cameron and m ick jagger. I wasn't sure what they looked like. (that's s arcasm, btw- in

relation to the pointlessness of their inclusion)

- Derek, UKIPland, 8/8/2013 14:41


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>> Try Conn Igguldens Emperor series of five his torical novels on Julia's Caesar. Where you follow his life and wars . I'd

never read anything on the subject before. But what a story teller. Used in schools, his tory would never be the same

again. Sorry Julius iPad did that. - ramblin rose , fertiliser, 08/8/2013 14:04


10/10

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Plebeian - "Rome holds us back".... er..... how? Someone got you at gladius point, have they??

- HeyNonnymoose, Edinburgh, 8/8/2013 17:19


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It was a s tream,not a river.

-A.S.A.P, nottingham, United Kingdom, 8/8/2013 17:19


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So what!

- Lonesailor, Jeuss , Switzerland, 8/8/2013 19:55


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In vino veritas

- Scott, Glasgow,UK, 9/8/2013 18:34

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where is the rubicon_ historians clash over site of ancient italian river which caesar crossed...

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