Cost of Glory

How do you keep a positive frame of mind in challenging circumstances?  Troubles with loved ones, at work, with poverty, business?  Try this tool, drawn from a passage of Plutarch's moral writings (Moralia).Treatise mentioned: On Tranquility of Mind (from the Moralia)People Mentioned:Paccius - a Roman senator, not known outside of Plutarch's works.  Possibly a friend or acquaintance of Pliny the Younger, Tacitus.Epaminondas - Famous Theban general and statesman.  Major character in the Life of Pelopidas, brief mention in the Life of Eumenes.Fabricius - Famous Roman general and statesman.  Major character in the Life of Pyrrhus (also coming soon)Tool discussed: reframing the conception of external circumstances, in order to alter one's inner state.

This episode provides a brief summary of the life of Sertorius (spoiler alert), recounts events at Rome after his death, and offers a few practical takeaways.Go deeper! Sign up for Ancient Life Emails at ancientlifecoach.com. Life of Sertorius Cheat Sheet - ancientlifecoach.com/quintussertorius(To skip the summary, go to 6:00) There is some closure to the story - the wicked are punished, at least some of them.  But in the wake of the civil war, Sertorius' legacy was, for now, in jeopardy.  The narrative was controlled by his enemies.  But this situation did not last forever.Some Takeaways: How to work your hardestWhich game to playHow to survive when death and failure threatenHow to bring people in to your dream

How do you fight off the greatest military machine the world had ever produced? How do you take back an empire?  In his quest to win a better life for himself and the men he led, Sertorius shows what talented and determined people can do when they justly feel they have been wronged and have been given no recourse. He makes allies with unexpected leaders, he mentors those beneath him, and inspires thousands of people, time and again, to fight alongside him. In this third and final installment of the Life of Sertorius, we follow Sertorius’ stunning and improbable rise to the leadership of a rival Roman state.  Hunted by his enemies, he throws in his lot with pirates from Cilicia.  When they abandon him, he battles against them in a proxy war in Mauretania (Morocco).   The Lusitanians, a Spaniard tribe, invite him to be their leader.  He persuades them to join him in a bold mission to restore Rome from Spain. He evades the great Metellus Pius, using guerrilla tactics, and sets about Romanizing the native peoples of Spain.  The Senate sends in Pompey the Great.  Sertorius schools him too.  But the greatest challenge Sertorius faces is in sharing his power - in trusting other Romans who are not like him, who lack his vision, humility, and discipline.Sertorius’ life provides many valuable lessons for leaders: lessons on strategy and tactics, the importance of preparation, surprise, speed, knowing your territory, but also the power of trustworthiness, empathy, and patience.A great Roman historian, a nobel laureate, Theodor Mommsen, called Sertorius, “one of the great men, perhaps the greatest of all Rome had produced, and one who in more fortunate circumstances could perhaps have become the regenerator of his country.”If you’re looking for a way to sharpen your present by learning from the lives of famous leaders such as Sertorius, download and listen to this latest episode. On today’s podcast:The Pirates of CiliciaUsurpers and the Giant’s tomb in MoroccoGuerilla Warfare, Roman styleThe Lusitanians and their role in the great Sertorian rebellionDiana, the Hunter goddess, and her divine “gift”Sertorius’ famous opponents: Metellus Pius, Pompey the GreatSpectacular military exploits at Lauro, Sucro, Saguntum, and moreBeginning the Romanization of SpainA rival Senate, a rival StateSertorius’ final achievementLinks:https://costofglory.com/SponsorsThe Paideia Institute - classical tours and classical language teaching www.paideiainstitute.org 

Alexander Hamilton - future founder and lawgiver - was just a young aide of General George Washington in the American Revolutionary war. This was much like Sertorius’ role under Gaius Marius in the last episode.Very few Camp Aides go on to great things, like becoming General. If you want to be one of those people, the ones who make the most of the opportunity to level up, what do you do?Hamilton, like many ambitious people before and after him, read Plutarch’s Lives, taking notes on the biographies of the founders and lawgivers of Athens, Rome, and Sparta, learning how they overcame challenges in order to triumph.Sertorius, at this point in his career, as a political outsider, had to perform that much harder than his peers from noble families.  In this episode we trace his rise to political prominence.  He performs deeds of shocking daring and decisiveness when there are opportunities, and when all doors seem shut he patiently bides his time. In all cases, he maintains an iron will to survive and thrive.We learn how Sertorius permanently secures two cities in Spain in one night. How he becomes Quaestor. How he loses his eye in the Social wars.  We listen as he’s enrolled as a member of the senate, as he runs for Tribune of the Plebs only to have Sulla form a cabal and block him. We witness the return of Marius - Marius 2.0, Make Marius Great Again. We listen as Sertorius makes an alliance with Cinna, before he, Cinna and Marius take back control of Rome. And finally, we hear how Sertorius is sent back to Spain as Governor, in the midst of a great civil war before being forced to take to the sea in a desperate attempt to keep hope alive for his cause.So, if like Hamilton, you’re looking for a way to sharpen your present by learning from the lives of famous Greeks and Romans, such as Sertorius, download and listen to this latest episode. On today’s podcast:How Sertorius became QuaestorWhy Sulla blocked him from becoming Tribune of the PlebsMarius 2.0: Make Marius Great AgainThe Social Wars and Civil WarsThe alliance between Sertorius, Cinna and MariusBecoming Governor of SpainSertorius’ decision to challenge the power of RomeLinks:https://ancientlifecoach.com/SponsorsThe Paideia Institute - classical tours and classical language teaching www.paideiainstitute.org 

Explore the fascinating life of Sertorius, the greatest Roman rebel, whose journey inspired Beethoven. Discover how Sertorius transformed setbacks into opportunities, embracing resilience amidst Roman turbulence. His story, filled with ambition and strategic cunning, showcases his evolution from a young man in a triumphal parade to a formidable guerrilla warrior. The podcast highlights themes of courage, inspiration, and the intricate balance of triumph and tragedy in the quest for greatness.

Introducing The Cost of Glory, launching August 2021.For more information, visit https://ancientlifecoach.com