The first consuls took turns being important

The first two consuls shared power, but only one at a time was attended by the lictors, the attendants who carried the fasces, the emblems of authority. They swapped that honour every month.^{[1, p. 270]}

Roger would like you to know the dictator got a double escort

Polybius reports that each consul was followed by twelve lictors but the dictator by twenty-four. He adds that consuls often had to ask the Senate first, whereas the dictator was absolute.^[6] Roger finds this a very persuasive argument for more lictors.

Meanwhile, in history, a farmer was handed the whole state

In Michelet's retelling, Quintius Cincinnatus is the classical ideal of the warrior labourer. Taken from the plough to be dictator, he delivers a Roman army and, after a fortnight, returns to the plough.^[4]

One constitution, three different verdicts

Polybius said the Roman system looked despotic, aristocratic or democratic depending on which part you examined.^[6] With the consuls out of town, he added, a visitor would think it a complete aristocracy, since the Senate settled nearly all foreign business.^[6]

Keith found an American footnote

Federalist No. 63 says history knows of no long-lived republic without a senate, and names Sparta, Rome and Carthage.^[15] It also notes that Rome's tribunes, representatives of the people, prevailed in almost every contest with the senate for life.^[15]

Roger insists the crown came with a laurel wreath

At the Lupercalia festival, Plutarch says, Antony twined a laurel wreath round a diadem, a royal headband, and put it on Caesar's head.^[16] Caesar declined it, then pushed it away again, and the people cheered.^[16]

Keith would like to note where the Senate was sitting

On the Ides of March the Senate was summoned to a portico joining Pompey's theatre, where a statue of Pompey stood.^{[11, p. 161]} Plutarch saw a pattern: Caesar would meet his punishment there for Pompey's death.^{[11, p. 161]}

The past has entered the chat, with a wax model

At Caesar's funeral, Appian says, a wax image was turned round by a mechanical device to show the twenty-three wounds. The enraged crowd then burned the senate-chamber where Caesar was slain.^{[17, p. 87]}

Roger has found anonymous mail for Brutus

Notes appeared at the foot of the statue of Brutus's ancestor, who had expelled the Tarquins, and on his own judge's platform. One read, 'Thou art not Brutus: would thou wert.'^{[18, p. 21]}

Keith would like to clarify: the Republic was officially handed back

On 13 January 27 BC, Abbott records, the man soon to be named Augustus transferred control of the state to the Senate and people. He kept the consulship and tribunician power, and historians have called it a political manoeuvre.^[2]