Die Negation der Niederlage

This paper analyzes the unconventional ways in which the Romans dealt with their military setbacks. Although Rome suffered a large number of defeats these were denied in political communications or even successfully reinterpreted as victories. This denial of defeats was a response to the severe shock and the major change in the political system and its leadership after the defeat at the river Allia 389 BC. The paper focuses on the historical causes of this collective behavior as well as its effects on the stability of the political order of the Roman Republic in comparison to Athenian Democracy.