How to Write the 15th of March 44 BCE as the Romans Would

Roman Calendar System

The Roman calendar system was quite different from the modern system we use today. Instead of counting dates from the beginning of the month, the Romans counted down to important periods, known as Kalends (Kalendae), Nones (Nonae), and Ides (Idus). In the case of the 15th of March, the Idus Martiae (Ides of March), we need to understand the context of this date. March was one of the four months with 15 days, the others being May, July, and October. In the rest of the months, the Ides was the 13th.

(IDVS MARTII DCCV AB VRBE CONDITAE)

Modern Equivalents

For those unfamiliar with the Roman system, it can be confusing. The modern system of counting from the first day of the month is quite different. But if we are trying to write it the way a Roman would, it's essential to understand the ab urbe condita (AUC) system, where years are counted from the legendary founding of Rome in 753 BCE.

Counting the Years

The year 44 BCE would be counted as the 710th year after the founding of Rome. This is because the Roman year was based on the ab urbe condita (AUC) system, where 753 BCE (BC) is 753 AUC. Therefore, 44 BCE is 753 - 44 709 AUC. However, many historians believe that the Romans might have counted it as 710 AUC because they might not have considered the precise overlap between the founding of Rome and March 15th.

The Correct Way to Write It

According to the Roman system, the 15th of March 44 BCE would be written as:

IDUS MARTIAE DCCX AB URBE CONDITA

This can be abbreviated in writing as:

ID MAR DCCX AUC

Note: The Romans did not use the subtractive notation for 9 (IX) in their calendar, which was a practice introduced in the Middle Ages.

Understanding the Context

The Roman calendar was used for both religious and administrative purposes. Each month had its own set of calends, nones, and ides. The calends were the first day of the month, nones was typically the 7th or 5th (depending on the month), and ides was the 15th (or 13th) in all months except March, May, July, and October.

Modern Usage of AUC

Today, ab urbe condita is still used in archaeological contexts to refer to dates in Roman history. It can be particularly useful when dating events in Rome’s antiquity. For example, the Roman senator Cicero was born in 106 AUC (106 BCE).

Conclusion

Writing the date as the Romans would is a fascinating exercise in understanding their way of life. It involves a deep understanding of the Roman calendar system, the ab urbe condita method of counting, and the specific notation they used. Whether for historical accuracy or simply for a cultural interest, knowing how the Romans would write the date 15th of March in 44 BCE is a valuable insight into their civilization.