← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
121.1 Māgnum great rēgnum kingdom in in Ōriente the East est is
121.2 Rēx king novum new rēgnum kingdom condere to found cupit desires
121.3 Antīquum ancient rēgnum kingdom hostēs enemies dēlēvērunt destroyed
121.4 Populus people rēgnī of kingdom lēgēs laws servat observes
121.5 In in rēgnō kingdom nostrō our pāx peace est is
121.6 Rēgnī of kingdom fīnēs borders mīlitēs soldiers dēfendunt defend
121.7 Ad to rēgnum kingdom lēgātī ambassadors vēnērunt came
121.8 Dīves rich rēgnum kingdom multās many urbēs cities habet has
121.9 Rēgnō to kingdom fīnitimō neighboring bellum war indīcimus we declare
121.10 Veterum of old rēgnōrum kingdoms memoria memory manet remains
121.11 Rēgnum kingdom potēns powerful aliās other gentēs nations vincit conquers
121.12 Iūstum just rēgnum kingdom cīvēs citizens laetōs happy facit makes
121.13 Ex from rēgnō kingdom barbarō barbarian mercātōrēs merchants redeunt return
121.14 Rēgnōrum of kingdoms omnium all Rōma Rome domina mistress est is
121.15 Saeculīs for centuries rēgnum kingdom Aegyptium Egyptian flōruit flourished
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121.1 Māgnum rēgnum in Ōriente est. There is a great kingdom in the East.
121.2 Rēx novum rēgnum condere cupit. The king desires to found a new kingdom.
121.3 Antīquum rēgnum hostēs dēlēvērunt. Enemies destroyed the ancient kingdom.
121.4 Populus rēgnī lēgēs servat. The people of the kingdom observe the laws.
121.5 In rēgnō nostrō pāx est. There is peace in our kingdom.
121.6 Rēgnī fīnēs mīlitēs dēfendunt. Soldiers defend the borders of the kingdom.
121.7 Ad rēgnum lēgātī vēnērunt. Ambassadors came to the kingdom.
121.8 Dīves rēgnum multās urbēs habet. The rich kingdom has many cities.
121.9 Rēgnō fīnitimō bellum indīcimus. We declare war on the neighboring kingdom.
121.10 Veterum rēgnōrum memoria manet. The memory of old kingdoms remains.
121.11 Potēns rēgnum aliās gentēs vincit. The powerful kingdom conquers other nations.
121.12 Iūstum rēgnum cīvēs laetōs facit. A just kingdom makes citizens happy.
121.13 Ex rēgnō barbarō mercātōrēs redeunt. Merchants return from the barbarian kingdom.
121.14 Rēgnōrum omnium Rōma domina est. Rome is the mistress of all kingdoms.
121.15 Saeculīs rēgnum Aegyptium flōruit. For centuries the Egyptian kingdom flourished.
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121.1 Māgnum rēgnum in Ōriente est.
121.2 Rēx novum rēgnum condere cupit.
121.3 Antīquum rēgnum hostēs dēlēvērunt.
121.4 Populus rēgnī lēgēs servat.
121.5 In rēgnō nostrō pāx est.
121.6 Rēgnī fīnēs mīlitēs dēfendunt.
121.7 Ad rēgnum lēgātī vēnērunt.
121.8 Dīves rēgnum multās urbēs habet.
121.9 Rēgnō fīnitimō bellum indīcimus.
121.10 Veterum rēgnōrum memoria manet.
121.11 Potēns rēgnum aliās gentēs vincit.
121.12 Iūstum rēgnum cīvēs laetōs facit.
121.13 Ex rēgnō barbarō mercātōrēs redeunt.
121.14 Rēgnōrum omnium Rōma domina est.
121.15 Saeculīs rēgnum Aegyptium flōruit.
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For English speakers learning Latin, "rēgnum" represents a standard second declension neuter noun with several important features:
1. Declension Pattern: -
Nominative/Accusative singular: rēgnum -
Genitive singular: rēgnī -
Dative singular: rēgnō -
Ablative singular: rēgnō -
Nominative/Accusative plural: rēgna -
Genitive plural: rēgnōrum -
Dative/Ablative plural: rēgnīs
2. Case Functions in Examples: -
Nominative subject: "Māgnum rēgnum in Ōriente est" (121.1) -
Accusative direct object: "Rēx novum rēgnum condere cupit" (121.2) -
Genitive possession: "Populus rēgnī lēgēs servat" (121.4) -
Ablative of place where: "In rēgnō nostrō pāx est" (121.5) -
Dative indirect object: "Rēgnō fīnitimō bellum indīcimus" (121.9)
3. Prepositions with rēgnum: -
"in + ablative" for location: "in rēgnō" (in the kingdom) -
"ad + accusative" for direction: "ad rēgnum" (to the kingdom) -
"ex + ablative" for origin: "ex rēgnō" (from the kingdom)
4. Adjective Agreement: Adjectives must agree in gender (neuter), number, and case: -
"māgnum rēgnum" (nominative neuter singular) -
"antīquum rēgnum" (accusative neuter singular) -
"veterum rēgnōrum" (genitive neuter plural)
5. Word Order Variations: Latin allows flexible word order for emphasis: -
Subject first: "Rēgnum potēns aliās gentēs vincit" -
Object first: "Antīquum rēgnum hostēs dēlēvērunt" -
Prepositional phrase first: "Ex rēgnō barbarō mercātōrēs redeunt"
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For English speakers, understanding "rēgnum" requires knowledge of Roman political and social concepts that differ significantly from modern notions of kingship:
1. Roman Historical Context: The Romans expelled their last king (Tarquinius Superbus) in 509 BCE, establishing the Republic. After this, "rēgnum" carried negative connotations of tyranny and absolute power. Romans viewed kingship as fundamentally incompatible with liberty (lībertās).
2. Foreign Kingdoms: Romans encountered many kingdoms in their expansion: Egyptian pharaohs, Hellenistic monarchies, Germanic tribal kingdoms, and Eastern empires. These were seen as examples of "barbarian" government, lacking Roman republican virtues.
3. Legal and Administrative Concepts: "Rēgnum" could also refer to the sphere of authority or dominion, not just a geographical territory. This broader meaning appears in phrases like "rēgnum Neptūnī" (Neptune's realm, i.e., the sea).
4. Literary Usage: In poetry and elevated prose, "rēgnum" often appears in epic contexts, describing mythological realms of gods or legendary kingdoms. It carries connotations of grandeur, power, and often divine sanction.
5. Modern Connections: English words derived from "rēgnum" include "reign," "regal," and "regnum" (still used in scientific nomenclature). The concept influenced medieval European kingship theories and modern constitutional monarchies.
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From Tacitus, Annalēs 1.1:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Urbem city Rōmam Rome ā from prīncipiō beginning rēgēs kings habuēre held; lībertātem liberty et and cōnsulātum consulship L. Lucius Brūtus Brutus īnstituit established. Dictātūrae dictatorships ad for tempus time sūmēbantur were taken up; neque neither decemvirālis decemviral potestās power ultrā beyond bienniūm two years neque nor tribūnōrum of tribunes mīlitum military cōnsulāre consular iūs right diū for long valuit prevailed.
Urbem Rōmam ā prīncipiō rēgēs habuēre; lībertātem et cōnsulātum L. Brūtus īnstituit. Dictātūrae ad tempus sūmēbantur; neque decemvirālis potestās ultrā bienniūm neque tribūnōrum mīlitum cōnsulāre iūs diū valuit.
Kings held the city of Rome from the beginning; Lucius Brutus established liberty and the consulship. Dictatorships were assumed temporarily; neither decemviral power beyond two years nor the consular right of military tribunes prevailed for long.
Tacitus opens his Annals with this famous summary of Roman constitutional history, tracing the evolution from monarchy through republic to empire. The passage demonstrates Tacitus's characteristic compressed style and his focus on the transfer of power between different governmental forms.
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"rēgēs habuēre" uses archaic perfect form "habuēre" for "habuērunt" -
"ā prīncipiō" shows ablative of time when -
Complex sentence structure with multiple negative constructions -
"neque...neque" creates parallel negative clauses -
Historical infinitive construction implied in the compressed narrative style
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121.16 Olim once in in terrīs lands Asiae of Asia rēgnum kingdom potentissimum most powerful erat was
121.17 Rēx king huius of this rēgnī kingdom Croesum Croesus nōmen name erat was
121.18 Aurum gold argentumque and silver in in rēgnō kingdom eius his abundābat abounded
121.19 Omnēs all mercātōrēs merchants ad to hoc this rēgnum kingdom veniēbant were coming
121.20 Croesum Croesus omnium of all rēgum kings dītissimum richest putābant they thought
121.21 Tandem finally Solon Solon sapientissimus wisest Athēniēnsis Athenian rēgnum kingdom vīsit visits
121.22 Rēx king Solōnī to Solon thēsaurōs treasures rēgnī of kingdom ostendit shows
121.23 Solon Solon autem however dīvitiās riches rēgnī of kingdom nōn not mīrātur admires
121.24 Interrogat he asks Croesus Croesus quis who omnium of all hominum men beātissimus happiest sit might be
121.25 Solon Solon respondet replies nēminem no one ante before mortem death beātum happy vocārī to be called dēbēre ought
121.26 Rēx king īrā with anger Solōnem Solon ē from rēgnō kingdom pellere to drive iubet orders
121.27 Post after annōs years paucōs few Persae Persians rēgnum kingdom Croesī of Croesus invādunt invade
121.28 Cyrus Cyrus Persārum of Persians rēx king māgnō with great exercitū army venit comes
121.29 Brevī in short tempore time rēgnum kingdom Lydōrum of Lydians captum captured est is
121.30 Croesus Croesus tandem finally verba words Solōnis of Solon dē about fortūnā fortune intellēxit understood
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121.16 Olim in terrīs Asiae rēgnum potentissimum erat. Once there was a most powerful kingdom in the lands of Asia.
121.17 Rēx huius rēgnī Croesum nōmen erat. The king of this kingdom was named Croesus.
121.18 Aurum argentumque in rēgnō eius abundābat. Gold and silver abounded in his kingdom.
121.19 Omnēs mercātōrēs ad hoc rēgnum veniēbant. All merchants were coming to this kingdom.
121.20 Croesum omnium rēgum dītissimum putābant. They thought Croesus the richest of all kings.
121.21 Tandem Solon sapientissimus Athēniēnsis rēgnum vīsit. Finally Solon, the wisest Athenian, visits the kingdom.
121.22 Rēx Solōnī thēsaurōs rēgnī ostendit. The king shows the treasures of the kingdom to Solon.
121.23 Solon autem dīvitiās rēgnī nōn mīrātur. However, Solon does not admire the riches of the kingdom.
121.24 Interrogat Croesus quis omnium hominum beātissimus sit. Croesus asks who might be the happiest of all men.
121.25 Solon respondet nēminem ante mortem beātum vocārī dēbēre. Solon replies that no one ought to be called happy before death.
121.26 Rēx īrā Solōnem ē rēgnō pellere iubet. The king in anger orders Solon to be driven from the kingdom.
121.27 Post paucōs annōs Persae rēgnum Croesī invādunt. After a few years the Persians invade Croesus's kingdom.
121.28 Cyrus Persārum rēx māgnō exercitū venit. Cyrus, king of the Persians, comes with a great army.
121.29 Brevī tempore rēgnum Lydōrum captum est. In a short time the kingdom of the Lydians was captured.
121.30 Croesus tandem verba Solōnis dē fortūnā intellēxit. Croesus finally understood Solon's words about fortune.
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121.16 Olim in terrīs Asiae rēgnum potentissimum erat.
121.17 Rēx huius rēgnī Croesum nōmen erat.
121.18 Aurum argentumque in rēgnō eius abundābat.
121.19 Omnēs mercātōrēs ad hoc rēgnum veniēbant.
121.20 Croesum omnium rēgum dītissimum putābant.
121.21 Tandem Solon sapientissimus Athēniēnsis rēgnum vīsit.
121.22 Rēx Solōnī thēsaurōs rēgnī ostendit.
121.23 Solon autem dīvitiās rēgnī nōn mīrātur.
121.24 Interrogat Croesus quis omnium hominum beātissimus sit.
121.25 Solon respondet nēminem ante mortem beātum vocārī dēbēre.
121.26 Rēx īrā Solōnem ē rēgnō pellere iubet.
121.27 Post paucōs annōs Persae rēgnum Croesī invādunt.
121.28 Cyrus Persārum rēx māgnō exercitū venit.
121.29 Brevī tempore rēgnum Lydōrum captum est.
121.30 Croesus tandem verba Solōnis dē fortūnā intellēxit.
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1. Historical Narrative Constructions:
Perfect vs. Imperfect Usage: -
Imperfect for background/ongoing states: "rēgnum potentissimum erat" (there was a most powerful kingdom) -
Imperfect for repeated action: "veniēbant" (were coming, used to come) -
Perfect for completed events: "rēgnum captum est" (the kingdom was captured)
2. Genitive Constructions: -
Possessive genitive: "rēx huius rēgnī" (king of this kingdom) -
Partitive genitive: "omnium rēgum dītissimum" (richest of all kings) -
Objective genitive: "dīvitiās rēgnī" (riches of the kingdom)
3. Ablative Uses: -
Ablative of means: "māgnō exercitū" (with a great army) -
Ablative of manner: "īrā" (with anger) -
Ablative of time: "brevī tempore" (in a short time)
4. Subjunctive in Indirect Questions: "quis omnium hominum beātissimus sit" - the subjunctive "sit" is required in the indirect question introduced by "interrogat"
5. Passive Constructions: -
"rēgnum captum est" - perfect passive showing completed action -
"vocārī dēbēre" - passive infinitive in indirect statement
6. Connecting Words in Narrative: -
"olim" (once) - sets temporal scene -
"tandem" (finally) - marks climactic moment -
"autem" (however) - shows contrast -
"post" (after) - temporal transition
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