• PugJesus@piefed.socialOPM
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    4 days ago

    Explanation: During the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelian, an accomplished military leader, the mintworkers of Rome attempted to rebel against one of Aurelian’s attempts to reform the system of coin minting. You see, the mint of Rome had become quite comfortable with its ability to cheat the Empire as the entire monetary system died around them. Aurelian insisted on a higher purity of coinage (if only marginally - 5% silver was the GOAL!), which meant stealing the silver supplied to the mint was going to be cracked down on.

    They rioted, and a few Senators, who had corrupt connections in the mint, threw their support behind the half-armed rioters.

    The Urban Cohorts, a specialized military force for dealing with riots in Rome, specifically, crushed the uprising. The fact that there was an infamously severe Emperor at the head of some two-dozen legions (ie outnumbering them 15-1, easy), you would think, might give the mintworkers cause to stop and think, but human greed knows no reason.