‘They create desolation and call it peace’ is a slogan that has often summed up the consequences of military conquest. It was written in the second century CE by the Roman historian Tacitus, referring to Roman power in Britain. Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, pg. 18, loc. 86. Kindle Edition * * * 2. SPQR is still plastered over the city of Rome, on everything from manhole covers to rubbish bins. It can be traced back to the lifetime of Cicero, making it one of the most enduring acronyms in history. It has predictably prompted parody. ‘Sono Pazzi Questi Romani’ is an Italian favourite: ‘These Romans are mad’. Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, pg. 25, loc. 179. Kindle Edition * * *