The man who ended Greek independence for once and all.  Originally hailed as a liberator, he read a proclamation at the Games that was cheered so loudly that birds fell from the sky, stunned.  But the moment he turned his back the Greeks broke all agreements and fomented trouble against Rome, again.  This time he moved in and laid waste to the land.  The Greeks were now an occupied land, as they were never a nation.     When Flaminius was about to capture Hannibal, the wily Carthaginian knew the game was up and took poison.  Just as well for him.      Rome always chose survival above everything else.  When they did not, their power was broken and the long decline began.  The Empire lasted until 1453, not a bad run at all.  The U.S. has been here, what, 200 years and change?  And we are in decline.  When the will to govern goes, so does the nation.      I have depicted the General holding a cane swagger stick.  These were popular with Centurians, as a mark of office

 From Before Watchmen - Rorshach .  2012. Brian Azzerello, writer.  Lee Bermejo, artwork. DC Comics.

   I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy My Brothers.        Mmm-mmmm...- That is a tasty burger!   Next time - Jason Statham Kitty!     https://www.deviantart.com/bogatyrkhan

    A young cat answers the colors.  After all what matters is that lead ball, not the species of the soldier that sends it your way. Ragtag Bunch. Two officers, one boy, one fat man, a mouse, a cat.  No matter, the cause needs every available, er... soldier - on the ground.  Order...Arms! James Gillray weighs in on the difficulties of recruiting.  The tavern sign may read something like The Old Soldier.  Foreshadowing, anyone? https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/29647/images/i004.jpg     H. W. Bunbury, who is not bothered by art theft at all. https://www.deviantart.com/bogatyrkhan   A big Hip Hip Huzzah for that master artist and most erudite historian, bogatyrkhan!

Turkish humor magazine L Manyak.   Curiouser and curiouser.

The lion and the unicorn Were fighting for the crown The lion beat the unicorn All around the town. Some gave them white bread, And some gave them brown; Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town. Illustration by Sir John Tenniel, Alice's Adventure In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll. 1865. Disraeli on the left, Gladstone on the right.   The unicorn and its compliment have regularly been used in heraldic emblems, or symbolic representations of nations, families, and important ranks, since the 16th century. In 1603, James VI, King of Scotland, united the crowns of Scotland and England when he acceded to the English throne as James I, the anointed successor to Elizabeth I. This joining of the crowns of two sovereign states required a new Royal coat of arms. The lion, standing for England, and a unicorn, for Scotland, serve as supporters, or figures posed to buttress the central shield of the emblem. King James I endorsed the use of this beastly imagery as it rep