The Struggle of the Orders I
advertisement
9/17/2007 The Struggle of the Orders I Divisions arose between different Roman castes: the patricians and the plebeians. But who really were the participants what was the nature of the conflict? Early Republican Affairs 509 B.C., establishment of the Republic Iunius Brutus and Tarquinius Collatinus consuls Collatinus forced to abdicate Lucretrius chosen as consul suffectus 508 B.C., wars with or against Porsenna Patriotic Saga—Livy records stories about early Roman heroes of the republic including: 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI Mucius Scaevola, Cloelia Horatius Cocles T. Lartius and Sp. Herminius, Etruscan names! Etruscan names continue in the fasti (list of consuls) from 509–486 B.C. 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 2 1 9/17/2007 Rome and the Latins Latin—and Roman—linguistic, cultural, and religious unity A “league” helped coordinate common worship Jupiter Latiaris at Alba Longa and Diana (lacus Nemorensis, Aricia) and Venus (Lanuvium) League might have been used to coordinate military efforts against Sabines and Etruscans Romans had tried to increase its influence among Latins Destruction of Alba Longa gave it control over cult of Juptier Latiaris (ostensibly under Tullus Hostilius) Romans built a temple of Diana on the Aventine, a “counter sanctuary” to Diana at Aricia (Servius Tullius) 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 3 Early Conflicts 506 B.C. Battle of Aricia—Latins, with Aristodemus of Cumae (a Greek colony in Campania) and perhaps without Romans, defeat Porsenna Etruscan influence ended in Campania and Latium 496 B.C., Battle of Lake Regillus Rome fought against the Latins under Tusculum Supposedly Tarquin Superbus and his son Sextus assisted the Latins 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI This only made the Romans fight more fiercely! Probably a draw, although later Roman sources tried to obscure this Intervention of the divine twins Castor and Pollux followed by the building of their famous temple in the forum 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 4 2 9/17/2007 Struggle of the Orders Patricians versus Plebeians Who were the patricians? Beware of simple rich/poor dichotomy Probably descendants of the early curiones and perhas other patres (patres > patricii) Economic downturn of early 5th century Loss of Etruscan trade? Nexum, debt slavery Areas of conflict Political and religious 9/17/2007 Patricians thought that they alone were competent to maintain the pax deorum Economic social 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 5 Wars and Plebeian Gains 494 B.C., secessio plebis (secession of the plebs) 493 B.C., Treaty of Sp. Cassius with Latin League Common enemy in Volsci, mountain peoples, etc. Joint commands, division of booty 471 B.C, Plebeian tribunate by this time Intercessio 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI Continuing wars gave well-to-do plebeians significant bargaining power (see packet, 58-60) Role of “tribunes” (military or plebeian? See Dion. Hal. 6.89 = LR I no. 28) Sancrosanctitas Ius auxilii Ius agendi cum plebi > Concilium Plebis 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 6 3 9/17/2007 Decemvirate Mounting demands for codification and publication of laws Patrician magistrates were accused of arbitrarily abusing their judicial powers Law codes were common as archaic aristocracies advanced to broader forms of government 451–50 B.C., Consuls were replaced by a ten man board that was charged with writing down the laws Unclear how the decemvirs were chosen (i.e., which curia?) LR nos. 31–32 for examples of torts (civil) and delicts (criminal) Table XI forbids intermarriage between platricians and plebeians note strict punishments, liberal use of capital punishment! First definitive evidence of legal “classes” Ap. Claudius’ “tyranny” Verginia episode, Lucretia episode revisited (Liv. 3.44-49 = Mellor2, c. 325) 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 7 lex Valeria Horatia 449 B.C., Consulship restored Political Gains Provocatio – right of appeal renewed Sacrosanctitas – inviolability of tribunes reaffirmed, made universally binding Plebescita – resolutions of the concilium plebis (plebeian council) made binding if they received patrum auctoritas (approval of the fathers) Patricians and plebeians perhaps defined 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI New consuls pass law that reaffirmed plebeian rights and defined the two castes (Liv. 3.4 = LR I no. 33) Previously self-declared patres, now the descendants of anyone who had held imperium 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 8 4 9/17/2007 Advances and Reactions 445 B.C., lex Canuleia allowed intermarriage (Liv. 4.1 and 4.6 = LR no. 35) Patrician backlash: return to a “curiate constitution” (444-367 B.C.) Election of consular tribunes (military tribunes with consular powers) by comitia curiata Consuls only occasionally elected by comitia centuriata in this period Patricians stronger in the curiate assembly where they dominated their clients, well-to-do plebeians were influential in the first and second class centuries of the centuriate assembly Censorship created New magistrates periodically elected in centuriate assembly to take over censorial functions and Servian recruitment 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 9 Gallic Sack Gauls had been settling in northern Italy Incursions into central Italy led to conflict with Rome in 390 B.C. (Liv. 5.34-49 = Mellor2, c. 239-241) Major defeat at the Battle of Allia Sack of Rome Juno’s geese Brennus, false weights, and “woe to the vanquished!” Results of the Gallic disaster Rome refortified Army reformed: 3 line legion with manipular formation Etruscan hostilities lead to Latin colonies as bulwark Latins revolted, defeated, alliance with Latin League revised with Rome in permanent command 9/17/2007 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 5-Struggle of the OrdersI 10 5
