Since things are a little quiet on the novaroma net, I thought the
following might be educational and entertaining:
The "senatus poulusque Romanus (SPQR) was the Senate and the People of
Rome. The Senate was a group of unelected men called Senators,
restricted to Patricians in the early republic, but later extended to
Plebians. In the middle and late Republic a man was admitted to the
Senate for life once he had ben elected by the "comitia" or "councilium"
to his first magistracy. He was expelled only if found gulty of
misconduct. There were originally 100 members, which increased to 300
and then to 600 in 80 BC, and then to 900 under Julius Caesar.
The Senate was formally a body that advised Magistrates, but from the
3rd century BC it increased its influence and power, particularly
through the crisus of the Second Punic War. Among other work, it
prepared legislation to put before the assemblies, administered
finances, dealt with foriegn relations and supervised state religion.
In the 2nd and 1st centuries BC the Senate was the virtual government of
Rome, having great influence and control over the assemblies and
magistrates. It could not make laws but issued decrees (known as
"decreta" or "senatus consulta" ). The "senatus consultum ulitimum
(Final decree of the Senate)" was a final resort for crushing political
threats last employed in 40 BC. It authorized Magistrtaes to employ
every means possible to restore order.
Senators had to have a private income as they reeived no payment.
During the republic the most important activity in adult life for the
small group of families that constituted the senatorial class was the
pursuit of political power for themselves, their families and their
friends. A boy's rhetorical education and a young man's activities in
the lawcourts were preparations for a political career. Men would try
to win election to their first magistracy in their early thirties,
Friendship, marriages, and even divorces were often a matter of
political convienience. A poitician was expected to greet everyone
warmly, and by name and was assisted by a slave called a "nomenclator"
whose duty it was to memorize names and identify people.
Only a small percentage of the population was deeply involved in
politics. Rivalry was intense and political campaigns were bitter.
Because elections were held every year, the process of campaigning was
virtually undending. Political slogans were painted on wals of
buildings at Pompeii and presumably at other cities as well.
Campaigns were also expensive, with bribery (ambitus) and corruption
commonplace. Even if not running for office, a man was expected to
campaign for family and friends.
Among the senators were an exclusive group of "nobiles" (well-known)
whose ancestors (patrician or plebian) had held a curule magistracy
(later a consulshp only). Up to the 1st Century BC few men outside
these families reached consular rank. Political alliances or factions
(factiones) were common within these families and various methods were
used to undermine opposition factions. A "novus homo" (new man) was the
first man in a family (such as Cicero) to hold a curule magistracy,
expecially a consulship. These new men were never-the-less usually from
wealthy families. In the empire the term "nobiles" was applied to the
decendants of the Republicam consuls.
Reference:
Handbook To Life In Ancient Rome
(Leslie and Roy Adkins)
Respectfully;
Marcus Minucius Audens
Quaestor...
Fair Winds and Following Seas!!!
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Ave, Audens!
Thank you for posting the article about the Republican Senate. Perhaps we
should all start posting pieces on various topics to the list. It would keep
us all fresh on the precedent of the Roman Republic. It is rather sad that
there seems next to nothing on the list when there is no internecine warfare
going on. Which brings me to the frightening thing about your article. With
one year tenure of offices the next election is just around the corner. Maybe
if people started campaigning early some of the vileness of the last election's
campaigns. I'm sure that our politico types are already doing their behind the
cameras work. Politicos are like that whether they are Roman, English, Hellene,
American, Inuit or Din'e.
Having made the suggestion, I should think about what article I want to post
during this time of peace.
Valete.
C. Aelius Ericius.
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