Class (Nova Roma)

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In ancient Rome, citizens were distributed into classes depending on their social status (wealth), and after having a citizen assigned to a class, he was placed in a century within that class. This is the system we implemented in Nova Roma, too, but instead of wealth, our citizens are classified by their merits, services and contributions to our republic.  
 
In ancient Rome, citizens were distributed into classes depending on their social status (wealth), and after having a citizen assigned to a class, he was placed in a century within that class. This is the system we implemented in Nova Roma, too, but instead of wealth, our citizens are classified by their merits, services and contributions to our republic.  
  
Each Nova Roman citizen is assigned to a class and placed into a [[century (Nova Roma)|century]] within that class. [[Assiduus]] citizens, the elite of the citizenry, can be assigned to any of the 5 classes and placed in one of the 30 small centuries distributed between the 5 classes, while [[capite censi]] can be assigned only to the lowest (5th) class, and only in one huge century therein, the 31st. The top of the 1st class is the order of knights, the [[equestrian order (Nova Roma)|''equites'']]. All Nova Roman equestrians are placed in the 1st century within the 1st class, called the equestrian century. The bottom of the 5th class are the ''capite census'' citizens, this is the 31st century in the 5th class. The more [[century point]]s a citizen has, the higher century he is placed in. Citizens in higher centuries have more voting weight, as higher centuries have less citizens in them, therefore each citizen's vote carries greater weight.
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Each Nova Roman citizen is assigned to a class and placed into a [[century (Nova Roma)|century]] within that class. [[Assiduus]] citizens, the elite of the citizenry, can be assigned to any of the 5 classes and placed in one of the 22 small centuries distributed between the 5 classes, while [[capite censi]] can be assigned only to the lowest (5th) class, and only in one huge century therein, the 23rd. The top of the 1st class are the equestrian centuries of the [[equestrian order (Nova Roma)|''equites equo publico'']], but only the most special and highest regarded equestrians who have at least 400 census points are placed in the equestrian centuries. The bottom of the 5th class are the ''capite census'' citizens, this is the 23rd century in the 5th class. The more [[century point]]s a citizen has, the higher century he is placed in. Citizens in higher centuries have more voting weight, as higher centuries have less citizens in them, therefore each citizen's vote carries greater weight.
  
 
==Assignment of citizens into the 5 classes==
 
==Assignment of citizens into the 5 classes==
  
The [[censor (Nova Roma)|''censores'']] are tasked to assign a citizen to a class based on his [[taxes|taxpayment]] and [[century point]]s (merits, public service). Within each class, the number of citizens must be spread as equitable as possible, with the exception of the [[ordo equester (Nova Roma)|equestrian]] century (century No.1) and the ''capite census'' century (century No.31). If there are centuries assigned to classes that do not have the citizens to fill those centuries, then the ''censores'' cannot fill those centuries.
+
The [[censor (Nova Roma)|''censores'']] are tasked to assign a citizen to a class based on his [[taxes|taxpayment]] and [[century point]]s (merits, public service). Within each class, the number of citizens in the centuries of the class must be spread as equitable as possible, with the exception of the ''capite census'' century (century No.23). If it's not possible, then the censors have to merge centuries or add extra (temporary) centuries until the law can be mathematically fulfilled.  
  
 
The number of census points determines what class citizens are allocated:
 
The number of census points determines what class citizens are allocated:
:'''220 or more census points and admission into the ''ordo equester''''': 1st class, equestrian century
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:'''400 or more census points and ''eques equo publico'' status''': 1st class, equestrian centuries
:'''140 or more census points''':  1st class  
+
:'''100 or more census points''':  1st class  
:'''100 – 139 census points''': 2nd class  
+
:'''75–99 census points''': 2nd class  
:'''50-99 census points''': 3rd class  
+
:'''50-74 census points''': 3rd class  
:'''35-49 census points''': 4th class  
+
:'''25-49 census points''': 4th class  
:'''17-34 census points''': 5th class  
+
:'''0-24 census points''': 5th class  
:'''Citizens who do not meet the minimum threshold of 16 census points''': 5th class, ''capite census'' century
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:'''Citizens who do not pay the taxes''': 5th class, ''capite census'' century
  
 
==Distribution of centuries between the 5 classes==
 
==Distribution of centuries between the 5 classes==
  
 
The number of centuries in each class is set as follows:
 
The number of centuries in each class is set as follows:
*'''Class I''': 49% of the total number of centuries, with one single century (century No1) reserved exclusively for equestrians
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*'''Class I''': 8 centuries, plus one 6 centuries exclusively for public equestrians: 14 centuries in total
*'''Class II''': 10% of the total number of centuries
+
*'''Class II''': 2 centuries
*'''Class III''': 10% of the total number of centuries
+
*'''Class III''': 2 centuries
*'''Class IV''': 10% of the total number of centuries
+
*'''Class IV''': 2 centuries
*'''Class V''': 15% of the total number of centuries, with one single century (century No31) reserved for the ''capite censi'' only.
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*'''Class V''': 3 centuries, with one single century (century No31) reserved for the ''capite censi'' only.
  
== Previous system of centuries in the past of Nova Roma ==
+
== Previous arrangements of the class system in the past of Nova Roma ==
  
Before the year {{2014}}, the ''censores'' first assigned a citizen to a century based on his [[taxes|taxpayment]] and [[century point]]s (merits, public service), and after having placed the citizen into a century, they distributed the centuries between the five classes. So, while in ancient Rome class determined placement in century, in the previous system of Nova Roma, century determined placement in class. Before the year {{2014}}, the number of centuries was determined by dividing the number of [[assiduus (Nova Roma)|assiduus]] citizens by eight, rounding down. There could be no more than 193 and no less than 51 centuries, but in practice it remained always 51. The assignment of citizens took place before every election by the [[censor (Nova Roma)|''censores'']].
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===The Octavian class system===
  
The ''censores'' were allowed by the [[Lex_Octavia_altera_de_comitiis_centuriatis_%28Nova_Roma%29|Lex Octavia altera de comitiis centuriatis]] to determine the number of centuries in each [[class]] by edict, but no ''censores'' choose to do so, so the initial proportions set up by the law was adhered to until the new system was introduced. The relative sizes of each class was set as follows:
+
Until {{2013}}, the ''censores'' first assigned a citizen to a century based on his [[taxes|taxpayment]] and [[century point]]s (merits, public service), and after having placed the citizen into a century, they distributed the centuries between the five classes. So, while in ancient Rome class determined placement in century, in the previous system of Nova Roma, century determined placement in class. The number of centuries was determined by dividing the number of [[assiduus (Nova Roma)|assiduus]] citizens by eight, rounding down. There could be no more than 193 and no less than 51 centuries, but in practice it remained always 51. The assignment of citizens took place before every election by the [[censor (Nova Roma)|''censores'']].
 +
 
 +
The ''censores'' were allowed by the [[Lex_Octavia_altera_de_comitiis_centuriatis_%28Nova_Roma%29|''lex Octavia altera de comitiis centuriatis'']] to determine the number of centuries in each [[class]] by edict, but no ''censores'' choose to do so, so the initial proportions set up by the law was adhered to until the new system was introduced. The relative sizes of each class was set as follows:
  
 
*Class I: 29% of the ''assiduus'' centuries.  
 
*Class I: 29% of the ''assiduus'' centuries.  
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*Class IV: 16% of the ''assiduus'' centuries.  
 
*Class IV: 16% of the ''assiduus'' centuries.  
 
*Class V: 11% of the ''assiduus'' centuries, plus '''1''' century reserved for the ''capite censi'' only.
 
*Class V: 11% of the ''assiduus'' centuries, plus '''1''' century reserved for the ''capite censi'' only.
 +
 +
The division of the centuries by the five classes as defineded by the [[Lex Octavia altera de comitiis centuriatis (Nova Roma)|''lex Octavia altera de comitiis centuriatis'']] resulted in the following division:
 +
 +
*Class I: centuries 1-14.
 +
*Class II: centuries 15-26.
 +
*Class III: centuries 27-36.
 +
*Class IV: centuries 37-44.
 +
*Class V: centuries 45-50.
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*Capite censi: century 51.
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 +
===The Sullan class system===
 +
 +
After the year {{2013}}, class allocation became specified by the amount of census points held be the citizen, and the number of centuries was significantly decreased to ensure that the centuries had more than one citizen in each. The 1st class was given more centuries, and thus more voting power, according to ancient Roman practice, but the system was not yet as accurate as the current class system.
 +
 +
'''Census point requirements for class membership'''
 +
 +
*220 or more census points and admission into the ''ordo equester'': 1st class, equestrian century
 +
*140 or more census points:  1st class
 +
*100 – 139 census points: 2nd class
 +
*50-99 census points: 3rd class
 +
*35-49 census points: 4th class
 +
*17-34 census points: 5th class
 +
*Citizens who do not meet the minimum threshold of 16 census points: 5th class, ''capite census'' century
 +
 +
'''Distribution of centuries between the 5 classes'''
 +
 +
*Class I: 49% of the total number of centuries, with one single century (century No1) reserved exclusively for equestrians
 +
*Class II: 10% of the total number of centuries
 +
*Class III: 10% of the total number of centuries
 +
*Class IV: 10% of the total number of centuries
 +
*Class V: 15% of the total number of centuries, with one single century (century No31) reserved for the ''capite censi'' only.

Latest revision as of 15:06, 13 February 2024

Our society

Citizens
Patricians - Plebeians
The equestrian order
Nobiles - Homines novi
Gens and domus, families
The 19 tribes
The 23 centuries
The 5 classes
Census points
Assidui - Capite censi
Taxes


Social structure of Nova Roma

There are 5 classes in Nova Roma into which all citizens are distributed in voting centuries. The 1st class is the highest, containing the top citizens. The higher the class, the more centuries it contains, consequently, the more voting weight it has.

In ancient Rome, citizens were distributed into classes depending on their social status (wealth), and after having a citizen assigned to a class, he was placed in a century within that class. This is the system we implemented in Nova Roma, too, but instead of wealth, our citizens are classified by their merits, services and contributions to our republic.

Each Nova Roman citizen is assigned to a class and placed into a century within that class. Assiduus citizens, the elite of the citizenry, can be assigned to any of the 5 classes and placed in one of the 22 small centuries distributed between the 5 classes, while capite censi can be assigned only to the lowest (5th) class, and only in one huge century therein, the 23rd. The top of the 1st class are the equestrian centuries of the equites equo publico, but only the most special and highest regarded equestrians who have at least 400 census points are placed in the equestrian centuries. The bottom of the 5th class are the capite census citizens, this is the 23rd century in the 5th class. The more century points a citizen has, the higher century he is placed in. Citizens in higher centuries have more voting weight, as higher centuries have less citizens in them, therefore each citizen's vote carries greater weight.

Contents

Assignment of citizens into the 5 classes

The censores are tasked to assign a citizen to a class based on his taxpayment and century points (merits, public service). Within each class, the number of citizens in the centuries of the class must be spread as equitable as possible, with the exception of the capite census century (century No.23). If it's not possible, then the censors have to merge centuries or add extra (temporary) centuries until the law can be mathematically fulfilled.

The number of census points determines what class citizens are allocated:

400 or more census points and eques equo publico status: 1st class, equestrian centuries
100 or more census points: 1st class
75–99 census points: 2nd class
50-74 census points: 3rd class
25-49 census points: 4th class
0-24 census points: 5th class
Citizens who do not pay the taxes: 5th class, capite census century

Distribution of centuries between the 5 classes

The number of centuries in each class is set as follows:

  • Class I: 8 centuries, plus one 6 centuries exclusively for public equestrians: 14 centuries in total
  • Class II: 2 centuries
  • Class III: 2 centuries
  • Class IV: 2 centuries
  • Class V: 3 centuries, with one single century (century No31) reserved for the capite censi only.

Previous arrangements of the class system in the past of Nova Roma

The Octavian class system

Until L. Sulla (III) cos. sine collega MMDCCLXVI a.u.c., the censores first assigned a citizen to a century based on his taxpayment and century points (merits, public service), and after having placed the citizen into a century, they distributed the centuries between the five classes. So, while in ancient Rome class determined placement in century, in the previous system of Nova Roma, century determined placement in class. The number of centuries was determined by dividing the number of assiduus citizens by eight, rounding down. There could be no more than 193 and no less than 51 centuries, but in practice it remained always 51. The assignment of citizens took place before every election by the censores.

The censores were allowed by the lex Octavia altera de comitiis centuriatis to determine the number of centuries in each class by edict, but no censores choose to do so, so the initial proportions set up by the law was adhered to until the new system was introduced. The relative sizes of each class was set as follows:

  • Class I: 29% of the assiduus centuries.
  • Class II: 24% of the assiduus centuries.
  • Class III: 20% of the assiduus centuries.
  • Class IV: 16% of the assiduus centuries.
  • Class V: 11% of the assiduus centuries, plus 1 century reserved for the capite censi only.

The division of the centuries by the five classes as defineded by the lex Octavia altera de comitiis centuriatis resulted in the following division:

  • Class I: centuries 1-14.
  • Class II: centuries 15-26.
  • Class III: centuries 27-36.
  • Class IV: centuries 37-44.
  • Class V: centuries 45-50.
  • Capite censi: century 51.

The Sullan class system

After the year L. Sulla (III) cos. sine collega MMDCCLXVI a.u.c., class allocation became specified by the amount of census points held be the citizen, and the number of centuries was significantly decreased to ensure that the centuries had more than one citizen in each. The 1st class was given more centuries, and thus more voting power, according to ancient Roman practice, but the system was not yet as accurate as the current class system.

Census point requirements for class membership

  • 220 or more census points and admission into the ordo equester: 1st class, equestrian century
  • 140 or more census points: 1st class
  • 100 – 139 census points: 2nd class
  • 50-99 census points: 3rd class
  • 35-49 census points: 4th class
  • 17-34 census points: 5th class
  • Citizens who do not meet the minimum threshold of 16 census points: 5th class, capite census century

Distribution of centuries between the 5 classes

  • Class I: 49% of the total number of centuries, with one single century (century No1) reserved exclusively for equestrians
  • Class II: 10% of the total number of centuries
  • Class III: 10% of the total number of centuries
  • Class IV: 10% of the total number of centuries
  • Class V: 15% of the total number of centuries, with one single century (century No31) reserved for the capite censi only.
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