Senatus Populesque Senatus Populesque RomanumRomanum

The Senate and People of RomeThe Senate and People of Rome

Consuls SenateConsuls SenateAssemblyAssembly

“ “ Whenever one of these three Whenever one of these three elements swells in elements swells in importance….it becomes importance….it becomes apparent none of them is apparent none of them is completely independent, but completely independent, but that the designs of anyone can that the designs of anyone can be blocked or impeded by the be blocked or impeded by the rest”rest” Polybius Polybius

Expansion of the EmpireExpansion of the Empire

Problems facing Rome in Problems facing Rome in 80BC80BC

Latifundia:Latifundia: Large farms owned by senatorsLarge farms owned by senators

How did such a innocuous institution cause so much trouble?How did such a innocuous institution cause so much trouble?

As Rome expanded the newly acquired land was divided As Rome expanded the newly acquired land was divided among the citizen population. The ownership of land qualified among the citizen population. The ownership of land qualified the citizen body to fight in the armies.the citizen body to fight in the armies.

Consequently the Roman army consisted of a citizen body of Consequently the Roman army consisted of a citizen body of small holders who fought to defend their landed interests and small holders who fought to defend their landed interests and in doing could gain more land or wealth through the spoils of in doing could gain more land or wealth through the spoils of war. war.

One of the main spoils of war came out of the selling of the One of the main spoils of war came out of the selling of the conquered population into slavery. In the 2conquered population into slavery. In the 2ndnd century BC over century BC over 250,000 slaves flooded into the slave markets of Rome. This 250,000 slaves flooded into the slave markets of Rome. This had a dramatic effect on Roman society!had a dramatic effect on Roman society!

The distribution of wealth among the classes wasn’t The distribution of wealth among the classes wasn’t equal.equal. 99% of the wealth of the Roman Empire was in the 99% of the wealth of the Roman Empire was in the

hands of 1% of the hands of 1% of the citizencitizen population. population. Consequently as the empire expanded rapidly in the 2Consequently as the empire expanded rapidly in the 2ndnd

century BC so to did the wealth of the governing century BC so to did the wealth of the governing classes.classes.

As their was a massive influx of slaves the logical step As their was a massive influx of slaves the logical step was to invest their new wealth in land. was to invest their new wealth in land.

This was made all the more possible as they could run This was made all the more possible as they could run their farms with newly purchased slaves.their farms with newly purchased slaves.

Yet much of Italy had already been in the hands of Yet much of Italy had already been in the hands of citizens for a long time and there was not as much land citizens for a long time and there was not as much land available in the provinces as one might think, nor was it available in the provinces as one might think, nor was it that attractive.that attractive. Most of it was already in the hands of the provincials.Most of it was already in the hands of the provincials. Estates were matters of prestige and consequently Estates were matters of prestige and consequently

senators wanted their estate relatively close to senators wanted their estate relatively close to Rome.Rome.

Consequently the senators wanted to buy up land in Consequently the senators wanted to buy up land in Italy but it was already owned by the citizen population. Italy but it was already owned by the citizen population.

How did they overcome this problem?How did they overcome this problem? As has already been pointed out the ownership of land As has already been pointed out the ownership of land

qualified the citizens to fight in the army. This wasn’t a qualified the citizens to fight in the army. This wasn’t a problem when most wars were fought in Italy. problem when most wars were fought in Italy.

The empire had expanded now and many soldiers were The empire had expanded now and many soldiers were away from their farmsteads for long periods. When away from their farmsteads for long periods. When they returned they often returned to run down and they returned they often returned to run down and unprofitable farms.unprofitable farms.

Consequently when wealthy senators came along and Consequently when wealthy senators came along and offered them money for their land they often jumped at offered them money for their land they often jumped at the chance to acquire some money and travel to Rome the chance to acquire some money and travel to Rome to set up business in the capital of the growing empire.to set up business in the capital of the growing empire.

Unfortunately everyone had the same idea and Unfortunately everyone had the same idea and this soon led to some very important this soon led to some very important repercussionsrepercussions::

Increased bribery Increased bribery Rome was filled with citizens from the countryside and Rome was filled with citizens from the countryside and

simply couldn’t provide work for them all and simply couldn’t provide work for them all and consequently there came into being a large group of consequently there came into being a large group of unemployed citizens who became increasingly unemployed citizens who became increasingly dependent on their patrons. This increased the ability of dependent on their patrons. This increased the ability of the senatorial class to bribe their way into power and the senatorial class to bribe their way into power and push through increasingly corrupt measures that lined push through increasingly corrupt measures that lined their own pockets.their own pockets.

The rise of importance of military commandersThe rise of importance of military commanders Unfortunately the army suffered as those farmers who Unfortunately the army suffered as those farmers who

once fought in the armies no longer qualified. This once fought in the armies no longer qualified. This problem had been addressed, however, by a man called problem had been addressed, however, by a man called Marius.Marius.

Marius introduced a law at the end of the 2Marius introduced a law at the end of the 2ndnd century which enabled citizens without land to century which enabled citizens without land to fight in the armies and that they would earn fight in the armies and that they would earn their keep from the spoils of war.their keep from the spoils of war.

This meant that a victorious army would be a This meant that a victorious army would be a rich one. soldiers who became rich had their rich one. soldiers who became rich had their commander to thank for it something that the commander to thank for it something that the commander would be quick to remind them of commander would be quick to remind them of come election time.come election time.

It was consequently very easy for an individual It was consequently very easy for an individual who could not convince the other senators of who could not convince the other senators of his abilities to gain political power through his abilities to gain political power through military victories in the provinces which military victories in the provinces which attacked the idea of attacked the idea of peace with honour peace with honour that that the senate was based upon.the senate was based upon.

2Wealth and Slaves flood into Rome

3Senators buy up vast properties

4Smallholders move

to Rome to tryand find work

5The unemployed mob cause

increased corruption& military commanders

become too influential as the armybecomes dependent on

the spoils of war

1The empire expands

Optimates & popularesOptimates & populares A damaging consequence of an increased A damaging consequence of an increased

availability of wealth and power was increased availability of wealth and power was increased competition.competition.

As competition grew so did the number of As competition grew so did the number of senators that found themselves on the sidelines. senators that found themselves on the sidelines. In the race for positions of power many young In the race for positions of power many young senators borrowed vast sums of money on the senators borrowed vast sums of money on the basis that they would recoup it all when in office.basis that they would recoup it all when in office.

When they failed to get into office they found When they failed to get into office they found themselves financially ruined.themselves financially ruined.

To avoid this situation some senators began to To avoid this situation some senators began to look for other ways to get themselves positions of look for other ways to get themselves positions of power.power.

If there path to power through the senate was If there path to power through the senate was blocked then there was only one other alternative.blocked then there was only one other alternative.

If there path to power If there path to power through the senate was through the senate was blocked then there was blocked then there was only one other only one other alternative.alternative.

The tribunate, while not The tribunate, while not as prestigious as the as prestigious as the consulship still afforded consulship still afforded the opportunity to pass the opportunity to pass laws and propose laws and propose appointments, especially appointments, especially to military commands.to military commands.

Those who took this Those who took this route became known as route became known as popularespopulares..

It is important that the term It is important that the term popularespopulares is not is not confused with our modern term popular especially confused with our modern term popular especially when we remember that the tribunate was the when we remember that the tribunate was the office that represented the people.office that represented the people.

The The popularespopulares were just as self absorbed as the were just as self absorbed as the rest of the senate, they got their name purely rest of the senate, they got their name purely because of their method of gaining power and because of their method of gaining power and influence, influence, notnot because the nature of their policies because the nature of their policies was in anyway was in anyway democraticdemocratic..

Those senators who remained loyal to the Those senators who remained loyal to the traditions of the senate called themselves traditions of the senate called themselves optimatesoptimates (“the best”) and rigidly opposed the (“the best”) and rigidly opposed the popularespopulares politicians in their endeavours. politicians in their endeavours.

Again it was not so much that they opposed the Again it was not so much that they opposed the policies but feared for their own positions of power policies but feared for their own positions of power if they allowed individuals to gain power through if they allowed individuals to gain power through the tribunate and thus avoiding the need of the tribunate and thus avoiding the need of support within the senate.support within the senate.

Qualifying Ages for MagistraciesQualifying Ages for Magistracies

Aedile36 years

Praetor39 years

Historians on the Problems of Historians on the Problems of Empire-SallustEmpire-Sallust

Some set their hearts on houses, some on lands. His victorious troops Some set their hearts on houses, some on lands. His victorious troops knew no restraint, no moderation, but inflicted on the citizens disgraceful knew no restraint, no moderation, but inflicted on the citizens disgraceful and inhumane outrages. The whole period was one of debauched tastes and inhumane outrages. The whole period was one of debauched tastes and lawlessness. When wealth was once counted an honor, and glory, and lawlessness. When wealth was once counted an honor, and glory, authority, and power attended it, virtue lost her influence, poverty was authority, and power attended it, virtue lost her influence, poverty was thought a disgrace, and a life of innocence was regarded as a life of mere thought a disgrace, and a life of innocence was regarded as a life of mere ill nature. From the influence of riches, accordingly, luxury, avarice, ill nature. From the influence of riches, accordingly, luxury, avarice, pride came to prevail among the youth. They grew at once rapacious and pride came to prevail among the youth. They grew at once rapacious and prodigal. They undervalued what was their own; they set at nought prodigal. They undervalued what was their own; they set at nought modesty and continence; they lost all distinction between sacred and modesty and continence; they lost all distinction between sacred and profane, and threw off all consideration and self-restraint.profane, and threw off all consideration and self-restraint.