Ancient History - Securing the Roman Republic

What was the Conflict of the Orders?

A peaceful dispute between patricians and plebeians

Why were the plebs unhappy?

The wars had caused them to lose homes and be in debt, the patron client system led to reliance on patricians and politics was off limit to plebs

What did the plebeians do in response?

The First Secession where strikes happened and Rome had no workforce so the patricians had to secede

How did the Secession start?

A poor man told a crowd he had been an army commander but war had reduced him to homelessness. His land had been repossessed unable to pay debts and the owner wanted him whipped. Outrage spread and riot was averted but sedition spread.

What happened to the Senate?

It split between consuls Appius Claudius and Servilius: Claudius wanted to crush the plebs, Servilius to negotiate. Servilius’ men were arrested after returning to Rome, but intervention couldn’t happen.

What subsequently happened in the city?

Lawlessness struck and Manius Valerius was eventually made dictator to defeat the rebels, assembling ten legions and defeating foreign threats. He resigned his position after.

What did Sicinius do?

The patricians refused to demobilise the army and many in the army (the wars had ended) feared they’d be used against the plebs. Soldiers and regular plebs led by Sicinius occupied the Sacred Mount until consul Menenius Agrippa made peace with the plebs.

What did Coriolanus and Spurius Cassius do?

Marcius Coriolanus: Argued plebs caused famines after secession and should starve. Tribunes wanted to trial him but he claimed they had no power to do so. Mob violence indicted by tribunes and Coriolanus fled when the Senate agreed to fight him.

Spurius Cassius: Obtained Hernician land. Tried giving some to plebs and other parts to Latins. Accused of trying to become a tyrant through bribery, plebs were suspicious. He tried to use surplus grain for support and was executed later.

Following the idea of progress from now until 462, what did Volero Publilius do in this regard?

An ex commander, he refused to join the army (he was a pleb). To avoid arrest he announced the tribunes leant towards the Senate so a mob turned on the lictors. He became a reformist tribune in 472 and his work forced Appius Claudius to accept the law (and change the voting system for tribunes)

What happened to Appius Claudius and what did Gaius Terentillus do?

Tribunes indicted him, he refused to acknowledge it and the trial was suspended. He died during it and Volero’s reforms had strengthened the tribunes

Gaius Terrentilius: Quintus Fabius proposed giving conquered land to plebeians with Terentillius demanding the power of consul be checked by a constitution (believing consuls acting like kings). The two criticised each other, Senate pledged to look at Terentillius’ ideas but delayed the vote.

What happened in 454?

Tribunes realised Terentillius’ demands would not be met and the Senate and tribunes agreed they would drop them if they could have the plebs help appoint lawmakers. To democratic Athens they went for two years, creating a council of ten men for a new law code (replacing the tribunes and consuls)

What was the rule of each decemvirate like?

First: Appius Claudius Crassus ruled justly, publishing laws and being asked for ten more men for two new laws

Second: Crassus’ opponents feared his popularity and believed he would not put himself, so let him choose the new ten. He chose himself and nine allies, attacking plebs and political opponents and protecting patricians

What did the Decemvirate do to defend Rome?

Attacked by Sabines and Aequi, they asked for the Senate to come together for an army. Plebs refused enlistment, the Senate didn’t attend but Crassus forced a quorum (minimum number to make a meeting valid), only allowed to vote approvingly. The Senate more feared the plebs than Decemvirate and voted an army.

How did the Decemvirate fall?

Crassus lusted after plebeian Virginia and tried her claiming she was a runaway slave. Virginia asked to contact her father and went home with Crassus where her fiancee Lucius Icilius told Verginius (father). Crassus declared the father traitor and Verginius killed her out of mercy.

How did Verginius start the Second Secession?

He returned to war and told his fellow soldiers the lust of Crassus wouldn’t stop

How did the Senate and Decemvirate respond?

Soldiers said they’d only talk to Valerius and Horatius (former consuls) who said they’d only do so if returned consulship. They again retreated to the Sacred Mount.

How did the Secession end?

The Decemvirate had to disband but were not prosecuted, while Valerius and Horatius demanded prosecution. Verginius and Icilius were elected tribunes with the latter guaranteeing the former Decemviri wouldn’t be prosecuted

What did the new consuls Valerius and Horatius do?

Publish the Twelve Tables

What are some things the Twelve Tables addressed (very generally, too much to learn in detail)?

Trial procedures, debt, patriarchal powers, inheritance and guardianship, ownership, land rights, laws of injury, public law, funerary rites, changes in law of marriage and punishments

What were the Valero Horatian laws?

Right to appeal restored and strengthened (magistrates also couldn’t create courts with no right), tribunes and aediles inviolable

How did the Twelve Tables end up changing?

The ban on intermarriage was removed and plebs were eventually allowed to become military tribunes