Tacitus 11.21-30 Malloch

Why does Tac dedicate chapter 21 to a character sketch of Curtius Rufus?

To compare him to Corbulo. He has a shameful background and owes part of his success to bribery and adulation. He is the type of man who thrives under the principate.

What does being born from a gladiator suggest about you? What does Tac suggest which he does not say outright?

You have low origins. Curtius was a bastard.

neque falsa prompserim - what does this suggest?

T does not want to vouch for a story that is untrue, but equally does not want to reject a story that is true.

secretus agitat

he was passing time alone

Why does Tac talk about Nonius and possible other conspirators in chapter 22?

It hints at widespread discontent under Claudius. It strikes an unsettling note in a narrative of obedient generals and subservient creatures (Curtius Rufus and Dolabella), and adds to the atmosphere of danger growing around Claudius from Messalina and Silius.

Does Tac suggest the value of the quaestorship is not the same now as it was in the olden days? Why is it ironic that the quaestorship is now only available to those rich enough to hold gladitorial games?

Yes - you can now buy it. This foreshadows Claudius' desire to open up the senate to the primores Galliae and his argument that their wealth should be put up at Rome's disposal.

In the republic and principate, was any citizen allowed to be tortured? What was the exception?

No. The exception was if they were suspected of conspiring against the emperor.

Why did Dolabella make his proposal about gladiator shows?

If the shows were to be held regularly, responsibility for them could be given to the quaestors as a first step up the political ladder. The popularity they would attract would not be a threat to Claudius, whereas he would attract popularity for allowing the shows to be displayed.

Is Tac's version of Claudius' speech better than the real copy of his speech found at Lyon? Why might this be?

Yes - he effectively argues in favour of the primores Galliae and demolishes the arguments of 23. Tac probably approved of Claudius' attitude, seeing his support for the Gauls as an important step in the development of attitudes to provincials' participation in Roman public life (he was a provincial).

When did the primores Galliae make their request?

48 AD.

Where was Gallia Comata? Had the legions done anything particularly impressive?

Northern Gaul. Not really - hence claim that they would cheapen public life

How might Tac have constructed the opponents' arguments about admission of the gallia comata men into the senate?

He could have looked at Claudius' extant speech and gone from there.

Veneti et Insubres - when had they "burst" into the senate house?

Stands for Transpadane Gaul, which had Roman citizenship. The region produced its first 2 consuls under Tiberius

Which town had Julius Caesar beseiged in 52 BC?

Vercingetorix in Alesia - J C won!

qui sub Capitolio et arce Romana manibus eorundem perissent satis - what are the opponents referring to here?

The Gallic sack of Rome in 390 BC, one of the darkest events in the early history of the republic.

How does Claudius demonstrate that the Roman state was constantly transforming by referring to its kings? Who does he say Aug and Tiberius recruited?

He says they had non-Roman origin. Those from colonies and municipalities.

Why does Claudius say that the Julii came from Alba, the Coruncanii from Camerium, the Porcii from Tusculum etc.?

He is saying he knows of examples outside his own gens (examples from the distant past)

When was Roman citizenship granted to the Italians? What is he referring to when he talks about Italy being extended to the Alps?

After the Social War. The enfranchisement of the Transpadani in 49 BC.

specie deductarum per orbem terrae legionum - what does this describe? Why does Claudius talk about Romulus' exemplum.

The settlement of veterans throughout the empire as a pretext under which provincial elites were discovered and enfranchised to the benefit of the empire. It suggests the Romanness of Rome's openness to foreigners.

What happened in Athens and Sparta to cause their fall?

Decline in citizens

Who did Romulus incorporate into the Roman state?

the Sabines.

Who admitted the sons of freedmen into the senate?

Appius Claudius

Who were the Senones?

They were thought by some to have led the Gallic sack of Rome in 390 BC

When did all magistracies become open to the plebs?

4th century

What does fraternitas mean?

amor inter homines omnes - basically go relations between allies

How is Claudius' handling of the lectio senatus presented?

As thoughtful and considerate

Did the domestic life of Claudius mould the tradition on his reign more than his actions as censor?

Yes - the artificial division between censorship and palace affairs at 25.5 emphasises the difference between Claudius' public and private faces.

How did Claudius select people to be patricians? Why did he need to boost the numbers?

Based on the vetustas of their family line. To maintain religious institutions that could be peopled only with patricians, and to strengthen the senate's prestige. Also to advance his supporters to buttress his position, preserving conservative elements whilst also being progressive in admitting the primores Galliae to the senate.

What did tradition say about the early history of the patriciate?

Romulus appointed 100 patres as an advisory council, and their descendants were called patricians. The first consul of the republic, L. Brutus, increased the patres to 300 by elevating leading equites

Does Augustus talk about choosing patricians in the RG? Were all families adlected by Aug extinct by Claudius' reign?

Yes - he says he did this in his 5th consulship. No!

Was choosing the senate actually in a censor's traditional remit? Who before him had carried out a lectio senatus? What was the "recently found method" Claudius uses to get rid of senators he doesn't like? How did his version differ?

Yes - prob one of the main reasons why Claudius assumed office. Augustus in 18 BC and 4 AD. The one used by Augustus to persuade members to withdraw voluntarily and avoid shame. Augustus had still published the names of those who refuses to give up their offices.

Did Claudius really deserve a new name, as Vipstanus suggested? Does Claudius come off well in refusing the title?

Not really - his handling of the lectio might have been thought new, but the lectio itself was not. Yes!

What did it mean to "close the lustrum"?

This referred to the ceremony of purification performed by one of the censors in the Campus Martius after a census and at the end of the censors' term in office.

Does Tac suggest it was in fact the freedmen who associated Silius and Messalina's marriage with conspiracy?

Yes - we have seen a similar thing with Asiaticus

Could Silius actually have been considered a strong enough rival to replace Claudius? What were probably his motives? What does Messalina seem to have been driven by?

No. Maybe he was trying to satisfy Messalina's cravings for incognitas libidines? Her sexuality

Who ultimately brings Messalina down? Who chooses Claudius' next wife?

Narcissus - it is his construction of a conspiracy narrative and control over how that narrative subsequently plays out that brings Messalina down. The freedmen.

Is Silius desperate in chapter 26?

Yes. The openness of their affair meant that they were no longer in a position to choose whether or not to await Claudius' end.

Why is it ironic that Messalina marries Silius while Claudius is away at Ostia?

He is at Ostia inspecting the corn supply, and is thus not blind to his censorial duties but very blind to Messalina's flagitia.

How does Tac avoid responsibility for the sheer wonder of the story of Messalina and Silius' marriage?

He says his source is the seniores - makes his account sound more authoritative

Why would the freedmen have been so keen to see Messalina gone? In what way was Agrippina wiser than her predecessor?

She had destroyed the freedman polybius (apparently cos she grew tired of him as a lover). She understood the power of the freedmen, and so waited till Narcissus was out of Rome to murder Claudius.

Who is the actor that insulted the bed of the princeps in chapter 28?

Mnester

agitavere

they debated

Who was Callistus?

One of the most powerful freedmen under Gaius and Claudius

Appianae caedis molitor - why did he die?

He had married Messalina's mother and then refused Messalina's advances. Narcissus then told Claudius that he had dreamt of his murder at the hands of Appius.

Vettios, Plautios dissimulavisset - who are these men?

Vettoius Valens and Plautius Lateranus were both adulterers of Messalina.

nunc adulteria obiecturum ait, ne domum servitia et ceteros fortunae paratus reposceret - who is the subject of reposceret? What is the tone?

Naarcissus. Ironic - Narcissus declines to accuse Messalina of adulerty but goes on to demonstrate the charge.

What is the political significance of everyone seeing the marriage of Silius and Messalina?

It suggests the start of a new reign