Ancient History - Rome - The 50s

What did a popularis need to do to dominate an optimate politically?

They’d have to change the political landscape by somehow working within the existing framework, made clear after Catiline

What does the First Triumvirate encapsulate?

A popularis attempt to succeed against the optimates

When did Pompey return from the east and what did he return to?

Returned in 62 to indifference from the senate

What had Pompey done in the east?

Reorganised the provinces there and increased public revenue of Rome by 70% through taxation

What did Pompey bring back from the east?

480 million sestertius

What did Pompey think he’d be treated like after defeating Mithridates?

He thought he’d be treated as a prodigal son

What did Pompey promise to his veterans and why?

Promised land to his veterans as thanks for their efforts

What else did Pompey need?

Ratification for his eastern settlements

What pushed Pompey into Caesar’s arms?

Lack of acknowledgement from the senate for two years

What did Pompey send ahead of his return to Rome?

Candidates for the 61 consular election

Why did M. Pupius Piso Frugi ask for a delay in the consular elections of 61?

So that Pompey might return to Rome to throw in his support

Who argued against delaying the consular election of 61 and who won?

Cato argued against the delay, but Piso won anyways

What did Piso do once he was elected as a consul for 61?

Sponsored a land bill for Pompey’s veterans, but it failed

Who expected to be consul in 60BC and why did Pompey not want this?

Q. Caecilius Metellus Celer, but Pompey knew he’d have no favour with him

Why did Pompey know he’d have no favour with Metellus?

Pompey divorced Metellus’ half sister and he was an optimate

Who did Pompey send to stand for the consular election of 60BC, and what did he begin doing?

Sent L. Afranius, and began bribing the electorate

What does Cicero say in ad atticum about Pompey pushing for L.Afranius’ consulship?

against the wishes of all, our Magnus is thrusting Aulus’ son

Who is elected for the consulship of 60BC and what did he begin to do?

L. Afranius was elected and began to work on Pompey’s behalf

Who opposed L. Afranius in the senate and why?

Lucullus, because Pompey ousted him from his command in the east

Who aided Lucullus in opposing Afranius and Pompey?

Cato and Metellus

What did Afranius use tribune L. Flavius to do?

Propose a land bill directly to the people

What happens when Flavius and Metellus clash?

Flavius sends Metellus to jail

What did Metellus do after Flavius locked him up?

Metellus called the senate to his cell and made Pompey and Flavius look ridiculous

What does Cassius Dio say Pompey learned after Metellus called the senate to his cell?

learned he did not possess any real power, but merely the name and envy resulting from his former authority

What had been in the hands of the Roman businessmen since the Gracchi?

Provincial tax collection, where publicani worked to claim a cut of the collected tax

What did the publicani do in 60BC and why?

Complained to the senate because they overbid for their contracts in the east and wanted to be released from a third of the cost

Why did Crassus support the claim of the publicani to the senate?

His financial interests were linked. He was fabulously wealthy and leant freely to gain political clout

What did Crassus complain to Atticus about?

Having to speak in the publicani’s favour

Why did Crassus feel the need to speak in the publicani’s favour?

To keep the concept of concordia ordinum

What was the concordia ordinum?

The senatorial and equestrian orders working together for a common good

Who spoke against the request of the publicani?

Cato

What law was Cato working on to make the equestrians liable for?

For prosecution regarding bribery in courts, since the current one only covered senatorials

How had Caesar established himself as a successful military leader?

While being pro-praetorian governor of Spain in 61

What did Caesar seek upon his return to Rome?

A triumph and the consulship of 59

What did Caesar ask to do in absentia?

Asked to stand for the consulship of 59

Who filibustered Caesar’s attempt to stand in absentia for the consulship of 59?

Cato did, and the matter was left undecided

Which source tells us Cato filibustered Caesar’s attempt to stand for consulship of 59 in absentia?

Plutarch

What was Cato’s ulterior motive for filibustering Caesar’s attempt at the consulship of 59?

Working to establish his son-in-law, Bibulus

What about Caesar annoyed Cato greatly?

Cato’s half sister Servilia had an on-going affair with Caesar

What was Pompey happy to support Caesar after?

After failing with Piso and Afranius

How did the optimates get Bibulus elected alongside Caesar for 59?

Bribery

Why were the optimates unbothered about Caesar being elected as consul for 59?

Occasional popularis success didn’t faze them

How did the optimates snub Caesar in 59?

Passed a bill saying the consular provinces for the coming year would be by the woods and pastures of Italy rather than the usual overseas command

Of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, which two join in amicitiae first?

Caesar and Pompey

What threat did Caesar recognise there was to the union between himself and Pompey?

The animosity between Pompey and Crassus

How did Caesar seek to fix the animosity between Pompey and Caesar?

Worked on reconciling them, since they weren’t far apart politically

What does Plutarch say Caesar used Crassus and Pompey to do?

by using them he made himself greater than anyone

What was the first task of the First triumvirate?

Secure a land bill for Pompey’s veterans

What did Caesar propose within a few days of his first consulship?

A land commission to look into the matter regarding veterans and urban poor

What did Caesar’s land commission exclude?

Ager campanus, where many optimates had land

What was Caesar’s land commission to comprise of and why?

To comprise of twenty men in order to nullify personal ambition

What was to be recognised under Caesar’s land commission?

All previous land occupation recognised to prevent claims of theft

What were the commissioners of Caesar’s land commission allowed to purchase?

Only land willingly sold

How was Caesar’s land commission funded?

Money was to come from Pompey’s eastern settlements

What did Caesar ban new settlers from doing as part of his new land commission?

Banned from selling land for twenty years, ensuring they weren’t just out for quick profit

What did Caesar make clear during the proceedings of his land commission bill?

Made it clear he was willing to negotiate over any point at any point during proceedings

Was Caesar a part of his land commisson?

No, he was not a part of it

What happened despite the reasonable nature of Caesar’s land commission proposal?

Cato filibustered it

How did Caesar react to Cato filibustering his land commission proposal?

He threatened to arrest him, but pulled out last minute

Which source tells us Caesar threatened to arrest Cato after he filibustered the land commission proposal?

Plutarch - Caesar

Where did Caesar take his land commission proposal after Cato filibustered it?

To the comitia tributa, despite Cato’s moral victory

Who spoke out against Caesar’s land commission bill when he took it to the comitia tributa and who did Caesar summon to support it?

Bibulus spoke out against it and Pompey and Crassus were summoned to support it

What does Pompey say, while supporting Caesar’s land commission proposal, that he’d do if there was resistance made to the law? Where is the quote from?

I will come bringing against those who threaten swords, both sword and shield - Plutarch - Pompey

What happened with Pompey’s veterans and Bibulus after the land commission bill proposal?

Pompey’s veterans were everywhere in the city and Bibulus was set upon by mob whilst being escorted to the forum by Cato and had a shit bucket thrown on him

Who appeared responsible for Bibulus being set upon by the mob?

The triumvirate

Which source told us about Bibulus being set upon by the mob?

Plutarch - Pompey and Caesar

What did Bibulus do after the land commission bill was passed?

Went home stating the omens were unfavourable

How did Pompey and Caesar counter Bibulus’ religious attack on the land commission bill?

Caesar was pontifex maximus and Pompey was auger

What did Caesar’s second land commission bill include?

The ager campanus

Who benefitted from Caesar’s second land commission bill?

20,000 urban families with three or more children

Where was the second land commission bill taken?

To the comitia tributa directly, in the faces of the optimates who’d be loosing land

When did it become obvious the triumvirate was working together?

Later on in Caesar’s consulship

What concerns did Cicero voice about Pompey’s actions to Atticus? Source?

Pompey, my hero, has brought about his own ruin - Cicero - ad atticum

What concerns did Cicero voice about Bibulus?

Concerned about his tactic of staying home and saying the omens were unfavourable

What does Cicero mention about public opinion in his letter to Atticus?

Public opinion was turning from the triumvirate, and Pompey was openly mocked in the theatre

What did Caesar work on simultaneous to his second land commission bill?

Worked on pro-consular status

What did Caesar get tribune P. Vatinius to propose giving him?

Cisalpine Gaul and Illycrium for a five year period

Who traditionally appointed pro-consular commands?

The senate

Who broke the trend of the senate allocating pro-consular command and what did this cause?

Marius and Pompey broke the trend, allowing Caesar to also

Where was the proposal to give Caesar five year command of Cisapline Gaul and Illycrium taken to?

Put before the comitia plebis tributa

What happens when the Governor of Transapline Gaul suddenly dies?

Pompey proposes the province should also go to Caesar

Who opposes the proposals to give Caesar his five year pro-consular command?

Cato and the optimates oppose it

When does Caesar marry Calpurnia?

At the end of 59

Who is Calpurnia (Caesar’s wife) the daughter of?

L. Calpurnius Piso, consul of 58

What marriage did Caesar arrange? Was it successful?

Arranged a marriage between Julia and Pompey, which was successful despite their large age gap