Ancient History - Rome - Clodius Era

Who did Caesar choose to be a tribune to act in his interest?

P. Clodius Pulcher, a young aristocrat

What scandal was Clodius previously a subject of?

The Bona Dea Scandal of 62

Because of the Bona Dea Scandal, what was Clodius’ only option to gain political clout?

To be a tribune

How did Clodius get around the law against patricians being tribunes?

He attempted to gain adoption into a Plebeian family

Why did Caesar help Clodius gain his adoption into a plebeian family?

He was infuriated by Cicero’s attacks on the triumvirate in court

Why was Clodius not necessarily in Caesar’s pocket entirely?

He had his own personal ambitions

What does Cicero tell us about the Vettius Affair in ad atticum?

There was rumour of a plot to kill Pompey

Who might have orchestrated the Vettius Affair and why?

Might have been orchestrated by Caesar in order to keep Pompey on his side

What was the Bona Dea Scandal of 62?

Clodius infiltrated a female only festival at Caesar’s house

What was one rumour as to why Clodius infiltrated the female festival at Caesar’s house?

That he was having an affair with Caesar’s wife

Who blew the Bona Dea Scandal out of proportion?

Clodius’ enemies, such as Lucullus, a victim of Clodius fermenting mutiny in Asia against him

How did Cicero provoke Clodius during the Bona Dea Scandal?

He testified against him at his trial for sacrilege

What were Cicero and Clodius before the Bona Dea Scandal?

They were friends, and Clodius supported him during the Catiline affair

Where did Clodius claim he was during the festival and what did Cicero testify?

Clodius claimed he was out of town, but Cicero testified that he’d seen him in Rome

Who supported Clodius at his trial for sacrilege, and how?

Crassus used bribery to gain his acquittal, despite his clear guilt

What did the Bona Dea Scandal of 62 mark the end of?

Clodius’ rise through the cursus honorum

As tribune, what could Clodius do and what was he looking to establish?

Could bring bills directly to the people, and was looking to establish popularis credentials

What did Clodius quickly do after being appointed as tribune?

Passed several laws, two of which directly impacted the plebs urbana, since their number and importance had grown in recent years

What does Sallust say about the young male plebs in Catiline Conspiracy?

had come to prefer idleness… to their hateful toil

Was Sallust exaggerating when he claimed the young plebeian men had become idle?

Yes, but the community reliant on hand-outs had grown

What deal did Clodius have with the plebs urbana?

Hand outs in exchange for political support

What about the plebs urbana was important to politicians?

They were able to swing votes in the comitia plebis tributa

What were the laws Clodius introduced that directly impacted the plebs urbana?

Made the corn dole free and funded by the senate, increasing the number of recipients to 320,000

What does it mean that Clodius reintroduced the collegia?

He gained street gangs to support his will

What rose up when Clodius reintroduced the collegia?

Opposition street gangs rose up, the most prominent headed by T. Annius Milo and P. Sestius

Whose money backed the street gangs headed by T. Annius Milo and P. Sestius?

Pompey’s money

Who attacked Cicero immediately after the Catiline affair and why?

Tribune Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos determined he had acted outside of the law by executing the conspirators without trial

Why was Clodius after Cicero? What law did he introduce?

Due to the Bona Dea Scandal, and introduced a law opposing those who had executed Roman citizens without trial

How did Cicero react to Clodius’ law opposing those who executed Roman citizens without trial?

He wore mourning clothes

What happened to Cicero when he decided to wear mourning clothes because he’s an evil git who uses too many long ass verbs in his speeches

Clodius’ gang attacked him verbally and physically

Where might Cicero have expected support from during the Clodius affair?

The consuls of 58, Calpurnius Piso and A. Gabinius

Why did the consuls of 58 not support Cicero during the Clodius affair?

Caesar had bought their support by arranging lucrative pro-consular commands for them

Why did nobody want to support Cicero against Clodius?

Clodius was an aristocrat

Are any attempts to save Cicero from exile successful?

No, he leaves Rome and returns in late 57

What happens on the 3rd November 57BC?

Clodius’ men attack workmen at Cicero’s house

Why were there workmen at Cicero’s house?

They were rebuilding it, because Clodius had knocked it down in his absence

What does Cicero say in ad atticum about how Clodius’ followers reacted to his violence?

orgy of wrecking, arson and loot, his followers have left him

What does an unrepentant Clodius stand for?

Aedileship of 56

Who turns up at the start of the election for the aedileship of 56? What does he do?

Tribune Mile of 57, who declares the auspices are bad and has the election delayed

How was Consul Metellus Nopos related to Clodius? How did he react to the delay in the election for the aedileship of 56?

Related through marriage, and was annoyed about the delay

What two things was Cicero hopeful Milo would do to Clodius?

Would bring Clodius to trial on charge of violence or that they’d clash and Milo would kill him

What was Cicero unconcerned about?

His own supporters using violence

How did Clodius avoid any prosecution for violence?

He was elected aedile for 56

What did Clodius do on the 2nd February 56?

Prosecuted Milo for violence

Who defended Milo against Clodius’ prosecution of violence?

Cicero and Pompey

What was the outcome of Milo’s prosecution of violence?

Trial descended into rioting

What does Cicero say in ad quintium that the Clodians began to do at Milo’s trial?

at 2.15, the Clodians started spitting at us as if on cue

What does Cicero say in ad quintium happened to Clodius at Milo’s trial?

Clodius was hurled from the rostra

What did Cicero rejoice in Pompey doing at Milo’s trial?

Pompey brought in men to oppose Clodius’ gang

Why was Milo’s trial eventually shelved?

It kept being repeatedly interrupted

What was Caesar’s consulship becoming by 56BC?

A memory of a little ripple of change amidst the established order

By 56, what was the consulship doing once more?

Preserving families of optimate hegemony

How did Cicero attempt to dismantle Caesar’s land laws in the senate in 56? What did this suggest?

By actively attacking Caesar and the triumvirate, perhaps suggesting that the laws were not fully enacted at this point

What did Cicero wish to do to Pompey in 56?

Prise him away from the amicitia

Who was L. Domitius Ahenobarus and what did he have?

Incredibly rich optimate with many clients in Gaul

What was Ahenobarus attempting to get replaced?

Caesar’s command in Gaul

What did Caesar and Crassus want to keep Pompey on their side despite in 56?

Despite the mauling he received from Clodius and, discreetly, Crassus

Why did the reassertion of the triumvirate make sense to Pompey in 56?

He had few friends in the optimate quarter

Where did Pompey travel to in 56? Why?

To Luca in Cisalpine Gaul to mee with Caesar after Caesar and Crassus met in Ravenna

What did Pompey give Cicero on return from his meeting in Luca in 56?

A stern warning to leave Caesar’s land laws alone

What do the sources say about the meeting in Luca?

Many senators travelled to meet with the triumvirs

What decision was made at Luca for Pompey to recieve?

A five year pro consular imperium in Spain

Who were agreed to be the consuls of 55 at Luca?

Pompey and Crassus

What was agreed to be given to Crassus at the meeting in Luca?

A five year pro consular imperium in Syria and an expected military victory against the Parthians

What was agreed about Caesar’s imperium at the meeting in Luca?

His imperium was to be extended for a further five years

What happened after news of the two triumvirs standing for consulship of 55 broke out?

Only Ahenobarus stood, with Cato’s support

What position was Cato standing for in 55?

Praetor

How did Crassus organise further civic unrest during the elections of 55?

Through a tribune named C. Cato and Clodius, adding to the intimidating atmosphere