In-depth notes on The Career Ladder at Rome

Chapter 3: The Career Ladder at Rome

3.1 Introduction

  • Competition for Office
    • The senatorial cursus consists of a succession of posts, akin to a conveyor belt, suggesting guaranteed promotion. However, there was actual competition for office.
    • Not all candidates were successful; variations led to electoral contests, even with a limited number of candidates.
    • Quaestorship: Initial hurdles show competition; the number of quaestors matched vigintiviri (20), but not all vigintiviri became quaestors.
    • Approximately 20% of vigintiviri did not become quaestors, indicating competition for this position, which granted Senate membership.
    • Patricians filled approximately 3 positions yearly, allowing for 17 plebeians.

3.1.2 A Special Case: The Candidati

  • Some senators were designated as candidati by the Emperor for tribunate, aedileship, or praetorship.
    • Although this practice dates back to the Principate, it was rarely mentioned in inscriptions before Trajan.
    • Being a candidatus provided a social advantage but had minimal impact career-wise.
    • Legates of candidates often served in prestigious provinces.

3.1.3 Two Ornamental Posts

  • Sevir equitum Romanorum and praefectus urbi feriarum Latinarum: Junior honorific roles.
    • Seviri led equestrians in parades. A few holders were priests or candidati.
    • These posts typically did not significantly impact the primary senatorial career.

3.1.4 Financial Hurdles

  • The senatorial class was economically elite, but the financial demands of a standard career were substantial.
    • Fronto's Comment: Despite modest means, Gavius Clarus managed to fulfill aedile and praetor responsibilities through a grant from Antoninus Pius.
    • Trajan provided financial aid for praetorian games, showcasing the financial burdens of senatorial duties.
    • Political responsibilities such as games led to financial strain and future reluctance to accept office positions.

3.2 The Cursus Posts

3.2.1 The Quaestorship
  • 500 quaestors recorded over 25 year-cohorts.
  • Different categories emerged in career paths, but not all quaestors were identified, particularly consular quaestors.
  • Social Score Analysis: Quaestors of the Emperor had higher scores (5.5) than their urban and provincial counterparts (3.5).
3.2.2 Tribunes and Aediles
  • Internal hierarchies existed; curule aediles matched the social score of tribunes but indicated a preference for the tribunate in the Principate.
  • Aediles had limited representation in recorded careers.
3.2.3 Praetors
  • Named praetorships demonstrated internal hierarchies; social privilege was indicated by comparative scores of praetors.
3.2.4 The Career Impact of Praetorian Posts
  • Accumulating praetorian posts improved long-term career prospects.
  • The first posts were critical for increased chances of consulship, with varied impacts on social and career scores.
3.2.5 Access to the Consulship
  • Hierarchical access influenced the likelihood of becoming consul; higher ranks significantly outperformed lower ranks in achieving consular roles.
3.2.6 Consular Curatorships
  • Curatorial posts held after consulship were prestigious but limited.
  • Responsibilities focused on public works and aqueduct management, although considered somewhat honorific.

3.3 Conclusion: The Stay-at-Home Career

  • Careers based exclusively in Rome were rare due to governmental demands for external service, with patricians still opting for various external roles.
  • Rome-Based Careers: High social scores were linked to limited access to prestigious posts compared to those with external roles.
  • Quaeستors of the Emperor: Strong representation in Rome but limited in accessing higher curatorial posts.