key vocab

OPTIMATES 

Conservative element within the senate,  determined to secure their own dominance by maintaining the authority of the senate at all costs 

POPULARES 

Senators who used the common people to increase their power base by satisfying some of their demands. They preferred to pass law in popular assemblies rather than use the Senate 

NOBILES 

Members of families which had included at least one consul in their line. 

CURSUS HONORUM 

The ladder of the public offices, elected annually 

PATRONS 

Men of significant social standing able to offer resources (financial, legal or simply food) to his clientela in return for loyalty) 

NOVUS HOMO 

The first man in a family to hold a public office- applied particularly to the first to become consul 

SUO ANNO 

In his year 

To have held  the public office at the youngest possible age law and custom prescribed 

SCU  SENATUS CONSULTUM ULTIMUM 

Ultimate decree, A decree of the Senate passed in times of emergency, giving power to consuls to deal with a dangerous  situation  ("let the consuls see to it that the state suffer no harm") 

CONCORDIA ORDINUM 

Harmony/agreement of the orders (especially senatorial and equestrian) - Cicero's political dream/ideal 

CUI BONO? 

For whose benefit? 

Forensic question (finding out who has a motive for a crime) Cicero used in Roscius trial 

BONI 

Men considered to be ideal statesmen: well educated, traditional, patriotic and experienced enough in politics to accept responsibility for making good decisions 

CLIENTS 

Citizens who were bound by loyalty to a wealthy patron to support him in all his public interests (e.g. in elections in return for support and resources 

PATRICIANS 

Families whose ancestry could be traced to the early days of Rome, when they formed a ruling aristocratic group from whom Romulus was said to have chosen the first 100 senators 

PLEBEIANS 

Roman citizens who were not patrician. Originally a 'lower' order. 

EQUITES 

 A rank in the Roman class system which grew in wealth and status through occupations in commerce and finance 

IMPERIUM 

The power invested in a consul giving him the military command of the state army 

governor 

A senator selected from those who had previously served as praetors or consuls, responsible for the smooth running, safety and taxation of a Roman province 

praetor 

Second in authority to the consuls and presiding over the law courts in Rome 

aedile 

An optional magistracy: responsible for the provision of games and public services in Rome 

quaestor 

The first rung on the ladder of offices: responsible for the state treasury 

amicitia (pl. amicitiae)  

A system of family alliances established to consolidate and further the success of influential Romans 

tribal assembly 

The body of Roman citizens organised into the traditional thirty five 'tribes' of Rome 

centuriate assembly  

The body of Roman citizens organised into 193 voting 'centuries' 

senate 

A deliberative assembly central to the government of the Roman Republic