Political Culture of the Roman Republic

The early challenges faced by Rome were tied to the political dynamics between the patricians (aristocrats) and plebeians (commoners).
If not for the calming influence of the monarchy before Tarquin, the young republic might have succumbed to internal strife.
The key to Rome’s liberty was the limitation of the consuls' power to a single year, which prevented the consolidation of power seen in kings.

The consuls inherited most of the kings' powers except for the following:
- They shared only a single bundle of rods called fasces, symbolizing authority and the ability to punish.
Brutus, the first consul, established a commitment to liberty by swearing an oath with the populace to reject any king.
To strengthen the Senate, Brutus increased its membership to 300 to combat the decline caused by Tarquin’s tyranny, reaffirming the role of both patricians and newly elected conscript senatorial members (patres et conscripti).

The theme of concord is crucial within Livy’s narrative of early Rome, particularly regarding the political division between the patricians and plebeians.
The Plebian Assembly (Concilium Plebis) and the office of Tribune of the Plebs were pivotal developments aiming to create balance in power:
- Tribunes presided over the Plebian Assembly, where patricians were not permitted.
- The Tribal Assembly, a modification, allowed patricians to participate and was convened by consuls or praetors.

Internal discord peaked due to plebeian grievances over debt leading to servitude and imprisonment by creditors under oppressive conditions.
Despite military contributions abroad, plebeians found themselves enslaved at home, leading to discontent and conflict.
An old veteran, embodying the plight of the common soldiers, dramatically illustrated the plight of the lower class, inciting public uproar in the Forum.
- He recounted how wartime destruction led to crippling debt, ultimately resulting in his imprisonment. His pleas resonated throughout Rome, rallying citizens to stand against the inequities.

Following the veteran's outcry, discontent spread, and plebeians demanded recognition from the Senate, surrounding the Senate House and threatening violence.
Despite a pressing war, senators focused momentarily on internal issues, inciting public anger.
The Senate, in response to threats of rebellion and following the departure of the consuls, hired a temporary dictator, Manlius Valerius, to address the crisis. Valerius pledged to resolve the debt matter after the war but soon resigned in disillusionment after the Senate rejected his proposals.
In Valerius's absence, plebeians feared a return to oppression and began to conspire, leading to their gathering on the Sacred Mount to demand rights and representation.

To restore peace, Menenius Agrippa, a plebeian-oriented diplomat, proposed a fable illustrating the necessity of collaboration between the patricians and plebeians:
- He likened the body to the state, where each part must work together for health, conveying that the stomach's role in nourishing the body was analogous to the need for cooperation between the social classes.
This method encouraged dialogue and led to a compromise solution:
- Establishment of the tribunes of the plebs with inviolable privileges (sacrosanctitas) which protected their office from legal harm and oppression.
- Gaius Licinius and Lucius Albinus were selected as the first tribunes, marking the beginning of formal plebeian representation in government.

The Romans maintained a strong orientation toward public affairs, prioritizing communal over private interests:
- The principle salus populi suprema lex, meaning 'The safety of the people is the supreme law', underscored this philosophy.
The state’s survival and its relationship with divine entities (pax deorum) emphasized public ritual over personal religious practices.
Emphasis on virtus (virtue), success in military, political, and legal spheres, was a deeply embedded aspect of Roman identity. Roman citizens were expected to seek personal fame and gloria, which contributed to the societal framework of values in the Republic.