Roman Politics ( an introduction ) Throughout the History of Rome, politics had been a constant struggle between the power of the Senate (Patricians) and the Assemblies( plebeians). This was known as the Struggle of the Orders. The final century BC saw the dismantling of Senatorial power

Roman Society Government:The Senate(debates issues and puts forward proposals for laws (leges) The Assemblies(votes on the senate’s proposals and passes laws but doesn’t have the ability to make laws) The People: The nobility (Patricians) The Knights (Equites) The people (Plebians) non citizens & slaves

Artists view of Senate proceedings

Roman Government CONSULS (2): chief civil and military magistrates; invested with imperium PRAETORS (2-8): administered civil law at Rome. AEDILES (2): In charge of religious festivals, public games, temples, upkeep of city, regulation of marketplaces, grain supply. QUAESTORS (12-20): financial officers and administrative assistants (civil and military); in charge of state treasury at Rome; in field, served as quartermasters and seconds- in- command. TRIBUNES (10): charged with protection of lives and property of plebians; had power of veto (Lat. "I forbid") over elections, laws, decrees of the senate, and the acts of all other magistrates (except dictator); CENSORS (2): elected every 5 years to conduct census, enroll new citizens, review roll of senate (ex- consuls only) -- enormous prestige and influence (auctoritas).

The Equites As the previous diagram showed the equites (knights) did not have a place in the workings of government but the distinction between the Patricians and the Equites is not always apparent from historical events and needs to be clarified. As the previous diagram showed the equites (knights) did not have a place in the workings of government but the distinction between the Patricians and the Equites is not always apparent from historical events and needs to be clarified. Some patricians represented the interests of the equites while some equites were happy to maintain the status quo. Some patricians represented the interests of the equites while some equites were happy to maintain the status quo. The equites were essentially the financiers of the empire. The equites were essentially the financiers of the empire. They organised the collection of taxes and acted as bankers to the empire. They organised the collection of taxes and acted as bankers to the empire.

This sort of work was beneath the senatorial classes who gained their wealth from the ownership of land and so the two classes worked in tandem. The senators running government and controlling the land and the equites controlling the commercial side of things. This sort of work was beneath the senatorial classes who gained their wealth from the ownership of land and so the two classes worked in tandem. The senators running government and controlling the land and the equites controlling the commercial side of things. The was movement between the classes but it was very difficult for someone from the equestrian class to become a senator. The was movement between the classes but it was very difficult for someone from the equestrian class to become a senator. Those who held the rank of senator were very protective of their position of privilege and rarely extended their rank beyond those whose family were already senatorial. Those who held the rank of senator were very protective of their position of privilege and rarely extended their rank beyond those whose family were already senatorial. As with most things the equites interests were represented by senators such as M Crassus and Julius Caesar (in exchange for financial backing and political support in elections). As with most things the equites interests were represented by senators such as M Crassus and Julius Caesar (in exchange for financial backing and political support in elections).

A political career A man of senatorial rank would start their career early, possibly working in the law courts or for one of the city administrators. A man of senatorial rank would start their career early, possibly working in the law courts or for one of the city administrators. They would then go to the provinces and hold a very minor command. They would then go to the provinces and hold a very minor command. Military and political careers went hand in hand. Glory and prestige on the field of battle were essential qualities in a Roman politician. Military and political careers went hand in hand. Glory and prestige on the field of battle were essential qualities in a Roman politician. Upon returning to Rome they would stand for election to one of the smaller administrative posts such as Aedile. Upon returning to Rome they would stand for election to one of the smaller administrative posts such as Aedile. After which it would be back to the provinces but this time one could expect to hold a more influential post in command of a sizeable force. After which it would be back to the provinces but this time one could expect to hold a more influential post in command of a sizeable force.

The career would continued to jump between Rome and the provinces with each successive step requiring greater influence, prestige and ability and as such offered much stiffer competition until one reached the consulship and then went onto become a governor in the provinces. The career would continued to jump between Rome and the provinces with each successive step requiring greater influence, prestige and ability and as such offered much stiffer competition until one reached the consulship and then went onto become a governor in the provinces. All the time behind this was the idea that the senate itself controlled who got what post and when. By doing so they made sure that they all had an equal chance of holding posts and exploiting the system while also controlling anyone who got too powerful. All the time behind this was the idea that the senate itself controlled who got what post and when. By doing so they made sure that they all had an equal chance of holding posts and exploiting the system while also controlling anyone who got too powerful.

Elections It is important to know how Roman politics worked if we are to fully understand the driving force behind many of the actions taken by politicians during this period. It is important to know how Roman politics worked if we are to fully understand the driving force behind many of the actions taken by politicians during this period.. Power and Wealth were the two driving forces behind any politicians career. There was no sense that government was for the interests of the people or that there was a moral obligation to run government in the interests of the people. Power and Wealth were the two driving forces behind any politicians career. There was no sense that government was for the interests of the people or that there was a moral obligation to run government in the interests of the people.

One of the more peculiar aspects of the Roman society was the relationship between a client (clientela) and his patron (patronus). This was a complex system of interdependency by which a wealthy patron gave to his less fortunate clients one or more of the following: One of the more peculiar aspects of the Roman society was the relationship between a client (clientela) and his patron (patronus). This was a complex system of interdependency by which a wealthy patron gave to his less fortunate clients one or more of the following: legal counsel, legal aid legal counsel, legal aid their sportula (a regular monetary handout, "the dole") their sportula (a regular monetary handout, "the dole") free meals in their homes free meals in their homes other gifts and/or resources (land, livestock, right to grow crops on their land) other gifts and/or resources (land, livestock, right to grow crops on their land) and the client reciprocated by providing to the patron: and the client reciprocated by providing to the patron: respect respect political support political support an escort if their patrons wished to walk around the city or go on a journey. an escort if their patrons wished to walk around the city or go on a journey. financial support financial support other services other services

THE CLIENT PATRON SYSTEM

The higher up the scale one was the more clients you had to look after. Equally you could control the clients of your clients and their client also etc. The higher up the scale one was the more clients you had to look after. Equally you could control the clients of your clients and their client also etc. Consequently a senator who wanted to win an election would ask his clients to vote for him. They in return would ask their clients to vote for the patron and so on down the line. Consequently a senator who wanted to win an election would ask his clients to vote for him. They in return would ask their clients to vote for the patron and so on down the line. This way a senator could count on thousands of votes while only having direct contact with a manageable number of clients. This way a senator could count on thousands of votes while only having direct contact with a manageable number of clients. But the expectations of patrons were matched by the expectations of their clients and to ensure a loyal client base patrons would distribute their wealth freely. But the expectations of patrons were matched by the expectations of their clients and to ensure a loyal client base patrons would distribute their wealth freely.

The Salutatio Calling Hour Each morning, at daybreak, the patron's house would be opened for salutatio, when the patron would hold court in the atrium of his house. During this time unofficial business would be conducted, favors requested, political support lined up for votes on important issues, and each client would receive his sportula(a regular monetary handout). Each morning, at daybreak, the patron's house would be opened for salutatio, when the patron would hold court in the atrium of his house. During this time unofficial business would be conducted, favors requested, political support lined up for votes on important issues, and each client would receive his sportula(a regular monetary handout). Once the relationship was established it was maintained over generations Once the relationship was established it was maintained over generations

Consequently although the financial system was inherently unequal the client-patron system ensured that a significant amount of the empire wealth that went into the hands of the privileged few managed to find its ways down through the system, especially at election time (which, for many posts, was an annual affair). Consequently although the financial system was inherently unequal the client-patron system ensured that a significant amount of the empire wealth that went into the hands of the privileged few managed to find its ways down through the system, especially at election time (which, for many posts, was an annual affair). And it wasn’t just at election time that the client- patron system worked. When the assemblies voted on laws they had to be cajoled into voting for the laws put forward by the senators. And it wasn’t just at election time that the client- patron system worked. When the assemblies voted on laws they had to be cajoled into voting for the laws put forward by the senators. Not forgetting that these laws would always enact measures that favoured the senatorial classes. Not forgetting that these laws would always enact measures that favoured the senatorial classes. For the people to vote for these laws there had to be something in it for the people. For the people to vote for these laws there had to be something in it for the people.

Roman Values know what these are and use them Mos Maiorum Mos Maiorum Gratia Gratia Amicitae Amicitae Nobilitas Nobilitas Dignitas Dignitas Gravitas Gravitas Fides Fides Pietas Pietas Find the meanings of these terms. Find the meanings of these terms. READ ROMAN PATHS TO POWER. There will be a test on it next week