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Home , Conflict of the Orders, Optimates

Introduction Letter

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears: my name is Kevin Lei and I am delighted to serve as your Director for the Senate of the . Currently, I attend Port Moody Secondary as a grade 12 student in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. I have been involved with Model United Nations since ConnectMUN 2014, and am grateful to have made it a significant part of my life. In my spare time I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, and bemoaning the lack of free time that I have, but of course you have already gleaned this from my bio on the committee webpage.

If you are new to Model UN, I am honoured that the Senate of the is where you get to have your first taste of the magic. If you are very much experienced, I hope that the immersion and debate will provide everything a historical committee should and more for you. All in all, with the able assistance of my chair Michael Lau, I hope I can make the Senate a memorable experience for you, even with my complete lack of fluency in !

We look forward to welcoming you to the conference in March.

Sincerely, Kevin Lei SRE Director – CAHSMUN 2017

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 1 Committee Overview

The was a political institution in Ancient that was typically regarded to be established in the time of the Kings and survived until after the fall of the Western Empire to the so-called “barbarians”.1 The height of its powers were in the middle Republic, but its powers declined during the Late Republic (roughly 167 – 44 BCE) when Rome slowly gave way to autocracy.2 As this is a historical committee, it must be noted that the date in which the Senate will convene is January 1, 63 BCE, also known as the Year of the Consulship of and Hybrida. Without further ado, may all delegates bring honour to their family and the Senatus Populusque Romanus!

Topic II: The Rise of Militaristic Populism Overview

“There is nothing man will not attempt when great enterprises hold out the promise of great rewards.” – Livy3

Rome from its founding had complicated matters between the patricians and the .4 The patricians were a group of ruling families that were, according to family legends, descended from the first hundred senators appointed when founded the city of Rome. At the founding of the Republic, only patricians were afforded the privilege to hold political office, but after a period of time known as the (494 BCE to 287 BCE), plebeians were eventually granted much the same privileges.

After economic conditions shifted with Rome’s conquest of the east, the conflict between the different classes of Romans began to come to a head once again. The position of of the Plebs, previously fairly insignificant, began to play a huge role as they were the sole voice representing “the people” where the Senate was more concerned with expanding their own estates. Civil wars began to crop up at an alarming frequency between those who desired to shake up the status quo and those who desired to keep it going the same way. Political ambition in the upper classes became ever more ruthless. In short, Rome seemed to be falling apart at the seams.5

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Senate-Roman-history 2 Ibid. 3 https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Livy 4 http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp 5 http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6b.asp

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 2

This topic is relevant in hindsight because it directly relates to the ultimate demise of the Republic. Ultimately, the most visionary and militarily talented populare leader, Julius , was able to assume full power6, and his adoptive son was able to transform the Republic into a dynastic autocracy.7 However, at 63 BCE, the political balance could very well swing either way. The Republic might not be overturned and keep going with gradual reforms, but it could also collapse under the weight of its own imbalances. Thus, delegates should be well aware that the future of Rome and the Republic hangs in the balance, and it is putty in their paws.

Timeline8

133 BCE – becomes and introduces agrarian legislation, but is murdered by supporters of the conservative faction

123-122 BCE – Gaius Gracchus becomes Tribune of the Plebs and introduces even more ambitious reforms, but faces the same fate as his brother

104-100 BCE – Marius’s consulships take place, during which he extinguishes an invading German army and reforms the army to make it more professionalized

100 BCE – Death of Saturninus, another agrarian reformer and ally of Marius killed by conservatives

91-88 BCE – Social War, in which Rome fights against her Italian allies who wished to have the privilege of citizenship

88 BCE – During a civil war against supporters of Marius, marches on Rome, an unprecedented action at the time.

82 BCE – Sulla becomes dictator and restores the power of the Senate and reduces the power of the

71 BCE – Crassus defeats the slave rebellion of Spartacus

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6 Ibid. 7 http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6c.asp 8 http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romerepublic/a/061109RomanRepublicTimeline.htm

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 3 63 BCE – Marcus Tullius Cicero, a new man and a renowned orator, becomes Consul after a career of winning public offices at the youngest age eligible.

Historical Analysis

Populistic politics in the Roman Republic springs directly from the period immediately preceding it, during which Rome established hegemony over the entire Mediterranean basin. In succession, Rome extinguished , Macedon, and the Seleucid Empire as rival states in wars of conquest.9 This completely transformed the nature of Rome’s economy and government. The Republic was originally established as a government for a small, independent city-state; after engaging in foreign conquest, this government had to run an overseas empire. In addition, the previous balance between the patricians and the plebeians had run its course. The domination of the known world also brought back uncountable quantities of wealth to Rome, which not only made the rich even richer, but included slaves captured as prisoners of war. Slave labour fueled the patricians’ expansion of their large agrarian estates into agglomerations known as latifundia, and made the former Roman archetype of the citizen-farmer-soldier obsolete.10 Although Rome gained affluence, power, and splendour from its position as hegemon, she also gained a host of new problems to deal with.

The first wave of these populists came from the rank of the ruling class itself. The Gracchi brothers came from the esteemed Scipio-Paulus-Gracchus dynasty, who produced many of Rome’s finest conquerors.11 Thus, it was that more biting when Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus used the position of Tribune, a position representing the plebeians that can override the Senate’s legislation, to introduce radical reform proposals that would redistribute enormous land estates of the rich to the urban poor, and extend the privilege of citizenship to the rest of the Italians.12 Although these bills were ultimately rejected and both brothers assassinated13, this would presage developments in the future that would soon take their course, but not without fierce resistance from the established classes.

Although unrest and instability would continue, the next thunderbolt would not come until the 100s BCE. This period of Roman politics was dominated by the seven-time consul , who combined the populism of the Gracchi with professionalism in the army. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9 http://www.international-relations.com/History/Roman-Power.htm 10 http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rauhn/fall_of_republic.htm 11 http://www.the-romans.co.uk/gracchi.htm 12 http://www.ancient.eu/article/95/ 13 Ibid.

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 4 Fending off both Germanic invasion and African rebellion, his army became increasingly loyal to their general, rather than solely to the Roman state.14 Following this, the other cities in the Italian peninsula rebelled against Roman rule in what has been dubbed as the “Social War” due to continuously being denied the liberties of the rule of law, representation, and citizenship.15 The demands of these cities for citizenship were eventually granted after the rebellion was put down, just as Gaius Gracchus previously proposed. However, one Roman civil war would lead to another, as the victorious commanders in the Social War quickly turned on one another in disagreements and affairs of besmirched honour. Marius, the previous first among equals of the Roman state, now had a challenger in his former lieutenant Sulla, and they would face one another in myriad catastrophic Roman civil wars of general against general.16 During this conflagration, Sulla shook the Republic’s core by marching on Rome with his troops and becoming dictator for life, both actions having never been done by a Roman general before.17

The consequences of this were that to the next generation of Romans, anything was possible for victorious generals. Sulla broke all precedents to march on Rome and to fight against another general, and thus, these actions were opened up as possibilities for ambitious senators following him. Catiline, among others, would look to Sulla’s example and think that it was not so absurd to launch a coup after he failed to achieve the political summits he desires.

Current Situation

Lucius Sergius Catilina, commonly known as Catiline, was a Senator born to one of the most august families of Republican Rome, the Sergia.18 Thus, he was under considerable pressure to keep up with the other august families and reach for political heights and the consulship. He fought in the Social War and supported Sulla in his civil war against Marius. He was subpoenaed several times for crimes such as adultery with a Vestal Virgin and mismanagement of the province of Africa, but he was acquitted each time, most likely due to bribery.19

During 64 BCE, Catiline ran for the consulship on a platform of support for the urban poor and promising universal cancellation of debts, which made him popular with the common

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14 http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rauhn/fall_of_republic.htm 15 https://www.britannica.com/event/Social-War-Roman-history 16 http://www.forumromanum.org/history/morey20.html 17 Ibid. 18 http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Sallust/Bellum_Catilinae*.html 19 Ibid.

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 5 people. However, the aristocracy was frightened by the potential implementation of this populist platform, and thus a new man whose family had no consulships in their history, Marcus Tullius Cicero, was elected Consul for 63 BCE. During that year, Catiline was brought to trial again for his role in the purges that Sulla wrought during his dictatorship. Again he was acquitted, but this disgrace damaged his next campaign for the consulship, and his political prospects were doomed. Catiline still craved the heights of political power, but the potential of risking the Republic existed.20

At the end of 63 BCE, Catiline began a conspiracy to overthrow the sitting consuls, Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida.21 He attracted other senators who faced similar political problems and had to rely on illegal means to achieve their goals. In addition, he gained the support of many soldiers previously serving under Sulla, as Catiline was a partisan of his, and many of the urban poor, who were attracted to his promise of debt relief.

The conspiracy was a several-pronged assault. Catiline would send lieutenants to put together an army in Etruria (modern Tuscany) and help the conspiracy in other parts of Italy. In addition, he would also plan to commit arson and murder many senators, after which they would seize control of the government.22 On November 7, 63 BCE many of Catiline’s friends conspired to assassinate the consul Cicero, but the plan was leaked to one of Cicero’s informants, and so the assault was prevented. The next morning, Cicero would give one of his most famous speeches23 denouncing Catiline and unveiling the conspiracy. The committee will discuss the course of action immediately following Cicero’s address.

Possible Solutions

Certainly, Catiline’s conspiracy must be dealt with swiftly and in a forceful action. However, a crucial question to consider is: should Catiline’s coup be extinguished with such a priority on expediency that technically illegal and unconstitutional measures are taken? This is one of the lines in the sand in which the Senate could potentially be drawn. Some senators state that any action to overthrow the Republic must be met with immediate death or exile with no trial.24 Other senators, however, might consider this slip into unconstitutional behaviour as troubling, and might prognosticate that future would-be tyrants would use the same tactic with the

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 20 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Maccari-Cicero.jpg 21 http://www.ancient.eu/article/861/ 22 Ibid. 23 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0019:text=Catil.:speech=1:chapter=1 24 Holland, Tom. (2003) 'Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic'

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 6 argument that it had been done before in 63 BCE. Debate over short-term solutions is highly recommended and morally dubious under these conditions of the situation.

However, Catiline’s conspiracy did not come from nowhere. Many segments of the Roman population were genuinely disaffected by the status quo, and they were willing to betray the Republic to have their grievances be heard. Simply putting an iron fist down on Catiline and his men would do nothing to curb the growing divides and discontent within the people. Perhaps some of the demands of the populare faction should be granted; perhaps the Senate should give a little to prevent being forced to give a lot. However, there are many in the Senate who would claim that once they give into their demands, it was only a few short steps on the slippery slope away from mob rule and anarchy. After the become successful in attaining this concession, they would ask for another, and another, these skeptics would claim.25

These concessions essentially focus on appeasing two core demographics. The first is the urban poor. Policies that appease the urban poor include not only the universal cancellation of debts like Catiline himself suggested, but also Gaius Gracchus’s plan to subsidize the price of grain for the urban poor. Some other senators suggest going even further than that and providing a universal grain dole. The second demographic are army veterans. The veterans of Sulla, and later were in want of lands to settle and a reward for their service to the Roman state. Marius’s transition from part-time to professional armies was not exactly complete, since what would happen to the soldiers when they retire was not made abundantly clear. However, many conservatives blocked efforts to grant lands to retired soldiers, because that would require breaking up the huge latifundia. Thus, the populare faction proposed radical solutions to the issues plaguing the Republic.

Bloc Positions

Optimates The would most likely want to use the senate to seek their own interests and block the plans of the populares. But considering them solely as aristocratic leeches to the commoners may be a mistaken view. They do genuinely prioritize the sanctity of the Senatorial government and the preservation of the Republic and see the pushes of Marius and Catiline as dangerous to the foundations of the Republic. However, to this end they themselves often find themselves in the position of having to push the envelope. They had to

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 25 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Optimates-and-Populares

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 7 excuse the unlawful and unprecedented actions of the dictator Sulla, and later give Pompey extralegal powers, to combat rising populare leaders.26 During the Conspiracy of Catiline and after as well, it is ironic that the champion of optimate values was Marcus Tullius Cicero, a new man who many blue-blooded optimates might scoff at as unworthy of their respect. To this end, it is clear that the two polarizing factions in the Republic are not monolithic entities. There are some optimates that find it necessary to support a new man, but others who cannot stand this atrocity. There are some optimates that support doing things that might be illegal to prevent the populare platform from achieving success, but others who think that any unconstitutional actions are unacceptable. However, they are still a coalition with the similar goal of keeping the system of the Republic as it stands intact. How this coalition may be maintained under the constant pressure the Republic is under is for the delegates to decide.

Populares The populare platform was essentially what Catiline was running on. However, like the optimate faction they are not one monolithic entity. Some would have no idea of the conspiracy and would be disgusted at using illegal means to achieve their goals. These populaire senators would echo the optimates who believe Catiline should be condemned, but might disagree on whether executing him is the proper reaction.27 They would still continue, however, to advocate his platform, albeit in a legal manner.

However, there may be senators present who secretly are in collusion with Catiline and his plans.28 They might be secretly a voice in the Senate in his favour, or they could be funding all his efforts with their wealth. These populare senators have a choice in the committee: defend Catiline at the moment and risk their own futures, or condemn Catiline and ensure his populare plans come to fruition step by step in the future while building their own power base. The latter group, playing the long game, must be careful to not let their sympathies be exposed, lest they be accused of being partial to a treasonous black sheep.

Discussion Questions 1.! To what extent is it justified to break what is constitutionally acceptable to prosecute crimes against the state? 2.! To what extent is it wise to give a little today in reform in order not to lose everything tomorrow?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 26 Parenti, Michael. "The Assassination of : A People's History of ." The New Press, 2003. ISBN 1-56584-797-0. 27 Parenti, Michael. "The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome." The New Press, 2003. ISBN 1-56584-797-0. 28 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Optimates-and-Populares

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 8 3.! How can either bloc forge a strong enough coalition to withstand enemy challenges? 4.! How can the Republic be reformed in a way that does not require indiscriminate violence and civil war? 5.! How can the Republic integrate foreigners into its political apparatus? How much assimilation is necessary?

Works Cited Beard, M. (n.d.). SPQR: A history of ancient Rome.

Duncan, M. (n.d.). The . Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/

Duncan, M. (n.d.). 38- The Catiline Conspiracy. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/the_history_of_rome/2008/12/38-the-catiline-conspiracy-the- history-fo-rome.html

End of the Roman Republic Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/romerepublic/a/061109RomanRepublicTimeline.htm

Holland, T. (2003). Rubicon: The last years of the Roman Republic. New York: Doubleday.

LacusCurtius • - The War With Catiline. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Sallust/Bellum_Catilinae*.html

Livy. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2016, from https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Livy

No document found. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0019:text

Optimates and Populares. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Optimates-and-Populares

Parenti, M. (2003). The assassination of Julius Caesar: A people's history of ancient Rome. New York: New Press.

The History of Rome. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/

Watson, D. L. (2016, February 03). Cicero & the Catiline Conspiracy. Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.ancient.eu/article/861/

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 9 Kamm, A. (n.d.). The Romans. Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.the- romans.co.uk/gracchi.htm

Lecture 26: Fall of the RomanRepublic, 133-27 BC. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rauhn/fall_of_republic.htm

The . (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6c.asp

Julius Caesar. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6b.asp

The Roman Republic. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp

Senate. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Senate-Roman- history

CAHSMUN 2017 SRP Backgrounder 10