Citizenship in Ancient Rome was valued not only for the rights and social status it provided, but also for the sense of patriotism and honor it instilled in the Roman people.
The gravity of citizenship allowed the Roman Empire’s multitudinous regions to become vastly and impossibly connected by a sense of pride for one Italian city. Citizenship was a commodity valuable enough for soldiers such as Mucius Scaevola to give their right hands for, as well as for plebeians to secede and fight for with their lives. Citizens felt an unbreakable bond between themselves and their nation; they were dedicated to representing and defending Rome at any cost. It was this strong sense of identity that united so many people and created such a dominant empire. Roman citizenship was one of the most prized possessions a European inhabitant could have, bearing the magnitude of rights, ranking, honor, and a powerful sense of Roman identity.
Although some Roman people were born into citizenship, the rest of the population yearned for such rights and status, and took whatever action they could to become true, legal members of Roman society. Citizenship included suffrage, the right to run for and occupy office, the right to not be tortured, crucified, or be sentenced to death unless found guilty of treason, the right to marry, to hold property, and to have a trial, as well as various “public” and “private” prerogatives. Romans born into a noble family inherited citizenship and social status; they made up the patrician class, while the lower plebeian class was made up of free non-citizens. Slaves, of course, were not granted citizenship, but in rare cases earned it after being freed. Serving in the military for twenty-five years was a common way to become a citizen, however some people were able to pay for their rights at a rather exorbitant price without any great service to Rome. The elite classes in foreign regions under Roman rule were usually granted citizenship, often in return for farmland, religious conversion, and taxation. The predominant objective of non-citizens was not only to gain citizenship, but also to prove themselves as legitimate members of society through demonstrating their virtus, the merit of a Roman man. Romans were supposed to be virtuous and fight unforgivingly, but also to act without maliciousness and barbarity. In all aspects of society, the position of a person was determined by citizenship, which the Romans made an object of collective pride and honor out of the desire to prove their worth and loyalty to their country.
While some plebeians were able to work or serve in the army in an attempt to gain citizenship, their social conditions as a class without it drove them to secede three separate times before attaining the rights they so desired. Many of the plebeians served in the military and lost possession of their property during times of war, thus having to borrow money from the patricians and enter a cycle of debt and poverty. This pushed the plebeians to fight for the rights they deserved as lifetime inhabitants who fought bravely for Rome. The first secession began when the plebeians abandoned patrician military leaders and marched to the Sacred Mount independently, no longer pledging fidelity to their generals. There, they resolved to form their own city unless their demands were met.
The patricians were forced to comply because of their need for soldiers, and allowed the plebeians property, marriage, and suffrage rights. Debts were settled, and those in prison due to debt were liberated. Even with these various improvements, the plebeians lacked full citizenship rights. Although the patricians preached equality, they still presided tyrannically over the plebeians, who were seen as subordinate due to their lack of citizenship. The coveted title of a Roman citizen was not something that the patricians
2 were eager to grant to the lower classes, and they used their authority rather abusively.
The final plebeian succession occurred in 297 BCE, this time supported by many citizens, who elected Valerius and Horatius as consuls, both of whom were favorable to the plebeians. As a result, people of all classes were inspired to fight for their identity as
Romans and eager to serve their country as citizens. The desire for citizenship and
Roman identity gave rise to the union of diverse peoples under one powerful nation, all with a sense of dignity and common love of their country.
Roman citizens were more than willing to give their lives in service to their country, and were all connected by the goal of success for the empire. One of the more legendary examples of this patriotism is the story of Gaius Mucius Scaevola. In the sixth century BCE, Mucius volunteered to kill Lars Porsena, an Etruscan king who planned to conquer Rome. He is said to have mistaken Porsena’s scribe for the king himself and assassinated him. Mucius was then captured and brought before the king, where he declared himself a Roman citizen, saying that he was one of over 300 just like himself who were devoted to killing the king. As a testament to his words, Mucius put his right hand into the fire burning on a nearby altar, letting the fire completely devour it. Porsena was moved by Mucius’s act of audacity and heroism so much so that he freed Mucius and made peace with Rome. Mucius Scaevola’s act of extreme bravery epitomized the power of citizenship, and inspired a feeling of patriotism in Romans of all classes. Another renowned Roman citizen was Cincinnatus, who was appointed dictator for six months in an effort to defeat the Aequi. However, he completed this endeavor in a mere sixteen days and promptly gave up his title to return to his farm. Cincinnatus acted honorably and was a patron for political fairness; he was more concerned about the power and well-
3 being of Rome than himself. Mucius Scaevola and Cincinnatus are prime examples of citizens who dedicated themselves to the amelioration of Rome. While they did not have to fight for citizenship, they took their status sincerely and acted with honor and pride for
Rome throughout their lives, behaving accordingly to their identity as Roman citizens.
Contrary to some of the attitudes of the modern day, Roman citizenship was never taken for granted, and those who were lucky enough to possess it acted heroically and patriotically for their empire. The lower classes of Rome, especially the plebeians were desperate to acquire full citizenship, and were willing to secede on three separate occasions in order to do so; rarely in history has citizenship held so much value. Like the plebeians who fought for Roman identity, the patricians took great pride in their position as citizens and refused no endeavor out of dedication to their country. Citizens such as
Mucius Scaevola and Cincinnatus took heroic actions out of the honor they knew was part of being Roman. All Romans were united under this common sense of fidelity, and stopped at nothing to ensure the security and triumph of the empire. The combination of social pressures, plebeian secession, and heroic action in Rome created a general atmosphere of strong camaraderie between all citizens, who were united to create one of the most powerful empires in history.
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Works Cited
Coskun, Altay. “How Generous Were the Romans in Granting Citizenship?”
University of Waterloo. Web. Feb. 2014.
Crystal, Ellie. “Ancient Rome.” Crystal Links. October 2012. Web. Feb. 2014.
“Gaius Mucius Scaevola.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 19 Sept. 2008. Web. Feb. 2014.
Gill, N.S. “Conflict of the Orders Patrician and Plebeian.” About.com 2014. Feb. 2014.
Gill, N.S. “Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus.” About.com 2014. Feb. 2014.
“Illustrated History of the Roman Empire.” Roman Empire. Web. Feb. 2014.
Morey, William C. “Outlines of Roman History.” Forum Romanum. Web. Feb. 2014.
“The Roman Empire and its Citizens.” About Roma. Web. Feb. 2014.
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