Divisions in the Senate
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
3/6/12 What just happened?? Divisions in the Senate Were the Gracchi demagogues? Results? Land reform & grain dole = divisive poli=cal issues Redefini=on of Roman poli=cs: new self-consciousness • Op+mates: Aim to keep control of the state in - Italian allies enraged - Equites get poli=cal force hands of the senatorial elite. They see oligarchy as - People realize their power best policy. - Tribunes become the way to get things done - Senate’s weakness revealed • Populares: Aim to break up oligarchy of the senate -Realizaon that interests of individual and interests of state and focus on the voice of the People and the not necessarily the same any more assemblies. Rely on tribunes of the plebs to push reforms distasteful to senate. -End of consensus at Rome and beginning of civil violence Key points about Gaius Marius (157-86 BC) War with Jugurtha “novus homo” who would be consul 7 mes • 118: Numidian king dies 1) Rome’s con=nuing military engagements: – divides Numidia between his two sons & his illeg. - Jugurtha in Africa (112-105 BC) nephew, Jugurtha - Cimbri and Teutones in North (113-101 BC) – Jugurtha seizes power and some Romans killed To defeat threats, Gaius Marius is elected • Tribunes accuse Roman senate of corrup=on consul for five consecu=ve terms (104-100 BC) • War Declared, then paused • 111: Jugurtha visits Rome 2) Solu=on to Rome’s manpower shortage – Charges of bribery -fewer Romans meet census req. for military service – Jugurtha ready to tes=fy So Marius enlists landless men = professional soldiers – But a Tribune vetoes the charges Good soluons or new problems? – Jugurtha murders a poten=al rival – Jugurtha ordered out of Rome 1 3/6/12 Marius and the Army A city for sale • Marius = client of the Metelli • 119 tribune; 115 praetor; 109-8 legate in Numidia Sulla Marius (joins commander Metellus vs. Jugurtha) • “Ader passing through the gates of Rome, it is • Marius becomes popular among soldiers and back said that [Jugurtha] looked back at the city at Rome (double-crossing Metellus) several =mes in silence, and finally exclaimed: • 107 consul and starts trouble: ‘Yonder is a city put up for sale, and its days – gets assembly to overrule senate, giving him the are numbered if it finds a buyer.’” – Sallust command in Numidia • Who were the buyers and sellers? – Enlist proletarii into Roman army – Buyers: Marius and Sulla (for now) • 106 Jugurtha handed over – Sellers: Army, Italian allies, and Roman Senate (to L. Cornelius Sulla?) The German threat– Rome needs Marius’ army reform Marius! • conscript mili=a professional army • 113-105 Cimbri and Teutones from Northern • New tac=cal unit: cohort of 600 men Germany head into Italy (div. into 6 centuries, with 1 Centurion per century) • Defeat FoUR Roman armies in Northern Italy • 10 cohorts per legion = 6,000 men and Southern France • Standardized weapons (and new pilum) • Disaster: Arausio, 105 (Southern France) • Standardized training • Romans are terrified and so… • Carry own equip.: Marius’ mules • Silver eagle and corporate iden=ty • 104: Marius elected consul to defend Rome • Professional army = new en=ty • And relected again in 103, 102, 101, and 100!! in Roman poli=cs 2 3/6/12 Victory ag. Cimbri and Teutones L. Appuleius Saturninus: Tribune 103 BC • quaeso de maiestate 103 BC • Marius defeats Teutones at Aquae Sex=ae, 102 – Treason court: “for offenses against majesty of • Marius (and his co-consul) defeat Cimbri,, 101 Roman people” (cf. Senator McCarthy) • Huge Triumphal parade – Set up to try the generals of Cimbrian wars • 101 peak of Marius’ career, unprecedented: • Re-introduced subsidized grain - Centuriate Assembly elects him to 5 consulates in row - Tribal Assembly gives him command directly twice • Grants land to Marius’ vets from Numidia • But Nobility s=ll rejects him • Escalang violence: • Marius forced to rely on dubious poli=cal “ally” – Sets mob on a compe=tor tribune Saturninus… – Murders rival for re-elec=on to tribunate Marius teams up with Saturninus 100 BC First fall of Marius • Marius needs land for veterans • Ader 6 consulships, Marius has lost all • Saturninus (tribune again) proposes bill gran=ng: influence. Slinks off to the East. land to veterans, new colonies, and ci=zenship to • Who was Marius? some loyal allies – • Adds rider to bill (senators must swear to obey) Rus=c warrior or unprincipled poli=cian • Plebs reject and bale erupts in the forum: or both? -city mob vs. Marius’ veterans • No poli=cal program; just acceptance & glory • Law passed through force, but ominous victory • Marius’ great legacy: Professional army • Saturninus’ violence escalates – But landless, prof. army now thrust into • Senatus Consultum Ul+mum (SCU) polics 3 .