The Promotion of a Political Concept in the Late Roman Republic
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CICERO'SCONCORDIA: THE PROMOTION OF A POLITICAL CONCEPT IN THE LATE ROMAN REPUBLIC Mark A. Temelini Department of History Classics Program McGill University, Montreal January 2002 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the degree of Doctor of Philosophy inClassics. © Mark A. Temelini 2002 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1 A ON4 canada canada Our file Notre rëIé_ The author bas granted a non L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library ofCanada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sen reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies ofthis thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership ofthe L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts frOID it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son penmsslOn. autorisation. 0-612-78783-4 Canada Abstract The aim of this dissertation is to explain the meaning of concordia by surveying the historical context in which it emerged. The thesis concentrates on the period 63-43 B.C. because it is in this crucial period that the concept achieves its most articulate and influential defence by the Roman orator, statesman, and philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero. My intention is to review the important writings and speeches of Cicero and to situate them in the political struggles in which he was implicated. By placing the concept of concordia in this political context, a clearer picture emerges than is available in the current literature about how Cicero promoted, defended, and skillfully redefined the concept of concordia in order to achieve his political aims. What emerges are three identifiable meanings of the concept of concordia. The first is the longstanding conventional Roman republican idea of concordia as unity, friendship, and agreement. The second is what Cicero called the concordia ordinum, an innovative idea of concordia as a harmony or coalition of the two Roman orders of the senate and equites. The third is the idea of concordia as a consensus omnzum bonorum - what Cicero called concordia civium or concordia civitatis. This idea represents an important shift in the thinking of the Roman orator who began to see the survival of the republic as depending on a consensus that went beyond the coalition of the senate and equites. ii Résumé Le but de cette étude est d'expliquer la signification de concordia à travers un examen attentif du cadre historique dans lequel le mot surgit. Cette thèse se concentre sur la période entre 63 et 43 av. J.-C. car il est precisément dans ces vingt ans que le concept est articulé et defendu de la façon la plus complète et influente par l'orateur romain Marcus Tullius Cicero. Mon intention est de passer en revue les plus importants écrits et discours de Cicéron et de les situer dans le contexte des luttes politiques dans lesquelles il était impliqué. En situant le concept de concordia dans son contexte politique, on obtient une image plus claire que dans les écrits existants qui analysent comment Cicéron a promû, défendu et habilement affiné la notion de concordia pour parvenir à ses fins politiques. L'analyse relève trois sens du concept de concordia. Le premier dérive de l'idée de concordia comme unité, amitié et accord, idée ancienne et conventionelle dans la Rome républicaine. Le deuxième sens est une innovation de Cicéron qui développe l'idée de concordia ordinum pour définir l'harmonie ou la coalition des deux premiers ordres politiques dans la Rome républicaine: le sénat et les equites. Le troisième sens est l'idée de concordia comme consensus omnium bonorum ce que Cicéron appelle concordia civium ou concordia civitatis et qui représente une évolution importante dans la pensée de l'orateur romain. Cicéron désormais considère que la survie de la république dépend d'un consensus qui dépasse l'accord du sénat et des equites. iii Acknowledgements 1 wish to thank. Professor T. Wade Richardson for his supervision and advice. 1 am particularly grateful to Eugenio Bolongaro for editing and proofreading the manuscript and for providing insightful comments. A note of appreciation also goes to Mauro Lo Dico for his kind research assistance. Many special thanks to my brother Michael for his invaluable comments and profitable discussions and to my brother Leonard for ,always showing an interest in my field of study with his inquiries. Lowe everything to my parents Dr. Walter Temelini and tMrs. Louise Temelini who have always inspired and encouraged me and helped me to learn. This dissertation is dedicated to them. Above aU, 1 am deeplyindebted to my wife Vita who has endured much and has stood by me from the very beginning of my academic adventures with continuous and unceasing support. This dissertation is also dedicated to her and to my daughter Sofia who has made it aU worth while. iv Contents Abstract ii Résumé iii Acknowledgements i v Chronology vi Introduction 1 1. Consul Popularis, 63 9 i. Towards a Political Policy 9 ii. Concordia and the Failure of the Rogatio Servilia Agraria 17 iii. Asserting a State of Concordia 29 iv. Concordia Ordinum against Catiline 32 2. The Fragility and Failure of Concordia Ordinum,62-58 49 i. Rex Peregrinus 50 ü. Clodius and the Courts 57 iii. Pompey's Return 59 iv. The Publicani and the Asiatic Tax Contract 63 v. Isolation, Betrayal, and Exile 66 3. Concordia and Consensus in tota Italia,57-50 81 i. The Post-exile Speeches 83 Ïi. An Appeal for a Dedication to the Goddess Concordia 89 iÏi. Consensus Omnium Bonorum 95 iv. Otium cum Dignitate 105 v. The Definitive Break-up of Triumviral Concordia 118 4. Harmony in Crisis, 49-43 125 i. Demetrius' Book De Concordia 125 Ïi. Societas Humanitatis 139 . iÏi. Quae fuit Oratio de Concordia! 147 iv. Armies Unite to Secure Harmony for the Republic 157 Conclusion 160 Bibliography 163 Index Locorum 174 v Chronology 106 Cicero barn, Arpinum, January 3. 102 Brother Quintus born. 89 Cicero serves under Pompey's father in the Social War. 88 Civil war.Marius Hees from Sulla. 87 Sulla's eastern campaigns (to 83). Marius returns ta Rome. 86 Marius dies. 85 (or earlier) De Inventione Rhetorica. 83 (early) Sulla returns from east; revives civil war against Marians. 82 Proscriptions begin. Sulla becomes dictator legibus jaciendis reipublicae constituendae. 81 Proscriptions end. Senatorial role is restored and strengthened. Pro Quinctio (judge and committee of assessors).t 80 Pro Sexto Roscio Amerino (jury of senators). (?) Marriage to Terentia. 79-77 Cicero travels to Athens, Asia Minor, and Rhodes. 79 Daughter Tullia born. 78 Sulla dies. 77 Cicero returns to Rome. Civil war: Lepidus is killed; his supporters flee to Spain. 76 Pompey's Spanish campaign against Roman general Sertorius (to 71). Pro Quinto Roscio Comoedo (judge and committee of assessors). 75 Cicero embarks on a senatorial career: quaestor at Lilybaeum in Sicily. 73-71 Spartacus: revolt of gladiators and slaves, crushed 1:y Crassus andPompey. 71 Pro Tullio (board of recuperatores). 70 Pompey and Crassus consuls. Divinatio in Caecilium (jury of senators). In Verrem (part 1, jury of senators; part 2, 5 speeches as if to jury of senators - not delivered). Jury reformed by lex Aurelia iudiciaria. 69 Cicero aedile. Pro Fonteio (jury of senators and equites). Pro Caecina (board of recuperatores). 1 For speeches, the audience or setting is noted. vi 68 Father dies. Earliest Epistulae ad Atticum. 66 Cicero praetor. De Imperia Cn. Pompei (public meeting). Pro Cluentio (jury of senators and equites). 65 Son Marcus born. Pro Cornelio (jury of senators and equites). 64 In Senatu in Toga Candida (senate). Brother Quintus publishes Commentariolum Petitionis. 63 Cicero consul. De Lege Agraria (speech 1, senate; speeches 2 and 3, public meetings). Pro Rabirio Perduellionis Rea (popular assembly). In Catilinam (speech l, senate, intemple of Jupiter Stator; speeches 2 and 3, public meetings; speech 4, senate, in temple of Concordia). Pro Murena Gury of senators and equites). 62 Pro Sulla (jury of senators and equites). Pro Archia Gury of senators and equites). Earliest Epistulae ad Familiares. 61 Pompey retums from eastem campaigns. P. Clodius tried for sacrilege (acquitted); Cicero is a hostile witness. 60 Meeting of first triumvirate (without legal sanction). 59 Caesar consul. Pro Flacco (jury of senators and equites). Earliest Epistulae ad Quintum Fratrem. 58 mid-March: Clodius drives Cicero out of Rome and into exile. 57 August 4: recalled from exile. September 4: triumphant return to Rome. Post Reditum in Senatu (senate). Post Reditum ad Quirites (public meeting). De Domo Sua (college of pontiffs [senators]). 56 Conference of triumvirs at Luca. Pro Sestio Gury of senators and equites). In Vatinium (jury of senators andequites). Pro Caelio (jury of senators and equites). De Haruspicum Responso (senate). De Provinciis Consularibus (senate). Pro Balbo (jury of senators and equites). 55 Pompey and Crassus consuls II. In Pisonem (senate). vii 54 Pro Plancio (jury of senators and equites). Pro Scauro (jury of senators and equites). Pro Rabirio Postumo (jury of senators and equites). 53 Crassus defeated and killed by Parthians at Carrhae. Cicero elected augur. 52 Pompey consul III (without a colleague until August). Clodius murdered.