Origins of the Republic, 509-494 BC Flashcards
What are the two orders
Patricians - those whose brith and heritage gave them access to the political system
Plebeians - those who could not stand for a magistracy of goverment position
By when were the two orders well established
3rd century BC
Who introduced the orders according to the foundation myth
Romulus
Plebeians
Most common
Made up most of the army
Evidence points to the plebeians being organised into a large hoplite force
Some wealthier plebs may have been part of the eques class. They were given a state horse and fought alongside the cavalry
Rural plebeians
Labourers or farmers
(Livy and Dionysius): Biggest issue for them was access to land – may have been true for time of writers, but not 5th century
Urban Plebeians
Skilled workers with their shops attached to their homes
Evidence found in archaeology
Patricians
Livy and Dionysius: descended from the noblest families who settled in Romulus’ Rome
100 of the earliest patricians made up the Senate
During time of Kings, membership is fluid
Not sure how, but, some plebs became patricians
Provided the generals and administrators
Magistrate
an elected office-holder who had responsibility in the Roman state
dictator
- magistrate
- appointed for 6 months to deal with a national emergency or crisis
- in full control of the army and the government during term
- replace consuls
praetor
- Roman magistrate who supported the consuls
- usually an army commmander
consul
- one of two annually elected magistrates
- shared leadership of Rome and influenced political decisions
- Replaced kings
- protected Rome or seeked glory
- not elected in successive years
- if one disagreed with the other he could block the other’s decision
- performed auspices before battle
Why might the patrician class have been closed
When the Republic developed the patricaians, wanting to protect their power, closed it so that fewer people could become magistrates
Tarquinius Collatinus
Cousin of Tarquinius Superbus’ sons
Husband of Lucrieta
First co-consul of Brutus
What does Livy’s story of the downfall of the Roman kings start with
A drinking game
Where was the drinking game that begun the fall of the kings
The siege of Ardea
What were the royal wives doing when their husbands returned to spy on them
What was Lucrieta doing
The royal wives were drinking heavily
Lucrieta was working hard with her maids
Lucretia
Wife of Tarquinius Collatius
Father of Lucrieta
Spurius Lucretius
What did Lucrieta do before killing herself
Made her huband, father, and their companions vow revenge
Why did Lucretia submit to Sextus
To save her husband’s career
What did Brutus do after Lucretia’s death
Swore revenge, and that he would remove Tarquinius Superbus and his family from power
Tullia
Wife of Tarquinius Superbus
Junius Brutus
One of Tarquinius Priscus’ grandsons
Superbus’ Nephew
Played a fool so as to avoid his uncle’s wrath
What happened to Junius Brutus’ brother
Murdered by Tarquinius Superbus
What did the Oracle at Delphi tell Brutus and Superbus’ sons
That the first to kiss his mother would be the next king
What did Brutus translate the Oracle of Delphi’s message as
That the first to kiss the earth would be the next king
Why does Livy claim Brutus played the fool
he was very amitious
What position did Brutus hold at the time of Lucretia’s death
What did this grant him
Tribune of the celeres
Gave him control of the king’s bodyguard and the power to call an assembly
What does Brutus do after the death of Lucretia
Calls an assembly
Delivers a revolutionary speech
Outlines the crimes of Superbus and demands his immediate exile