Senate Flashcards
What did the emperor do that undermined the law
The emperor’s absorption of all judicial functions had opened up extensive opportunities for illicit gain
what was the most easily purchased thing
The most readily purchasable commodity on the market was an advocate’s treachery
treachery Suillius
A knight payed Suillius 400,000 sesterces and then found out he was in collusion with the other side, fell on his sword at Suillius’ house
enforcement of the Cincian Law
Senators led by the consul designate Gaius Silius (same one that marries Messalina) demanded enforcement of the ancient Cincian law forbidding the acceptance of money for legal services. Silius violently assailed Suillius (whom he hated)
Silius’ speech
recalled the ancient orators who had wanted no rewards for their eloquence except fame so as not to degrade their eloquence.
the first and finest of talents is defiled by mercenary hire
feuds, charges, malevolence, and slander are encouraged
Applauded
A motion was prepared that would inculpating offenders under the extortion law
Wha did the offenders do
Realising that this meant punishment they flocked round Claudius:
Other senators earn a living by other means. Either they had lots of money from wars and some received huge fees for speeches. In a peaceful state we only seek peace-time incomes.
Remove a professions incentives, and the profession perishes
Claudius’ verdict to the cincian law
Claudius saw some point in the arguments and established a maximum fee of 10,000 sesterces
a possible murderer
A knight was wearing a sword at the emperor’s morning reception. Tortured he did not deny his guilt.
putting the position of quaestor’s up for auction
Dolabella proposed that an annual gladiatorial display should be defrayed by the quaestors. History of the office of quaestor over the years, alterations, how it had been a position reward for merit.
Before this proposal quaestorships had been depended on merit and popularity and not on payment.
This proposal virtually put the position up for auction.
New men in the senate
Chief men of Northern and Central Gaul, citizens of a rome, claimed the right to hold office in the Capital .
arguments against the new senators
arguments were that in the past it was romans only, the government of those days is a glorious memory. Leave no careers from our own aristocracy. Their ancestors killed our men
Claudius’ response to the new senators
Claudius contradicted them on the spot. Many notable families came from different places. Some of our Kings were foreign. Romulus turned whole enemy people’s into Romans.
-the senate approved
Claudius’ support of the senate
Claudius elevated senators of particularly long standing and illustrious birth to patrician rank
This action was welcomed as beneficial, the censor enjoyed performing it.
expulsion of bad senators
Was unsure how to expel notorious bad characters from the senate, used a lenient method, advised individuals to renounce senatorial rank. Those ex-pulsed and those who resigned were put on one sheet so the humiliation of those forced was mitigated.
What was he to be called for the changes in the senate
proposed to call Claudius Father of the Senate, he vetoed it s being too flattering.
