By
Sampson I.M Onwuka
Julius Caesar
“If a man were called upon to fix the period in the history
of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and
prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the
death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus.” Edward Gibbons.
Rome – by the description of Edward Gibbons was the Apex of
expansion during the age of the two Antonine. This period is perhaps between
Nerva and Pius Antonius and Hadrian finally forged the strategy for the empire
and its military tactics.
Social Stratification rested on several principal categories
which can be understood by George Dumezil trifunctional society that, (1) Priestly
and Judicial class – headed by Pontiff (2) Warrior – the General, military, the
adjutants and tax collectors, (3) Production Class - Servi and the Plebs, many
of whom are working and some of whom are middle class men and women.
The historian’s description of the ‘best people’ politicians
called optimate proved an object
dissent, Assembly Grand Continuum and military assembly (Comitia centuriata). The Republic was constituted for the interest
of Rome – particularly the poor among whom where the Plebs and proletariat who
were raked into Roman territory following the displaced issues of their land.
People whose land was disposed due to war, were re-arranged
by the Senate and Tribune, a practice which gained official status during
Scipio Aemilianus whose account of C. Flaminius struggle with the Senate to
have portions if not all of the lands of the defeated opponents transferred to
Rome and distributed among the Senate, elder families and War Veteran.
Writing a dispatch in 232 B.C, “the Romans divided among
their citizens the territory in Gaul known as Picenum, from which they had
ejected the Senones whom they conquered them.”
That “C. Flaminius was the originator of this popular policy which must
pronounce to have been one may say, the step in the demoralization of the
populace.”
The citation is derived from Polybius whose argument on the
arrangement of Rome concerning the issue of land and attempt at Gracchi reforms
cites the issues of three tie Roman society Alvin Bernstein (78) mentions that
the problems of Greek East and that Cheilon who lost an office to Lycurghas
through the ephor was determined to push through land reform which some
considered a threat to the Spartan oligarchy.
The Land reform fetched Cheilon
unexpected popularity among the public and the exception of his energy fetched him attention he didn't expect and it was considered public policy parallel
to Cleomenes.
It seem that Saturninius died in 100 B.C and the general assembly
(Comitia tribute) had to resort to the use of military force which was only
temporary in Rome – until Gaius Marius who brought permanent military troops
into Rome under the administrative role of Sulla.
The virtue which Rome enjoyed later was a product of
realistic thinking and experience, they pursued a lifestyle that has several divine versions, and especially the fate
of many Roman was to die in Combat.
They hat they enjoyed from war – mostly
from war and from experience with combined practical experience especially the
nature of violence and virtues of other forms was enhance by their involvement
in the East of Africa and by Easterners who lived in Rome and who supported
them.
Rome believed in gifts of divinity, in pure military power and a vision of Rome
which the world was not ready to accept. They believed the existence of the
gods was central to their existence, especially in Apollo and Jupiter who ruled
the gates of Rome and who in human and spiritual form intervenes for Rome when
provoked.
That these forces like Aphrodite and the goddess of war exhibited
their presence every so often.
“Our hearts you see
not; they are pitiful; and pity to the general wrong of Rome” - Julius
Caesar Act III Scene I
The Chief duty of all Roman in the protection of fellow Citizens,
who were either employed or unemployed,
especially those who helped or who considered men and women without property
who they called the plebs, and Proletarii (proletarian).
To rise in Rome and in Italy, one was required to perform
fits of military deeds. This was so important or proved important given the
principal reason of politics and policy which inveighed against military
intervention.
That it could be said that
Julius Caesars earliest reports from Europe was nothing compared to the wealth
of information that propelled him to the top, vitiated by his victory during
civil war in Rome.
It was only a
question of time that the military became the principal order of the day and
the height of their power, there was hardly anyway forward for Rome but
downwards.
It could be said that the revealing accounts of 121 B.C
through 111 B.C and leading to the birth of Julius Caesar in 100 B.C, forbid
this arrangement of Dumezil, for it seems that the culture of representation
which Rome enjoyed favored a reflection of interest and privilege, that the
power of the many was with the Plebian so to speak, that the principal domestic
concern for Rome was Welfare of its inner City and Citizens and that this
factored in the issues of Plebs and poor.
“He doth bestride the
narrow world like a Colossus” (Cassius in Julius Caesar)
Not the military or the few determined the administrative
function of the magistrate.
In erecting downtown areas or urban centers for temples,
sites and emporiums, in public forums,
theaters and coliseum for the Plebs,
it was the offices of Tribune and Consul that saw the adequate measure of resources
for these buildings, some of it like old buildings inside did not have adequate
running water and toilet conditions.
These places including buildings of private and public
interest, or what is now called Welfare were commissioned State project, that
constituted a section of election, especially for old families that kept counts
of all the sins committed against them for and against them leading to the
beginning of the Rome when 7 families led a coup against Etruscans in what now
Rome leading to decades of freedom fighting.
It is important to note that among the chief revolutionaries
in Rome against Etruscans (in a story that may have taken place around 300 B.C
- 350 B.C and probably not ageless era that Livy and Plutarch gives it) was a
family called Cassius, who led the revolution and was later accused of making
himself king over all – or having what Cicero called ‘King-like Power’ in Rome.
Or could it ever be said to be possible that Iulus descended
from Venus. He was assassinated by starving by heads of other six families and
among those who signed and etched their name was Iulius (Iulus, Julius?) on the
stones – perhaps the place Cassius was murdered.
It could not ever be said that Iulus (Julius) descended from
Venus in thrifty accounts of Livy or so translated, but we can say that attempt
to persuade the Senate and the People of Rome that no one Citizen was fit to be
King or have ‘King-like powers’ is largely a borrowed item from the Greeks, yet
it could be considered part of Rome’s evolutionary social circumstances which
some pin point to the 512 B.C following the Rape of Lucretia – Daughter of
Roman Senator.
This is not the case, for Livy and Plutarch did not
materialize this story as accurately as possible, for if we consider that an
empire such as Rome was ever even significant in the 3rd century
B.C, it will surprising how it was never mentioned anywhere and by any
historian until the eve of the 2nd century B.C.
We can argue that this is perhaps not untrue, for when we
compare the deeds of Queen Tarquina in the 5th Century A.D against
Rome and the Rape of Lucretia, we may be sending a wrong history. But the issue
which gave meaning to the State was the survival, especially for the increased
number of plebian.
There is however something missing in the century in which
Rome was plunged into conflict with the Samnite – that old Egyptian breed and
the Latium in Greco-Magna whose language – Latin – would predominate Rome for
all times-, it was the issue of political interest and the question of lands
confiscated from war which by tradition was divided by among the few families.
How to handle the problem of the poor was the Chief concern
of most Romans, especially when as Juvenal mentioned that Rome in his time “…supported on Pipe Stems match sticks; it’s
cheaper thus for the landlord to shore up his ruins, patch up the old cracked
walls, and notify all the tenants. They are expected to sleep secure through
the beams are about to crash above them.”
By Ancient and modern laws, Citizens exercised the right to
represent the majority who either supported by Plebs or Proletariat, that these
men and very really women were considered worthy for reasons of public service
and welfare of the State.
Between the proconsul
and the main office were educated people of Italian origin and people of East,
and these were popular individuals with a future or past as controlling
influence, who would tender to Rome according to ‘privileged interest’ or what
the people so demanded.
Some argument that Greek East influenced brought their own
wealth to Rome and their own think-tank.
For any number of reasons, these men and very rarely women would
buy their seat if elected; they would need the voice of the people – people of
Rome – to enjoy a staying power in office and to ensure that the decision
prevailed; Rome stationed their military outside the City, far from the City
without compromising the gates.
But to marry into any
of the main families was another way of ensuring a future with a past. In
essence, the leading families will have to sponsor their candidate to be
approved by the Senate that’s assuming if they find such a person worthy the
position worthy of the calling.
The Chief issue was Security and Public Welfare but the
problems of privilege and the question of tribune which pass from father to Son
or whoever they so choose rendered the equestrians above the law to the modest
degree that were likely to commit crimes without questions.
By year 121 B.C There was also the practical problem of
lands and property, for if we conclude that the success was based on the
property as rights, it could be said that the wars in Africa and the extension
of Rome to Carthage proved several reasons for new landlords especially from
East and Near East, to enter the privileged class in Rome.
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