Roman Historia

To anyone entering the arena of Roman politics, the need to forge and maintain political alliances was a key skill to master. Whether it was for a bitterly fought election over the Consulship, or the direction of a senatorial debate, the use of political alliances has remained a constant theme throughout Roman history. Within the sphere of Roman politics, various different factors could be used to bring individuals together under the banner of a political faction – such as family ties, financial commitments, personal friendships or simply just mutual interests.  For any young senator looking to advance through the cursus , it was vital that they were able to navigate through the centuries old traditions of faction building to ensure that they could gain the required political support. Whilst these traditions were often highly complex, an insight into the art of alliance building can be gleamed from a highly publicised event in the history of the late republic – ...

Above: Cicero addresses the Senate Throughout Roman history, the skill of oratory had always remained a highly valued part of society. Whether it was the fierce political speeches given by Senators, or the pleas of innocence made in the law courts, Roman society relied upon the ability of its speakers to lead the republic and provide a sense of direction for its citizens. Oratory – which broadly involved the giving of speeches, debating, and the handling of legal trials – was a fiercely competitive industry, attracting political hopefuls and great legal minds alike to test their ability. Whilst Rome was particularly renowned for its great speakers, no one stands out more for their ability in the field than Marcus Tullius Cicecro (106-43 BC). Best known for his role in the republics eventual collapse, alongside his vain attempt to protect traditional Roman values, Cicero was able to ascend to a position of political power on the back of his great oratorical skill. But for Cicer...

In the highly competitive and vicious world of Roman politics, the art of alliance building was a well established tradition. Whether it be the competing factions of Marius and Sulla or the tightly knit alliance of conservatives in the Senate (known as the Optimates) led by Cato, both clientelism and patronage were accepted as part and parcel of political strategy. Despite this, the alliance between Pompey, Crassus and Caesar that formed in 60 BC sent shockwaves across the Roman world – and would eventually bring the Republic to its knees. To understand what made this alliance just so powerful, we must first look to how it came about. Forming the Triumvirate By 60 BC, tensions were rising within the world of Roman politics. Pompey, having successfully waged a war in the East against Mithridates, was looking to consolidate his gains and have the veterans that served under him given land as a reward for their services. Whilst Pompey saw this as a fair and reasonable demand...