The Partial Recap - 400s BCE

The 400s BCE have been a rollercoaster for Rome. It certainly seems to have been a decade of big changes, both in terms of foreign policy and on the domestic front. Join us for the highlights for the last decade of the fifth century BCE! The Partial Recap - 400s BCE Want to hear the full story? Head to Episode 144: Where in the World is Carventum? to start at 410 BCE. Sound Credits Our music was composed by Bettina Joy de Guzman. Transcript Dr Rad - Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 400s BCE!Dr G - I’m Dr GDr Rad: and I’m Dr RadDr G: and this is our highlights edition of the 400s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 409 to 400 in an epitome of our normal episodes.Dr Rad: Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee - but please be warned - the Roman world is a violent one.Dr G: Get ready for a recappuccino. 409 BCE * In 409 BCE, the consuls were Cnaeus Cornelius Cossus and Lucius Furius Medullinus. * The plebeians were SO upset that they could not elect their champion, Menenius, as military tribune with consular power * Capitalising on that, the tribune of the plebs started applying some pressure. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION, PEOPLE OR WE GIVE UP. * There were a staggering number of tribunes from the legendary Icilii family this year, and the plebs did always take them especially seriously. #heroesoftheunderrrepresented * Finally, THREE plebs were elected the quaestorship instead. * This cheered them up immensely as it was the FIRST TIME a pleb had been chosen for this office! Amazeballs. * The patricians naturally fell apart immediately. When they allowed plebs to be elected to the quaestorship, they didn’t really think it would happen! It was too ridiculous! A pleb in office? A pleb chosen over a patrician? This was a worrying sign that the world was ending. * To make matters worse, the Icilii started pushing for elections for military tribunes with consular power in 408. We see what you are SCHEMING, you troublesome tribunes! You want a pleb to hold imperium! Don’t make us SICK. * As the patricians and plebeians battled it out once more for consuls vs military tribunes, the Aequians and the Volscians started attacking the territory of Roman allies. * The consuls attempted to hold a levy to raise an army, but the Icilii refused to let the levy proceed until they got what they wanted - elections for military tribunes! * As the patricians and plebeians entered yet another staring contest, news arrived that the citadel of Carventum had been lost to the enemy. * Still, the tribunes refused to allow the levy to proceed - military success be damned! * This was not a popular move - but it WORKED * The patricians were forced to agree that there would be no consuls in 408 - BUT only on the condition that none of the current tribunes of the plebs could serve again OR be elected as military tribune. They couldn’t kill the Icilli, but they could kill their career prospects! * With all that unpleasantness behind them, the Romans could now march off to Carventum and win back that citadel.