Rome, Blood and Politics: Reform, Murder and Popular Politics in the Late Republic 133-70 BC

by Gareth C Sampson

Overview

The last century of the Roman Republic saw the consensus of the ruling elite shattered by a series of high-profile politicians who proposed political or social reform programs, many of which culminated in acts of bloodshed on the streets of Rome itself. This began in 133 BC with the military recruitment reforms of Tiberius Gracchus, which saw him and his supporters lynched by a mob of angry Senators. He was followed by a series of radical politicians, each with their own agenda that challenged the status quo of the Senatorial elite. Each met a violent response from elements of the ruling order, leading to murder and even battles on the streets of Rome. These bloody political clashes paralyzed the Roman state, eventually leading to its collapse. Covering the period 133 - 70 BC, this volume analyzes each of the key reformers, what they were trying to achieve and how they met their end, narrating the long decline of the Roman Republic into anarchy and civil war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473887329
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	02/06/2018
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

After a successful career in corporate finance, Gareth C Sampson returned to the study of ancient Rome and gained his PhD from the University of Manchester, where he taught history for a number of years. He now lives in Plymouth with his wife and children. His previous books, The Defeat of Rome (2008), The Crisis of Rome (2010), The Collapse of Rome (2013), Rome Spreads Her Wings (2016) and Rome, Blood and Politics (2017) were also published by Pen & Sword.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements viii

Maps ix

Introduction xiv

Timeline of the Key Events of the Period 146-70 BC xvi

Notes on Roman Names xviii

The Myth of the Golden Age (c.508-146 BC) 1

Chapter 1 Politics, Violence and the Evolution of the Republic (c. 508-146 BC) 2

Reform and Murder in Roman Politics (146-120 BC) 21

Chapter 2 From Reform to Murder: The Origins of the Bloodshed (146-133 BC) 22

Chapter 3 Between the Bloodshed: Reform and Revenge (132-124 BC) 47

Chapter 4 From Reform to Massacre: The Tribunates of Caius Gracchus (123-120 BC) 58

From Bloodshed to Civil War (119-91 BC) 83

Chapter 5 Political Reform in the Gracchan Shadow (119-108 BC) 84

Chapter 6 Crisis, Reform and Massacre (108-100 BC) 99

Chapter 7 Reform, Murder and the Road to Civil War (100-91 BC) 125

Political Reform and the First Civil War (91-70 BC) 149

Chapter 8 Reform, Resistance and the Roman Army (91-88 BC) 150

Chapter 9 Political Reform and Political Slaughter (87-79 BC) 177

Chapter 10 Reform, Bloodshed and the Defence of the New Republic (79-70 BC) 202

Conclusion 217

Appendix 1 225

Appendix 2 231

Appendix 3 244

End Notes 250

Bibliography 270

Index 283

Editorial Reviews

Murder and mayhem in the waning years of the Roman Republic; what more could you ask for in a book? This is a tour de force of the public and private machinations of the different characters in this time period of the Roman Republic… I find this book to be not only an enjoyable read, but also indispensable as a handy reference of the time period that it shows. I can easily recommend Dr. Sampson's book to anyone who has an interest in not only the workings of the Roman Republic, but also the time period.

A Wargamers Needful Things