2 - Italian Descent in Middle Republican Roman Magistrates

Summary

The record for the consular fasti of the Mid-Republic, as one of our more reliable sources for the period, offers valuable insight into who was in power at a crucial time for the transition of Rome from city-state to territorial empire. It has been recognized at least since Münzer that many family names in the lists were not originally from Rome, but instead from other Italian communities. The chapter attempts to take systematic stock of this important phenomenon by means of an analysis of the origins of all the known consular families of the time in order to track the emergence, persistence, and long-term trajectory of each family. The ability of elite families to join the highest echelons of Roman politics from various parts of Italy can be seen as a key process that characterizes the early phases of Roman expansion. The quantity of new consular families arguably represents a measure of power-sharing arrangements that were put in place vis-à-vis other Italians, potentially illuminating diplomatic interactions that have often been underestimated. In short, an important flipside of this great historical transition can be revealed, emphasizing the role played by Italian elites in the Mid-Republican conquest.