even a property-qualification. The letter of the law likewise knew no distinction between rich and poor. 4 Nepos, Vita Attici 6,

1, 1, 4 (Ahenobarbus). PageBook=>025 to few at Rome to achieve distinction , save through the questionable and hazardous mean

e Scipiones. 4 Subsequent alliances had not brought much aristocratic distinction . Pompeius’ mother was a Lucilia, niece of that Lu

n orders derived, as was fitting, from Picenum men of no great social distinction , the hungry sons of a poor and populous region. D

in composition at its kernel a small group of men paramount in social distinction , not merely nobiles but patrician; on the outer f

he Caesarian party comprised a formidable array of ability and social distinction . Some senators turn up on Caesar’s side, holding

relatives, friends and political associates, varying widely in social distinction nobiles, members of reputable senatorial families

A. Allienus carried no weight; and only another war would bring rapid distinction to Carrinas, Calvisius and Nonius Asprenas. Und

lies. Caesar, more consistent in his politics, had to wait longer for distinction and power. The sentiments which the young man ent

. On the surface, the consulars Philippus and Marcellus hardly reveal distinction or vigour. From his father Philippus inherited co

the Caesarian faction after the Ides of March showed a lack of social distinction or active talent. Many of its most prominent me

nks of the principes for varied talent, for civil as well as military distinction ; access lay open to merit as well as to birth; an

into action. It showed a lack of personal energy as well as of social distinction . There was no Fabius now of consular rank, no V

. 11, 13; 13, 27). PageBook=>189 had few partisans of merit or distinction ; which is not surprising. Of his lieutenants, Lat

emporaries agreed. If they had the leisure and the taste to draw fine distinctions between the three terrorists, it was hardly for O

Caesarian leaders proscribed their relatives and other personages of distinction more as a pledge of solidarity among themselves a

ntest of factions in the Roman nobility, many young men of spirit and distinction chose Caesar in preference to Pompeius and the ol

thizers, among them M. Valerius Messalla, a noble youth of talent and distinction . 8 Three Caesarian generals joined Cassius in Syr

strange vicissitudes, had suffered heavy loss both in ability and in distinction , and showed its revolutionary character by its co

o the Senate before the outbreak of the Civil War achieve the highest distinction under the domination of the Triumvirs. The consul

212 The captives were a problem. Many senators and Roman knights of distinction had espoused the cause of liberty and the protect

8 Labienus. Yet Pompeius still retained in his following persons of distinction , relatives, friends or adherents of his family. 1

um to his triumph in the Sicilian War, and the new party has acquired distinction as well as solidity. The process of conciliating

men who had held or were very soon to hold the consulate, all men of distinction or moment, inherited or acquired. 4 C. Calvisiu

ranks of the Senate regained even the semblance of their traditional distinction . New and alien names were prominent in their pl

vi homines for three centuries now, admitted in the main for personal distinction and service in war. ‘Ex virtute nobilitas coepit.

sons and retired centurions. Magistracies, coveted only for the bare distinction , were granted in abundance, held for a few days o

etended any attachment to eloquence; and such of them as deserved any distinction for peaceful studies earned no honour on that acc

amp of Antonius. Yet he still kept in his company men of principle, distinction and ability, old Caesarian partisans, Republicans

d (αὐτʋκράτωρ). PageBook=>309 Yet Crassus was granted the bare distinction of a triumph when a convenient interval had elaps

namely the firm concord of the propertied classes and the traditional distinction in function and standing between the different cl

d already held the consulate or were later rewarded with that supreme distinction . 1 Caesar the Dictator augmented the Senate by

n were as scandalous as was made out then and since. Caesar preserved distinctions . The more discreditable accretions supervened lat

considerable importance. 1 Such opportunities arose for service, for distinction and for promotion that in time knights were willi

consular families, such men were commonly precluded from the highest distinction in the Free State. The novus homo might rise to t

tum, became a senator under Augustus. 4 P. Vitellius from Nuceria won distinction as procurator of Augustus: his four sons entered

recalcitrance of P. Ovidius, a certain Q. Varius Geminus acquired the distinction , proudly recorded on his tomb, of being the first

r’s heir numbered hardly a single senator; in its first years, few of distinction . What more simple than to assign to Augustus alon

small-town bourgeois, devoted and insatiable in admiration of social distinction . Caesar and Tiberius, the Julian and the Claudi

than eight, with masses of novi homines promoted for merit to a cheap distinction . The suffect consulates of Ventidius and Carrinas

of patronage. Under the Republic nobility of birth, military service, distinction in oratory or law, these were the three claims to

dowment. Service in war and the command of armies brought the highest distinction to men whose youth had been trained in the wars o

ollection of principes viri stood massed around the Princeps bringing distinction and strength to the new régime, but also feuds an

f., cf. PIR2, A 420, and Table IV at end. PageBook=>380 Power, distinction and wealth, the Princeps had seized all the prero

dherents the Princeps bestowed nobility through the consulate, social distinction by advantageous marriages and endowment in money

ent will be conferred, not upon the pious and learned, but for social distinction or for political success. From cult and ritual th

al of five years (that is, in A.D. I); and three years later the same distinction was proclaimed for Lucius, his junior by three ye

uch. Tiberius and Drusus had received special dispensations and early distinction , it is true. Tiberius became consul at the age of

lus (cos. A.D. 1) and M. Aemilius Lepidus (cos, A.D. 6), attained the distinction due to their family and their mother’s prayers, b

ill-starred brother, the husband of the younger Julia. He served with distinction under Tiberius in Illyricum, and in this year was

a year, was L. Aelius Lamia, a lively old man who enjoyed high social distinction although the first consul in his family. 6 After

d held triumphs or received the ornamenta triumphalia in lieu of that distinction . In the temple itself three deities were housed i

ts, assailing illustrious persons of both sexes, without restraint or distinction , among them P. Vitellius the procurator, whose gr

‘iustus sine mendacio candor’. 6 It is lavishly bestowed upon social distinction or political success. Velleius stands revealed in

e succession. PageBook=>495 Lacking the primeval and patrician distinction of Aemilii and Claudii, the Domitii, a dynastic p

ly is not heard of afterwards. 3 The Fabii and the Valerii regained distinction and power through the patronage of Caesar and of

of a consular and therefore a person of social as well as of military distinction . With Trajan, a Spanish and Narbonensian faction

rulers witnessed a steady and sometimes abrupt decline in the social distinction of the commanders of the Rhine legions. Under Cal

under the Republic, the normal method for an ambitious man to secure distinction and advancement was through the conduct of a succ

re old scores to pay off. Moreover, the secret struggle for power and distinction went on as before, enhanced by the rival ambition

s. It was paid by the Principate, under pretext of public service and distinction in oratory or law, but more and more for the sole