. 2 Sallust, BJ 63, 6 (cf. BC 23, 6): ‘etiam turn alios magistratus plebs , consulatum nobilitas inter se per manus tradebat

ublic conferred its favours on whom it pleased. 3 Popularity with the plebs was therefore essential. It was possessed in abun

the possessing classes, by the influence of their clientela among the plebs and by due subservience towards the financial int

through the great estates in Italy and the clientela among the Roman plebs which he had inherited from an ambitious and dema

er, Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus (cos. 96), was very influential with the plebs when tribune in 104, then carrying a law to trans

s, hating them from his very infancy; 3 and he was ready to bribe the plebs of Rome with corn or money. 4 Against the militar

s an anachronism in a world-empire; and so was the power of the Roman plebs when all Italy enjoyed the franchise. Caesar in t

her. The patrician might recall past favours conferred upon the Roman plebs :3 he could also appeal to the duties which they o

d also appeal to the duties which they owed to birth and station. The plebs would not have given preference and votes against

Senators and knights, such was the party of Caesar. With the Roman plebs and the legions of Gaul, a group of ancient famil

the Hostilii from Cremona and the poet Helvius Cinna, tribune of the plebs in 44 B.C.4 Gallia Narbonensis can assert a pec

umber of citizens by this date. L. Decidius Saxa, made tribune of the plebs by Caesar in 44 B.C., had served under him in the

middle of the fourth century did not portend the triumph of the Roman plebs . The earliest new families to reach the consulate

s age, whether conservative or revolutionary, despised so utterly the plebs of Rome that they felt no scruples when they enha

was ready for the Empire and the dispensation of bread and games. The plebs had acclaimed Caesar, the popular politician, wit

ring the Civil Wars, in 49 B.C. when Antonius was only tribune of the plebs , and after Pharsalus, as Master of the Horse, for

quilibrium between the support of the Caesarian interests, especially plebs and veterans, and the acquiescence of the Senate.

it the Caesarian emblems. When Antonius intervened, the sympathies of plebs and veterans went to Caesar’s heir. And now Heave

d was ready to exploit every advantage. In the first place, the urban plebs , fanatically devoted to the memory of Caesar and

from concord in the State, everything from disorder. Supported by the plebs and the veterans, he possessed the means to split

e fabulous harvest to be got soon or late from the cultivation of the plebs and the soldiers. Not less the need for faithful

of his position. The blow was to fall from the other side, from the plebs , from the veterans and from Octavianus. In pursua

vain his backers were timid or absent. He had to be content with the plebs and a tribune. Brought before an assembly of the

PageBook=>127 Caesarian leader his primacy was menaced. Senate, plebs and veterans were mobilized against him. His enem

over money due to Caesar’s heir perhaps unjustly. The legacies to the plebs were paid after all by Octavianus, perhaps not wh

of Caesar’s heir, the towns of Campania were enthusiastic. Among the plebs he had a great following; and he might win more r

from tyranny and restored to vigour? Octavianus had the veterans, the plebs and the name of Caesar: his allies in the Senate

proclaimed the revival of the Senate’s authority, the loyalty of the plebs and the unanimity of Italy. The State now had spi

senators for their own magnificence and for the delight of the Roman plebs ; the knights had saved their gains and bought lan

with their families flocked to Rome, suppliant and vocal. 3 The urban plebs cheerfully joined in manifestations against the u

for Octavianus,2 and resumed his blockade of the coasts of Italy. The plebs clamoured for bread and peace. Following the impe

f the Caesarian party. The young Caesar, strong in the support of the plebs and the veterans, would have to be NotesPage=&g

and who, by the virtue of the name of Caesar, won the support of the plebs in Rome and the armed proletariat of Italy, and r

eep the seas, glorying in the favour and name of Neptune; 4 the Roman plebs might riot in his honour it was only from hatred

of the seas and the liberation of Rome from famine placated the urban plebs that had rioted so often against the Triumvirs. T

tion. Caesar’s heir was granted sacrosanctity such as tribunes of the plebs enjoyed. 7 He had already usurped the practice of

ndisium his position was critical. Caesar’s heir had the army and the plebs , reinforced in devotion, but had attached few sen

to the voice and sentiments of the true Roman People not the corrupt plebs or the packed and disreputable Senate of the city

nds, Scipio Aemilianus and his friends, championing Italy against the plebs of Rome, got help from Italian men of property, t

Naked despotism is vulnerable. The imperator could depend upon the plebs and the army. But he could not rule without the h

e; and he was Divi filius, destined for consecration in his turn. The plebs of Rome was Caesar’s inherited clientela. He fed

cess. But there must be no going back upon his earlier supporters the plebs , the veterans and the knights who had won the War

y the bounty and flattered by the magnificence of their champion, the plebs of Rome knew how they were expected to use that f

he perils of popular election and unrestricted competition. The Roman plebs clamoured that Augustus, present or absent, shoul

r dynasts, he spent for power and ostentation to gratify soldiers and plebs , to adorn the city and to subsidize his political

endants of great Republican houses still retained popularity with the plebs of Rome and troops of clients, arousing the distr

is domibus adnexa’, contrasted with the clients of the Princeps, the ‘ plebs sordida et circo ac theatris sueta’ (Tacitus, His

paid the bounty to discharged soldiers, granted donations to army and plebs and carried out public works. For the management

ed Monster, concentrating, as was just, upon Pompeius Magnus; and the plebs of Rome was encouraged to make public demonstrati

y acquired or at least enhanced. Romulus was a king, the favourite of plebs and army, less acceptable to the Senate. If the

zation and sense of the dramatic. A quarter of a million of the Roman plebs were on his lists, as permanent recipients of the

m harboured conspirators among their citizens. 4 Like the army, the plebs of Rome supported the monarchy. Though purged of

red from exile. 5 Too prudent or too grateful to attack Augustus, the plebs could visit their disfavour on the more unpopular

itius usurped that position. 7 Auximum could do nothing but the Roman plebs remembered. When Titius presided at games held in

tus, Ann. 3, 22 f. PageBook=>479 Augustus, the patronus of the plebs , could answer for their good behaviour. Disturb

m his father not only great estates but boundless popularity with the plebs of Rome, L. Domitius Ahenobarbus was formidable i

istence that the inscription was primarily designed to be read by the plebs of Rome, very precisely the clients of the Prince

s, 129 ff., 235 ff., 289 f., 328, 349 ff., 375 ff., 453 ff.; with the plebs , 322, 370, 468 ff., 478 f.; with Italy, 284 ff.,