Noble families determined the history of the Republic, giving their names to its epochs. […] The party of the Republic was no place for a novus homo: the Lentuli were synonymous with aristocratic pride, Ap. […] Italy was apathetic to the war-cry of the Republic in danger, sceptical about its champions. […] Thirty years later they clustered around Pompeius, from interest, from ambition, or for the Republic. […] Some versions of the legend put the immigration in the sixth year of the Republic, others in the regal period.