Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AMBIRE (AMbitious Bids: Investigating Roman Elections (78-46 BC))
Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2024-09-30
The title of the project is telling: in fact, 'ambire', in Latin, means ‘to go around’, ‘to solicit’; figuratively, ‘to canvass’.This project has investigated the reasons whereby ‘less famous’ magistrates in Rome (that is: people aside from the 'great protagonists' of the time) won elections between 78 and 46 BC.
Modern research has partly neglected less prominent actors in late Republican politics, affecting our understanding of it. Furthermore, debate on the state form of the Roman Republic and on its functioning, structure and politics has led to discussion about its oligarchic or democratic features, the functions and roles of magistrates and assemblies, the importance of communication and audience, the means of interaction between élite and people, the relative power of the different political bodies. The objective of this project was therefore to address the gap in modern research concerning less prominent actors in Roman late Republican politics and advance the understanding of the interaction between candidates and electors; it has explored the reasons whereby voters were impressed by the candidates and why they chose them. It also challenges the narrative of 'inevitable crisis' that often affects our interpretation of late Republican history. This project has also opened up brand new perspectives for the study and understanding of the ancient electorate and of its interaction with the candidates thanks to the help of the theories elaborated by political psychology.
More broadly, the results of this project can inform our understanding of modern electoral campaigns, as, through the use of social media, politicians now went back to a more ‘direct’ (albeit virtual) interaction with the voters, which, whilst taking into due account the profound cultural differences between the Romans and us, more closely resembles what Roman politicians were doing while canvassing. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of Roman late Republican politics can help analysing the reasons for crises in politics currently sweeping through Europe, and spotting early signs of them.
The results of this research contribute to the current debate on the politics in the decade after the death of Sulla, further supporting the interpretation that the governing élite of the period tried to tackle and solve some pressing social, economic and political issues, with the aim of avoiding further conflicts. It also offers a clearer outline of how candidates carried out consular campaigns in the post-Sullan period, and innovative perspectives on how electors chose them according to some patterns that recall those used by voters in modern states. The element of political ideology, even though on a lesser scale than in modern politics, equally appears relevant in the political struggle. Overall, results present a more refined picture of the workings of politics in the late Roman Republic, not only or necessarily tied to individual, powerful figures, but much more varied and multi-faceted.
Modern research has partly neglected less prominent actors in late Republican politics, affecting our understanding of it. Furthermore, debate on the state form of the Roman Republic and on its functioning, structure and politics has led to discussion about its oligarchic or democratic features, the functions and roles of magistrates and assemblies, the importance of communication and audience, the means of interaction between élite and people, the relative power of the different political bodies. The objective of this project was therefore to address the gap in modern research concerning less prominent actors in Roman late Republican politics and advance the understanding of the interaction between candidates and electors; it has explored the reasons whereby voters were impressed by the candidates and why they chose them. It also challenges the narrative of 'inevitable crisis' that often affects our interpretation of late Republican history. This project has also opened up brand new perspectives for the study and understanding of the ancient electorate and of its interaction with the candidates thanks to the help of the theories elaborated by political psychology.
More broadly, the results of this project can inform our understanding of modern electoral campaigns, as, through the use of social media, politicians now went back to a more ‘direct’ (albeit virtual) interaction with the voters, which, whilst taking into due account the profound cultural differences between the Romans and us, more closely resembles what Roman politicians were doing while canvassing. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of Roman late Republican politics can help analysing the reasons for crises in politics currently sweeping through Europe, and spotting early signs of them.
The results of this research contribute to the current debate on the politics in the decade after the death of Sulla, further supporting the interpretation that the governing élite of the period tried to tackle and solve some pressing social, economic and political issues, with the aim of avoiding further conflicts. It also offers a clearer outline of how candidates carried out consular campaigns in the post-Sullan period, and innovative perspectives on how electors chose them according to some patterns that recall those used by voters in modern states. The element of political ideology, even though on a lesser scale than in modern politics, equally appears relevant in the political struggle. Overall, results present a more refined picture of the workings of politics in the late Roman Republic, not only or necessarily tied to individual, powerful figures, but much more varied and multi-faceted.
After the collection of data related to the consuls that exercised their office between 78 and 46 BC, the research focused on elections for the consulships of 20 years (78-71; 69; 66-62; 58; 54-52; 48; 46 BC). At the same time I carried out some survey and reading of relevant articles in political psychology, related to the investigation of the characteristics of the candidates according to which the voters choose them, as this topic seemed the most fruitful for this type of research and the one with the highest potential for the study of Roman Republican elections.
Research has been carried it out in relation to the elections for each considered year, in order not to have to go back each time to every election, and also, in case, to be able to write a paper on a single election or on a group of elections to be submitted to a journal.
The study of the elections for the consulships between 78 and 71 BC has been particularly important to contribute to the re-assessment of the politics of the post-Sullan period, highlighting that the so-called ‘Sullan nobility’ was not so internally homogeneous in terms of political allegiance or purposes, and supporting the interpretation that the majority of the Roman nobility and of the population aimed at solving some pressing social issues which might have threatened civil peace.
Results allowed to innovatively discuss, question or re-assess the course of some electoral events, their chronology and the reasons for delays or exceptional measures. The prosopographical approach was essential to expose aspects and elements of their career and personalities that resulted relevant and appreciated during their year of election, hinting at the at least partial and perhaps not so occasional presence of political ideology among the factors that influenced electoral results. Prosopography and a careful reading of the primary sources also allowed to identify the most important characteristics which made candidates successful, which are interestingly similar to those emerging from the picture outlined by the results of research in political psychology in relation to contemporary elections.
Research also challenged some established narratives on the workings of consular elections which were not satisfactorily explaining the evidence emerging from the investigation of individual votes.
Results were disseminated through 3 conference papers, 4 articles and an academic seminar; a monograph draft is in preparation.
Research has been carried it out in relation to the elections for each considered year, in order not to have to go back each time to every election, and also, in case, to be able to write a paper on a single election or on a group of elections to be submitted to a journal.
The study of the elections for the consulships between 78 and 71 BC has been particularly important to contribute to the re-assessment of the politics of the post-Sullan period, highlighting that the so-called ‘Sullan nobility’ was not so internally homogeneous in terms of political allegiance or purposes, and supporting the interpretation that the majority of the Roman nobility and of the population aimed at solving some pressing social issues which might have threatened civil peace.
Results allowed to innovatively discuss, question or re-assess the course of some electoral events, their chronology and the reasons for delays or exceptional measures. The prosopographical approach was essential to expose aspects and elements of their career and personalities that resulted relevant and appreciated during their year of election, hinting at the at least partial and perhaps not so occasional presence of political ideology among the factors that influenced electoral results. Prosopography and a careful reading of the primary sources also allowed to identify the most important characteristics which made candidates successful, which are interestingly similar to those emerging from the picture outlined by the results of research in political psychology in relation to contemporary elections.
Research also challenged some established narratives on the workings of consular elections which were not satisfactorily explaining the evidence emerging from the investigation of individual votes.
Results were disseminated through 3 conference papers, 4 articles and an academic seminar; a monograph draft is in preparation.
The results of this research contribute to the current debate on the politics in the decade after the death of Sulla, offer a clearer outline of how candidates carried out consular campaigns in the post-Sullan period, and suggest that from the activity of candidates and the aspects of self-representation that they promoted it is possible to deduce that electors chose them according to some patterns that recall those used by voters in modern states. The element of political ideology, even though on a lesser scale than in modern politics, equally appears relevant in the political struggle. All this contributes to the current debate on the balances of power in late Republican Rome. Overall, results present a more refined picture of the workings of politics in the late Roman Republic, much more varied and multi-faceted, challenging the narrative of inevitable crisis. Finally, a fundamental contribution of this project is the revision and questioning of some established narratives on the functioning of the comitia centuriata, thus contributing to the history of Roman political institutions.
The work carried out offers the possibility for a wider recognition of the importance of the study of ancient history for a deeper understanding of contemporary politics, and can potentially provide tools for a more critical assessment of electoral results in modern democracies, and of the reasons for the decline in turnout to elections. From a societal point of view, the communication activities have shown that the project can contribute to the fostering of a stronger sense of civic duty and conscience of our role as citizens, adding to various European policy objectives and strategies. Some of them also promoted interest towards knowledge and research among young people, contributing, in a long-term perspective, to contrasting school dropout and the promotion of tertiary education.
The work carried out offers the possibility for a wider recognition of the importance of the study of ancient history for a deeper understanding of contemporary politics, and can potentially provide tools for a more critical assessment of electoral results in modern democracies, and of the reasons for the decline in turnout to elections. From a societal point of view, the communication activities have shown that the project can contribute to the fostering of a stronger sense of civic duty and conscience of our role as citizens, adding to various European policy objectives and strategies. Some of them also promoted interest towards knowledge and research among young people, contributing, in a long-term perspective, to contrasting school dropout and the promotion of tertiary education.