The 400s BCE have been a rollercoaster for Rome. It certainly seems to have been a decade of big changes, both in terms of foreign policy and on the domestic front.

Join us for the highlights for the last decade of the fifth century BCE!

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The Partial Recap – 400s BCE

Want to hear the full story? Head to Episode 144: Where in the World is Carventum? to start at 410 BCE.

Sound Credits

Our music was composed by Bettina Joy de Guzman.

Transcript

Dr Rad – Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 400s BCE!
Dr G – I’m Dr G
Dr Rad: and I’m Dr Rad
Dr G: and this is our highlights edition of the 400s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 409 to 400 in an epitome of our normal episodes.
Dr Rad: Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee – but please be warned – the Roman world is a violent one.
Dr G: Get ready for a recappuccino.

409 BCE

• In 409 BCE, the consuls were Cnaeus Cornelius Cossus and Lucius Furius Medullinus.





• The plebeians were SO upset that they could not elect their champion, Menenius, as military tribune with consular power





• Capitalising on that, the tribune of the plebs started applying some pressure. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION, PEOPLE OR WE GIVE UP.





• There were a staggering number of tribunes from the legendary Icilii family this year, and the plebs did always take them especially seriously. #heroesoftheunderrrepresented





• Finally, THREE plebs were elected the quaestorship instead.





• This cheered them up immensely as it was the FIRST TIME a pleb had been chosen for this office! Amazeballs.





• The patricians naturally fell apart immediately. When they allowed plebs to be elected to the quaestorship, they didn’t really think it would happen! It was too ridiculous! A pleb in office? A pleb chosen over a patrician? This was a worrying sign that the world was ending.





• To make matters worse, the Icilii started pushing for elections for military tribunes with consular power in 408. We see what you are SCHEMING, you troublesome tribunes! You want a pleb to hold imperium! Don’t make us SICK.





• As the patricians and plebeians battled it out once more for consuls vs military tribunes, the Aequians and the Volscians started attacking the territory of Roman allies.





• The consuls attempted to hold a levy to raise an army, but the Icilii refused to let the levy proceed until they got what they wanted – elections for military tribunes!





• As the patricians and plebeians entered yet another staring contest, news arrived that the citadel of Carventum had been lost to the enemy.





• Still, the tribunes refused to allow the levy to proceed – military success be damned!





• This was not a popular move – but it WORKED





• The patricians were forced to agree that there would be no consuls in 408 – BUT only on the condition that none of the current tribunes of the plebs could serve again OR be elected as military tribune. They couldn’t kill the Icilli, but they could kill their career prospects!





• With all that unpleasantness behind them, the Romans could now march off to Carventum and win back that citadel.





• They did not quite pull that off, so instead they captured Verrugo from the Volscians and contented themselves with lots of lovely booty.

408 BCE

• In 408 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Caius Julius Iullus, Publius Cornelius Cossus, and Caius Servilius Ahala





• In spite of the drama in 409, only patricians were elected to serve as the chief magistrates. Who would’ve thought?





• The patricians had pulled some shady tricks in the election, but it worked! No plebs were chosen and they could breathe a sigh of relief.





• The Antiates, Volscians and Aequians decided to band together and take on the Romans in this year.





• The Romans were used to taking on two enemies at a time, but three??? Time for a dictator!





• Two of the military tribunes were PRESSED to see their chance for glory and command slip right through their fingers.





• Julius and Cornelius complained so much, high-ranking senators had to tell them to build a bridge and get over it.





• Only Ahala proved himself worthy of office, as he was willing to do whatever was best for Rome – not himself. AWWWW





• This impressed the pants off everyone, including the new dictator, Publius Cornelius Rutilus Cossus. He chose Ahala to serve as his deputy. That’s what happens when you’re a team player!





• The Romans could now focus on what they do best – winning! They easily trampled their enemies, perhaps capturing some prisoners and a fortress?





• Back at home, the patricians decided to use the same dodgy election tactics to make sure that no plebs were chosen to serve as military tribunes with consular power in 407 – and it worked again!





• Who says you have to reinvent the wheel? The wheel is fine!

407 BCE

• In 407 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Lucius Furius Medullinus, Caius Valerius Potitus Volusus, Numerius Favius Vibulanus and Gaius Servilius Ahala





• It may have been in this year that the treaty between the Romans and Veii ran out. Hope that doesn’t have any terrible consequences!





• The recently recaptured town or fortress of Verrugo was lost back to the Volscians…. Again.





• Losing the territory was bitter, but the slaughter of the Roman garrison made the situation even worse.





• And it all could have been avoided if the Romans had just sent reinforcements instead of waiting for their nails to dry.

406 BCE

• In 406 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Publius Cornelius Rutilus Cossus, Cnaeus Cornelius Cossus, Numerius or Cnaeus Fabius Ambustus and Lucius Valerius Potitus.





• 406 BCE was a BIG year for the Ancient Romans, as it was apparently the year that their relationship with the Etruscan city of Veii fell apart… for the third time. It’s like Ross and Rachel all over again! Will these two crazy kids stop trying to kill each other and just admit that they are perfect for each other???





• NO – the senators at Veii make it very clear that they prefer the killing option.





• The Romans were SO offended that war was the only response.





• Unfortunately, the young men in the city were kind of all-warred out. The Romans have finally done it. They’ve had enough fighting. Who knew that was possible?





• The tribune of the plebs seized on this unhappiness to create some fantastic propaganda about how awful the patricians were. They use war to keep the people too distracted to fight for their own rights! Bastards.





• The patricians knew they were in trouble when some veterans started taking their tunics off and showing their wounds. How much more blood do you want, you elite vampires??? Can’t you see they’ve already given all they have???





• Instead, the military tribunes decided to head off against the Volscians. Smart to wrap one conflict before starting another!





• Three of the military tribunes decided to divide and conquer – taking on Antium, Ecetrae and Anxur.





• This was pushing things further south than the Romans had ever gone before!





• Through some clever distractions, Fabius managed to capture Anxur, which meant lots of plunder for all!





• Such generosity made the plebeians teary. Thanks for letting us profit from this death and destruction guys!





• The patricians followed this up with a very unexpected bonus. Military pay! Yeah, it’s now a thing everyone.





• If there ever was a moment when the plebeians had their minds blown, it was now. EXPLOSION.





• The plebeians were now fully #teampatrician





• It’s not just the pay guys. It’s the fact that you anticipated our needs! I mean, we didn’t even have to ask!





• The only people who were not popping the champagne were the tribune of the plebs.





• The plebeian tribunes tried to slap some sense into the people – HELLO? Where is the money for this going to come from, hmmm??? And why now??? What are the patricians planning???





• Unwilling to lose their good publicity, the patricians made very public donations to the military pay fund, and anyone who could afford it started following their example.





• The plebeians did not need to see any more – where could they sign? War couldn’t come soon enough! It was the only way to show how much they just LOVED Rome and LOVED the patricians. Nobody has better leaders. Where else do you get PAID to risk your life and limbs?!





• The patricians suddenly remembered that they actually WOULD like an army to go and fight Veii. Isn’t that just a coincidence? Or did it all happen the other way round? The war, then the pay? Hmmmm….





• By the close of the year, the Romans were ready to avenge the insult from Veii. Nobody is rude to the Romans and gets away with it! Time to teach the Etruscans some manners!

405 BCE

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