Explain How And In What Ways Did Such Competition Manifest Itself Among The Roman Political Elite

1. What is the difference between a. and a. Each man strives to be the best (SALLUST). In what ways did such competition manifest itself among the Roman political elite during our period?

During our period, the Roman political elite revolved mostly around money, power and reputation. They achieved these targets in many ways. It was pronounced through the competition among the small circle of wealthy families, the emphasis on military victories and triumphs, and the concept of the Novus homo which was slowly creeping into politics. All these concepts helped to push along the avid competition among the political elite and encouraged them to strive for greatness.

Such concepts can first be viewed by looking at the competition which established

Cicero had equestrian support and rhetorical powers, yet lacked the nobility and military distinction which Pompey had. However, even amongst this triumvirate which was supposed to help these men gain power together, competition was still strife. The first triumvirate was the result of senatorial desire to block unusual bills, but it wasn’t quite as effective as it was supposed to be, seeing as the political elite were increasingly unable to compromise. This can be viewed in 56 BC when Cicero drops an attack on Caesar’s land bills of 59 BC and actively fights against them despite Caesar convincing Pompey and Crassus to renew the triumvirate. Because of this inability to compromise between these men, and their avid need to undermine each other, they are constantly battling for political power yet also losing it due to their lack of support for each other, as seen in early 49BC when Caesar is declared public enemy by Pompey who was unable to bring him home and prosecute him like he desperately tried to. Such competition can be viewed through Cicero’s letters which he was sending at the time. Ad. Att. & Co., Ltd. 9.11A. Such as this

The novus homo was the new man in politics at the time and was a new concept for Rome which heavily relied on nobility and for power to be passed on through generations. (Astin, 2008), draws on this through the discussion of how social and political power was directed to a considerable degree of family continuity among those who held high office and was recognised to have a hereditary aspect. The fact that new men, such as Cicero, were coming through and making their way into politics would pose a threat to these families who relied solely on their reputation and political power. However, new men would be working exceptionally hard in this supposed competition seeing as they had no money in comparison to these wealthy families and would have to make much greater sacrifices seeing as they also wouldn’t have support from the Senate as there was no reputation to establish them. Cicero was one of the most successful new men and he wrote (Q. Cicero, On Canvassing for the Consulship), to help explain to other new men how to win over both the nobles and the senate. Within (Q. Cicero, On Canvassing for the Consulship, 8), Cicero discusses how you must win over several social groups, such as freedmen and industrious men in the city, as well as winning over nobles and huge politicians. By doing so he