Niebuhr's lectures on Roman history, Vol. 1 (of 3)Niebuhr, Barthold Georg
History
Niebuhr's lectures on Roman history, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Niebuhr, Barthold Georg
Rome -- History
Dionysius knew the word δῆμος only as contradistinguished to βουλὴ,
ὄχλος being the proper term for the mass of poor. Yet he also is not
free from that mistake, but carried it into Roman history; and as he
went much more fully into detail with regard to these relations than
Livy did, he led the restorers of ancient history into quite erroneous
notions. Livy likewise did not see the matter in a clear light; yet
he has many passages from which it is manifest, that the annalists
whom he followed were correct in their views. A further cause of this
confusion is, however, to be found in the pecuniary embarrassments and
debts which are stated to have prevailed among the Plebes; but which,
as we shall see hereafter, are only to be understood of the mortgages
which encumbered the landowners in many communities. The Plebes is the
counterpart of the Populus, as the Romans in general divide all the
primary agencies in nature and in the world of intellect into two; one
part being male, and the other female: as for instance, Vulcanus and
Vesta are the element of fire; Janus and Jana the heavenly lights, the
sun and moon; the generating power of the earth, Saturnus and Ops; the
earth as solid ground, Tellumo and Tellus; and thus also the entire
state, Populus and Plebes, both of which together formed its whole.
Under the protection of the Populus, a number of dependents[72]
(_cluentes_, from _cluere_ to hear) dwelt within the liberties of
the old town, which extended for about one German mile (nearly five
English) on the road leading to Alba. The boundary may be laid down
very accurately: unfortunately, the thought struck me only after my
departure from Italy. The way in which these clients came to be bound
to their patrons, just as the vassals were to their liege-lords, to
ransom them from captivity, to pay the portion of their daughters, to
be their stay and defence in the time of trouble, had its origin from
very different causes. They may partly have been old native Siculians,
who on being conquered by the Cascans, swore fealty in order to be
mercifully dealt with; foreigners may also have come in as residents,
and placed themselves under the guardianship of a Roman citizen;
there may likewise have been among them some of the inhabitants of
those places which were obliged to submit to the supremacy of Rome;
and the slave who had gained his freedom, stood to his late master in
the relation of a client. This class must necessarily have gone on
increasing so long as Rome was in a flourishing state. The asylum, in
the old tradition, has reference to the clientship, the clients having
really gathered together from all quarters. Quite distinct from them,
however, were the free communities, from which the country population
arose, of which the first beginning was traced back to the times of
Ancus. Scaliger, in one of the noblest of divinations, has discovered
that Catullus calls the Romans _gens Romulique Ancique_, in which
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