Roman revivalists... in [Space]

[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Well, if Colleen McCullough got it right, the biggest flaw wasn't the constitution as such, but the hardening attitude of the aristocracy. The addition of talented "new men" to the senate was constitutionally possible, since anyone who was elected consul automatically ennobled his line. Which towards the end made the established aristocracy extremely reluctant to allow any new man to be elected to any office that might give him the popularity (and riches) to be elected consul. Only the very most talented new man had any chance to surpass the most bungling noble. They tolerated Marius for just as long as they needed him and then turned on him. Cicero made it because he was brilliant and because he aligned himself completely with the boni.

One big problem was the loyalty of the soldiers to individual generals. Preventing successful generals from being a source of patronage would be a top priority for a Revised Roman Constitution. That means the state provides the soldiers with pay and pensions, NOT the generals.

Somewhere in one of John Maddox S.P.Q.R. series of whodunnits the protagonist (a minor (fictional) Metellus) has a conversation with his father where he explains what he thinks would be necessary to save the Republic. He'll never say so in public, of course, since it would get him killed. Unfortunately, I can't locate the passage. I'll try to have another look tomorrow.


Hans