Politics and Power Brokers in Ancient Rome
For any
young senator looking to advance through the cursus, it was vital that they were able to navigate through the
centuries old traditions of faction building to ensure that they could gain the
required political support. Whilst these traditions were often highly complex,
an insight into the art of alliance building can be gleamed from a highly publicised
event in the history of the late republic – the Conference of Lucca (56 BC). By
examining this (albeit fairly unusual) event, alongside the way in which the
key players sought to carve out their own role in the alliance, we can gain a
greater understanding of how factions were developed within the
Roman Republic.
The Rule of Three
By 56 BC, all was not well in Rome. The three most powerful
men in Roman politics at the time – Pompey, Caesar and Crassus – had banded
together into an alliance known as the Triumvirate, which had allowed them to dominate
the political scene through their vast resources and clients. However, a
counter faction of conservatives in the senate (known as the Catonians) was trying
desperately to pry them apart, and thus gain control over Rome for themselves.
To
understand how the Triumvirate had come about, we need look no further than
simple self interest. Pompey, Caesar and
Crassus had all seen their political ambitions thwarted at various stages, and
when faced with further obstacles to their progress, the three opted to form an
alliance and strengthen their position (for a more in depth look at the
Triumvirate, see here).
Despite the initial successes of the Triumvirate, the Catonian
faction, led by Marcus Porcius Cato, found themselves on the ascendency – with the
Triumvirs struggling to regain political control. Infighting between the
three partners, alongside the use of violent mobs within the city, had left their
alliance in a precarious position. In 56 BC, the future of the Triumvirate
looked at risk, with a potential breakdown appearing increasingly likely. It is against
this backdrop that the three men decided to call a conference in the town of
Lucca (in the north west of modern day Italy) with the aim of salvaging their
alliance.
The Conference of
Lucca
In 56 BC, Pompey, Caesar and Crassus would make their way to
Lucca – with each member’s political future depending on the outcome. Just like
a modern day political conference, the gathering would not just attract the
three Triumvirs – with over 200 senators making the trip from Rome to attend. However, if the Conference of Lucca looked to
save the Triumvirate, it would come at a price.
Each man had his own objectives
in mind, which needed to be balanced if the alliance was to be renewed. For
Caesar, he aimed to have his command of Gaul extended for 5 years, which in
turn would allow him to increase his auctoritas
and advance his reputation. Crassus had a similar goal in mind, with his eyes fixed
on a military command in the East against the Parthians. For Pompey, he wished
to consolidate his own position back in Rome, and protect himself from future
intrigues by the Catonians.
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| Modern Day Lucca |
When all was said and done, an agreement was made and the
alliance was renewed. Pompey and Crassus were to run for the Consulship – aided
by Caesar, who brought in his troops to both provide extra votes and to intimidate
their opponents. After a bitterly fought election campaign, Pompey and
Crassus were elected to the Consulship in 55 BC at the expense of the Catonian
candidate, Domitius Ahenobarbus.
The two Consuls could then fulfil their end of
the bargain. Caesar’s term in Gaul was extended for five years, Crassus was given
his command in the East, and Pompey would be granted command of both Spanish provinces, alongside Africa – providing him with four legions (two of
which he would lend to Caesar in Gaul). As a result of their negotiations, the
three Triumvirs had once again confirmed their position as the pre-eminent
figures in Roman politics.
Alliance Building in
Rome
So, what is it that we can take away from the Conference of
Lucca? Firstly, it highlights the importance of alliance building in Roman
politics. Despite the individual power held by each member of the Triumvirate,
they still needed their own faction to navigate the challenging world of
republican politics. The checks and balances put in place by institutions
within Rome made it impossible for Pompey, Caesar or Crassus to gather too much
power in their own hands – and thus they were required to forge alliances to
achieve their objectives. As such, the Conference of Lucca represents the Roman
tradition of political patronage and faction building, as opposed to autocracy and despotism.
Secondly, Lucca gives us a first hand insight into the way in which power was
brokered behind the scenes in the late republic. Each Triumvir had their own objectives
which had to be weighed up as part of the alliance, highlighting how even in
times of great upheaval, mutual self interests could be a driving force in Roman
politics. Ultimately, through the lens of Lucca and the Triumvirs, we are able
to ‘peer behind the curtain’ of political negotiations in the late republic - thus allowing us to catch a glimpse of political processes that often remain secretive and hidden in
the historical narrative of Ancient Rome.
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