BROADCASTS.com

b'
\\nWe return to our narrative of Rome\'s history of its foundation with some surprising Sabines. It\'s still 460 BCE , which is an indication of just how complicated Rome\'s history is becoming when we read our sources.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nBoth Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus are very focused on the ongoing conflict between the Roman elites and the emerging claims to power from the plebeians.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nWe wouldn\'t would to give too many spoilers away, but while the Romans are busy trying to figure out what their internal politics will look like, there might just be an enemy on the horizon!
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nEpisode 97 - Surprising Sabines
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nYou can catch up on the earlier action of this year here.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nJust Your Everyday
\\nOngoing Political Conflict
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nSome of the
\\ncomplications in the City stem from the young patricians who have
\\nbecome a force to be reckoned with, terrorising plebeians. The
\\ntribunes have been lobbying for changes that would make Roman law
\\ntransparent but so far there\'s been no real movement on the issue.
\\nThere are a number of things to consider, such as:
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* connections between this conflict and the First Succession;* the use of annual levies by the patricians as a means of controlling the plebeians;* and the role of local warfare in preventing plebeians from engaging fully in Rome\'s politics.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nSurprise, Surprise,
\\nit\'s the Sabines!
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nJust when the Romans
\\nare caught up in their own problems, the Sabine Appius Herdonius
\\nturns up with a goodly number of supporters and seizes the Capitol.
\\nOur sources disagree on just how large Herdonius\' force is or who is
\\npart of it, but, regardless of the figures and identities, the
\\nnarrative follows the same trajectory - infiltration!
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nWe discuss the various strategies credited to Herdonius for entering the city and his apparent aims in making such a bold move. Suffice it to say, word of Rome\'s internal unrest has spread...
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nSabine Attack as a
\\nMicrocosm of Rome\'s Internal Trouble
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nNeedless to say, the Romans are less than pleased to have an intruder in the heart of the City. Like a kicked beehive, the citizens rally to defend themselves! It\'s not long though before this chaos turns into competing calls to arms. The consuls and tribunes seize upon the moment to offer differing opinions about the situation and urging the citizen body to divergent actions.
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nHear how the
\\ntensions rise and the Romans respond to the Sabine threat in this
\\nepisode!
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nOur Main Players
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nConsuls
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* Publius Valerius P. f. Volusi n. Publicola (cos. II)* Gaius Claudius Ap. f. M. n. Inrigillensis (or Regillensis) Sabinus
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nTribunes
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* Aulus Verginius* Marcus Volscius Fictor
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nSabines
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* Appius Herdonius
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nTusculans
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* Lucius Mamilius
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nOur Sources
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\n* Livy Ab Urbe Condita 3.15-18* Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 9.14-16
\\n
\\n
\\n
\\nTopography of the ancient Capitol, according to the arbitrary reconstitution of Nardini, in The Roman Capitol in Ancient and Modern Times (1906). Source: Wikimedia Commons
'