Ex senatu eiecti sunt : expulsion from the Senate of the Roman Republic, c. 319-50 BC
One of the major duties performed by the censors of the Roman Republic was that of the lectio senatus, the enrolment of the Senate. As part of this process they were able to expel from that body anyone whom they deemed unequal to the honour of continued membership. Those expelled were termed âpraeteritiâ. While various aspects of this important and at-times controversial process have attracted scholarly attention, a detailed survey has never been attempted. The work is divided into two major parts. Part I comprises four chapters relating to various aspects of the lectio. Chapter 1 sees a close analysis of the term âpraeteritusâ, shedding fresh light on senatorial demographics and turnover â primarily a demonstration of the correctness of the (minority) view that as early as the third century the quaestorship conveyed automatic membership of the Senate to those who held it. It was not a Sullan innovation. In Ch.2 we calculate that during the period under investigation, c.350 members were expelled. When factoring for life expectancy, this translates to a significant mean lifetime risk of expulsion: c.10%. Also, that mean risk was front-loaded, with praetorians and consulars significantly less likely
Moore, L. C.
Ex senatu eiecti sunt : expulsion from the Senate of the Roman Republic, c. 319-50 BC. One of the major duties performed by the censors of the Roman Republic was that of the lectio senatus, the enrolment of the Senate. As part of this process they were able to expel from that body anyone whom they deemed unequal to the honour of continued membership. Those expelled were termed âpraeteritiâ. While various aspects of this important and at-times controversial process have attracted scholarly attention, a detailed survey has never been attempted. The work is divided into two major parts. Part I comprises four chapters relating to various aspects of the lectio. Chapter 1 sees a close analysis of the term âpraeteritusâ, shedding fresh light on senatorial demographics and turnover â primarily a demonstration of the correctness of the (minority) view that as early as the third century the quaestorship conveyed automatic membership of the Senate to those who held it. It was not a Sullan innovation. In Ch.2 we calculate that during the period under investigation, c.350 members were expelled. When factoring for life expectancy, this translates to a significant mean lifetime risk of expulsion: c.10%. Also, that mean risk was front-loaded, with praetorians and consulars significantly less likely
expulsion senate roman_republic one_major duty perform censor roman_republic lectio enrolment senate part process able expel body anyone deem unequal honour continue membership expel term various_aspect important times controversial process attract scholarly_attention detailed_survey never attempt work_divide two_major part part_comprise relate various_aspect lectio see close_analysis term shed fresh light senatorial demographic turnover primarily demonstration correctness minority view convey automatic membership senate hold innovation calculate period investigation member expel factor life expectancy translate significant mean lifetime risk expulsion also mean risk front significantly less likely