Misplaced Pages

#411588

47-491: Duumviri iuri or iure dicundo were the highest judicial magistrates in the cities of Italy and its provinces. Their chief duties were concerned with the administration of justice. The activities of these individuals are described in the local statutes such as Lex Julia , Lex Irnitana , Lex Malacitana , Lex Rubria , Lex Coloniae , and Genetivae Iuliae . The office was determined by election and lasted one year. The duumviri were also expected to deal with public finance of

94-561: A belief which flattered the pride and exalted the origin of the imperial family. Though it would seem that the Julii first came to Rome in the reign of Tullus Hostilius, the name occurs in Roman legend as early as the time of Romulus . It was Proculus Julius who was said to have informed the sorrowing Roman people, after the strange departure of Romulus from the world, that their king had descended from heaven and appeared to him, bidding him tell

141-500: A city and with proceedings in the Ordo decurionum (town council) and to run the elections in the comitium (assembly). Combined with the aediles , they formed the quattuorviri , a board of four officials. It was often the case that the emperor was elected as one duumvir and the other position was left up to the emperor for the appointment of a praefectus . Duumviri quinquennales were also municipal officers, not to be confused with

188-560: A law to grant all Italians not under arms citizenship. At the instruction of the Senate, Lucius Caesar proposed a law providing that each Italian community would decide as to whether they would take Roman citizenship and establish new tribes – possibly eight – in the Tribal Assembly for the new citizens. This grant to citizenship had the effect of almost tripling the number of Roman citizens and annexing large swathes of Italy into

235-527: A private and public crime ( lex Julia de adulteriis ). To encourage population expansion, the leges Juliae offered inducements to marriage and imposed penalties upon the celibate . Augustus instituted the "Law of the three sons" which held those in high regard who produced three male offspring. Marrying-age celibates and young widows who would not marry were prohibited from receiving inheritances and from attending public games. The extracts below are from later legal codes and textbooks, but are also valuable in

282-419: A temple, or a temple already constructed, to a deity. Such an individual might be appointed to dedicate a temple that had been constructed at the expense of another magistrate who was no longer in office. Duumviri aedi locandae were originally officers specially appointed to supervise the erection of a temple, if a higher magistrate such as a consul, praetor, or censor, was not managing it. These were sometimes

329-403: A total of fifteen ( quindecimviri sacris faciundis ). Afterwards, their body was greatly increased, and at length amounted to sixty; yet still retained the denomination of quindecimviri . They were entirely abolished under Emperor Theodosius I . Duumviri aedi dedicandae were magistrates who, by way of a decree of the senate, performed the dedication of an area planned for the construction of

376-580: The De Origo Gentis Romanae of Aurelius Victor, in which Iulus and Ascanius are identical. Described as the son of Jupiter, he was originally known as Jobus , and then Julus . This calls to mind the use of Jove for Jupiter , and the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology suggests that Iulus might be a diminutive of Dius , which is also the root of Jupiter . Furthermore, Livy reports that after his death Aeneas

423-529: The cognomen Caesar : It is uncertain which member of the Julia gens first obtained the surname of Caesar , but the first who occurs in history is Sextus Julius Caesar, praetor in BC 208. The origin of the name is equally uncertain. Spartianus , in his life of Aelius Verus , mentions four different opinions respecting its origin: Of these opinions, the third, which is also given by Festus , seems to come nearest

470-403: The consulship was Gaius Julius Iulus in 489 BC. The gens is perhaps best known, however, for Gaius Julius Caesar , the dictator and grand uncle of the emperor Augustus , through whom the name was passed to the so-called Julio-Claudian dynasty of the first century AD. The nomen Julius became very common in imperial times , as the descendants of persons enrolled as citizens under

517-464: The lege Albana , or Alban rites. Their connection with Bovillae is also implied by the sacrarium , or chapel, which the emperor Tiberius dedicated to the gens Julia in the town, and in which he placed the statue of Augustus. Some of the Julii may have settled at Bovillae after the fall of Alba Longa. As it became the fashion in the later times of the Republic to claim a divine origin for

SECTION 10

#1732772526412

564-485: The Julii with this name before his time. An inquiry into the etymology of this name is of some interest, as no other name has ever obtained such celebrity — "clarum et duraturum cum aeternitate mundi nomen." It was assumed by Augustus as the adopted son of the dictator, and was by Augustus handed down to his adopted son Tiberius . It continued to be used by Caligula , Claudius , and Nero , as members either by adoption or female descent of Caesar's family; but though

611-479: The Republic used the praenomina Lucius , Gaius , and Sextus . There are also instances of Vopiscus and Spurius in the early generations of the family. The earliest of the Julii appearing in legend bore the praenomen Proculus , and it is possible that this name was used by some of the early Julii, although no later examples are known. In the later Republic and imperial times, Vopiscus and Proculus were generally used as personal cognomina. The gens

658-515: The above, who were elected every fifth year for one year to exercise the function of the censorship which was in abeyance for the intervening four years. Duumviri sacrorum , which were created by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus , were officers for the performance of sacrifice, and keeping of the Sibylline Books . They were chosen out of the nobility, or patricii , and held their office for life. They were exempted from serving in war, and from

705-562: The aediles, whose duty it was to look after those streets of Rome which were outside the city walls. They were members of the group of vigintisexviri . Apparently in 20 BC, certainly by 12 BC, their duties were transferred to the curatores viarum . From at least as early as 45 BC (cf. the Lex Julia ), the streets of the city were superintended by quattuorviri viis in urbe purgandis , later called quattuorviri viarum purgandarum . Lex Julia A lex Julia (plural: leges Juliae )

752-504: The assembly, bypassing the senate. The lex Julia de repetundis , also called the lex Julia repetundarum , was passed by Gaius Julius Caesar during his first consulship in 59 BC. It was a major piece of legislation containing over 100 clauses which dealt with a large number of provincial abuses, provided procedures for enforcement, and punishment for violations. Among other things, it: The law also expanded regulations on all kinds of public actions, including corruption before

799-406: The bill grew. Bibulus resorted instead to obstruction tactics by declaring negative omens on every day the bill could be voted on; one day, when moving to declare those omens, he – along with his political ally Cato – was attacked in the street by a mob (almost certainly organised by Caesar and his allies), forcing him to return home. In the absence of an announcement of negative omens, Caesar carried

846-414: The bill in the assembly. Added to the law was then the requirement that senators swear an oath to uphold the law. Cato and an ally refused until intercession by Cicero , arguing that it would be better for Rome if Cato swore and remained than withdrew to exile. In the face of obstructive tactics from Cato's allies, Caesar brought the bill expanding the public lands subject to redistribution straight to

893-403: The bill, he won a political victory when he forced Bibulus to admit that he had few reasons for opposing the bill while publicly expressing senseless and obstinate opposition: "You will not have this law this year, not even should you all want it!". With the support of Pompey and Crassus , two influential senators with which Caesar was cooperating in a then- secret alliance , popular support for

940-526: The earliest criminal court for trying cases of perduellio (high treason). They continued to be appointed under the Republic, with the last mention in 63 BC; however, since the mid-3rd century BC, plebeian tribunes are known to have taken up such cases. The first duumviri of this kind were those appointed to judge the surviving Horatii , for killing his sister after vanquishing the Curiatii . Duumviri viis extra urbem purgandis were subordinate officers under

987-411: The early emperors began to make their mark in history. The Julii were of Alban origin, mentioned as one of the leading Alban houses, which Tullus Hostilius removed to Rome upon the destruction of Alba Longa . The Julii also existed at an early period at Bovillae , evidenced by a very ancient inscription on an altar in the theatre of that town, which speaks of their offering sacrifices according to

SECTION 20

#1732772526412

1034-469: The example by freely mingling the praenomina of the Julii with those of the gens Claudia , using titles and cognomina as praenomina, and regularly changing their praenomina to reflect the political winds of the empire. The family-names of the Julii in the time of the Republic are Caesar , Iulus , Mento , and Libo , of which the first three are undoubtedly patrician; but the only families which were particularly celebrated were those of Iulus and Caesar ,

1081-419: The family became extinct with Nero, succeeding emperors still retained it as part of their titles, and it was the practice to prefix it to their own name, as for instance, Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus . When Hadrian adopted Aelius Verus, he allowed the latter to take the title of Caesar ; and from this time, though the title of Augustus continued to be confined to the reigning prince, that of Caesar

1128-477: The first, which was the one adopted, says Spartianus, by the most learned men, it is impossible to disprove it absolutely, as we know next to nothing of the ancient Moorish language; but it has no inherent probability in it; and the statement of Servius is undoubtedly false, that the grandfather of the dictator obtained the surname on account of killing an elephant with his own hand in Africa, as there were several of

1175-678: The former at the beginning and the latter in the last century of the Republic. On coins the only names found are Caesar and Bursio , the latter of which does not occur in ancient writers. Due to the activity of Julius Caesar in Gaul over many years, a number of natives of the Gallic provinces adopted Julius as their gentilicum, and have no other connection to the Republican Julii. Examples of their descendants include Julius Florus , and Gaius Julius Civilis . Other Julii are descended from

1222-564: The law remained "the basis of the Roman law of provincial administration". This law may have set regulations for Italian municipalities. The question of whether Julius Caesar was responsible for this law is "fiercely debated". Under Augustus, the leges Juliae of 18–17 BC attempted to elevate both the morals and the numbers of the upper classes in Rome and to increase the population by encouraging marriage and having children ( lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus ). They also established adultery as

1269-525: The libation pourer at religious ceremonies. It is not certain whether the name was personal, or whether the consul inherited it from his father and grandfather, of whom all we know is that they were named Lucius. Some scholars have supposed that Libo was descended from the Julii Iuli, and that Lucius, the father of Sextus Julius Caesar, was his son; but the evidence is very slight. The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology says this of

1316-477: The main exceptions were the Samnites and Lucanians – in an attempt to further stem rebellion. Julius Caesar passed two pieces of agrarian legislation in 59 BC during his first consulship. They were two pieces of related legislation: a lex Julia agraria and a lex Julia de agro Campano . The first law was related to the distribution of public (both existing and purchased from willing sellers) lands to

1363-473: The mere name occurring in this legend. In the later Empire, the distinction between praenomen, nomen, and cognomen was gradually lost, and Julius was treated much like a personal name, which it ultimately became. The Latin form is common in many languages, but other familiar forms exist, including Giulio (Italian), Julio (Spanish), Jules (French), Júlio (Portuguese), Iuliu (Romanian) and Юлий ( Yuliy , Bulgarian and Russian). The Julii of

1410-499: The most distinguished of the Roman gentes, it was contended that Iulus, the mythical ancestor of the race, was the same as Ascanius , the son of Aeneas , and founder of Alba Longa . Aeneas was, in turn, the son of Venus and Anchises . In order to prove the identity of Ascanius and Iulus, recourse was had to etymology, some specimens of which the reader curious in such matters will find in Servius . Other traditions held that Iulus

1457-452: The numerous freedmen , and it may have been assumed by some out of vanity and ostentation. Iullus , also written as Iulus and Jullus , was the surname of the eldest branch of the Julii to appear in Roman history. The gens claimed descent from Iulus, who was in some manner connected with Aeneas, although the traditions differed with respect to the details. In some accounts, Iulus was the son of Aeneas and Creüsa, who came to Latium from

Duumviri - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-477: The offices imposed on the other citizens. Without them, the oracles of the Sybils could not be consulted. The commission held until the year 388 BC, when, at the request of C. Licinius and L. Sexius, tribunes of the people, they were increased to ten ( decemviri sacris faciundis ). That is, in lieu of two persons, the trust was committed to ten—half patricians, half plebeians . Sulla added five to their number, for

1551-513: The original and better attested spelling, although the trisyllabic form Iulus became common after Vergil introduced it in his Aeneid . During the century and a half between the last records of the Julii Iuli and the first appearance of the Julii Caesares, we encounter a Lucius Julius Libo , consul in BC 267. Chase translates his surname as "sprinkler", deriving it from libare , and suggests that it might originally have signified

1598-451: The people to honor him in future as a god, under the name of Quirinus . Some modern critics have inferred from this, that a few of the Julii might have settled in Rome in the reign of the first king; but considering the entirely fabulous nature of the tale, and the circumstance that the celebrity of the Julia gens in later times would easily lead to its connection with the earliest times of Roman story, no historical argument can be drawn from

1645-504: The permanent courts, the senate, and public contracts (especially as to public works and grain). It also banned the owning of ships by senators. While it extended to judicial corruption, "Caesar was prudent" in keeping away from the "political hot potato" that was anti-bribery legislation applied to the equites – diverse men including Cato and Pompey had previously tried and failed in passing such legislation. However, Caesar cooperated with an ally in introducing legislation to record

1692-589: The republic proper. The offer would be open to all Italian towns which were not under arms or who would lay those arms down within a short period. The main purpose of the law was to prevent those who had not risen up against Roman rule from doing so. It also had the effect of weakening the Italian war effort by making acceptable compromises. The next year, the Romans introduced the lex Plautia Papiria de civitate , granting citizenship to more allies under rebellion –

1739-454: The ruins of Troy , together with his father and others seeking a land in which to settle. In others, Ascanius was the son of Creüsa, while Iulus was the son of Lavinia, daughter of Latinus, the king of Latium with whom Aeneas made peace after landing in Italy. In still different accounts, Iulus was the son not of Aeneas, but of Ascanius. Perhaps an indigenous origin of the name is suggested by

1786-404: The same as the duumviri aedi dedicandae . Duumviri navales were extraordinary officers appointed ad hoc for the equipping of a fleet. Originally chosen by consuls or dictators , they were elected by the people after 311 BC ( Livy , AUC ix. 30; xl. 18; xli. I). The capital duumviri, duumviri perduellionis , were not ordinary magistrates, but created on certain occurrences. They were

1833-471: The sense that they are based on, and frequently quote from, the actual text of Augustus' laws. As written down by Ulpian Under the rule of Emperor Justinian Julii The gens Julia was one of the most prominent patrician families in ancient Rome . Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the Republic . The first of the family to obtain

1880-414: The triumvir, who had a son named Iulus . Classical Latin did not distinguish between the letters "I" and "J", which were both written with "I", and for this reason the name is sometimes written Julus , just as Julius is also written Iulius . The many Julii of imperial times, who were not descended from the gens Julia, did not limit themselves to the praenomina of that family. The imperial family set

1927-455: The truth. Caesar and caesaries are both probably connected with the Sanskrit kêsa , "hair", and it is quite in accordance with the Roman custom for a surname to be given to an individual from some peculiarity in his personal appearance. The second opinion, which seems to have been the most popular one with the ancient writers, arose without doubt from a false etymology . With respect to

Duumviri - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-543: The urban poor and Pompey 's veterans; the latter added public lands in Campania for distribution. The passage of the first law was troubled. Caesar started his consulship by introducing it; it immediately met a filibuster from Cato the Younger . After being blocked in the senate, Caesar brought the bill before the popular assemblies. Inviting Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus , his co-consul and political opponent, to debate

2021-451: The votes of the jury panels (senators, equites , and tribuni aerarii ) separately, which "imposed a degree of indirect accountability without violating the secrecy of the individual verdict". It was passed with little dissent, receiving "high praise from [Caesar's] contemporaries". Many senators contributed to it, including Cato, who may have proposed the addition of some regulations against extortion of provincial towns. For centuries,

2068-410: Was always said to have descended from and been named after a mythical personage named Iulus or Iullus , even before he was asserted to be the son of Aeneas; and it is entirely possible that Iulus was an ancient praenomen, which had fallen out of use by the early Republic, and was preserved as a cognomen by the eldest branch of the Julii. The name was later revived as a praenomen by Marcus Antonius ,

2115-517: Was an ancient Roman law that was introduced by any member of the gens Julia . Most often, "Julian laws", lex Julia or leges Juliae refer to moral legislation introduced by Augustus in 23 BC, or to a law related to Julius Caesar . During the Social War , a conflict between the Italians and the Romans over the withholding of Italian citizenship, the consul Lucius Julius Caesar passed

2162-472: Was the son of Aeneas by his Trojan wife, Creusa , while Ascanius was the son of Aeneas and Lavinia , daughter of Latinus . The dictator Caesar frequently alluded to the divine origin of his race, as, for instance, in the funeral oration which he pronounced when quaestor over his aunt Julia , and in giving Venus Genetrix as the word to his soldiers at the battles of Pharsalus and Munda ; and subsequent writers and poets were ready enough to fall in with

2209-517: Was worshiped as Jupiter Indiges , "the local Jove". This suggests the early fusion of the Aeneas story with a local cult hero, said to have been the son of Jupiter. Irrespective of the historicity of the Iulus of Roman myth, there is little reason to doubt that Iullus was an ancient personal name, perhaps even a praenomen, and that Julius is a patronymic surname built upon it. Iullus seems to be

#411588