Roman Aristocratic Ethos, Values and Goals

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“From innocence is inborn dignity,

from dignity honour, from honour the right to command,

from the right to command liberty” Scipio Aemilianus.

The emergency of Roman ‘nobilis’ status provided broad privileges to the people belonging to the ancient state elite; Roman nobility were characterized by central positions in the political and social spheres of ancient life. Foreign policy and military matters were conducted with the involvement of the Roman elite. Roman nobility and the senate were in the middle of Empire affairs. The first characteristics of the nobility appeared to be described from the period of Roman Greece, when the Roman Empire won the battle of Corinth and made the capital Byzantium city. The roman nobles were considered to be the principle political opponents participating in all kinds of political affairs.

The society of ancient Rome included the division between patricians and plebs; patricians were the members of the privileged class having dominant rights within state affairs though they could be poor; the plebeian were characterized by rich and well educated status. Both classes belonged to the roman nobility in ancient time being changed and developed with wars and low procreation. (Dupont, 1994)

It is necessary to underline the fact that Roman nobility was characterized by having three names as Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus who was referred to the roman noblemen of ancient period. Scipio’s educational background was a traditional one being based on a Greek pattern. From the very youth he was surrounded by Greek teachers and sculptors who gave him the notes of their culture that is why Scipio’s literature interests were aimed at Greek elements. Scipio was recognized by the members of Roman society for his public activities; he was unscrupulous and ruthless in politics having hard character and personal bravery.

Scipio’s military talents were demonstrated through his exploits in Africa (149-148 BC), two victories and successful propaganda making him a skilled orator. The characteristics of Scipio’s activities and personal features give an opportunity to demonstrate a bright example of a nobleman representative of the ancient Rome. Scipio’s ambitions were similar to those of many Roman nobles; his genuine patriotism, ambitions and over-confidence allowed to prove that he was worthy of being a part of the noble society. (Astin, 1967)

The third century demonstrated the mixture of wealthy blebs and patrician families making new form of aristocracy. The most important values of the roman noblemen can be highlighted through their participation in political affairs and military activities characterizing them as patriotic, ambitious and resistant leaders of the Roman Empire. (Adcock, Roman Political Ideas and Practice)

The Scipionic Epitaphs demonstrate ancient inscriptions characterizing nobility of 200 BC. In the first two epitaphs the qualities of warrior characters are illustrated:

¹fuit, consol censor aidilis

quei fuit apud vos Taurasia

Cisauna / Samnio cepit, subigit

omne Loucanam opsidesque abdoucit…

Inscriptions III, IV and V have the signs of political significance and leadership characterizing the role of nobility in military affairs.

²L. Corneli. L.f. P. / Scipio

quaist./ tr. mil.

annos / gnatus XXXIII / mortuos.

The principle difference lies in the way of values presentation; personal qualities are transformed into strong character and achievements demonstrated as a true representative of Roman nobility.

Epitaph VII, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Hispanus, discloses the address of the nobleman to show his political and military achievements through the failure:

By my good conduct I heaped virtues on the

virtues of my clan; I begat a family and sought

to equal the exploits of my father.

The words underline the events of 135 BC and a slight note of political failure in the conducted activities. (The Scipionic Epitaphs, 1968)

Roman nobility could contain not only the members of privileged class but also representatives of ordinary society who demonstrated their noble features through activities and ambitious nature. Though the nobility was merely privileged in ancient Roman Empire, they could not participate in any kind of commercial activities; the principle goal was to demonstrate their qualities in political and military affairs which made them belong to the Roman elite of the period. Inscriptions and ancient documents prove the status of the noblemen and their achievements aimed at state prosperity.

The representatives of elite should not compulsory be wealthy though they were not to participate in ay trade activities and try to be involved in commercial cooperation; this restriction differed aristocracy from ordinary society providing them with special privileges in the election system and other political affairs. The ‘nobility’ in ancient period reflected the elements of the Greek culture; Roman nobility had a special status not only in political and social sphere, but in religious as well. It is important to underline the fact that in the Roman Empire representatives of the nobility had to be deeply involved in religious activities demonstrating hereditary loyalty to the Roman Church. (Scullard, 2002)

The analysis of the Roman elite, nobility and aristocracy gives an opportunity to recognize the principle values and features to be obtained by its representatives and the roles to be performed by them in the Roman political and military sphere.

References

Adcock, F. E. Roman Political Ideas and Practice. Sixth Series. The University of Michigan Press.

Astin, A. E. 1967. Scipio Aemilianus. Oxford; At the Clarendon Press.

Dupont, F. 1994. Daly Life in Ancient Rome. Wiley-Blackwell.

Granrud, J. E. 2008. Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 BC. BiblioBazaar, LLC.

Scullard, H. H. 2002. A History of the Roman world, 753 to 146 BC. Edition 4, Routledge.

The Scipionic Epitaphs, 1968.

He took Taurasia and Cisauna from Samnium; he overcame all the Lucanian land and brought hostages therefrom
Lucius Cornelius Scipio, son of Lucius, grandson of Publius, quaestor, tribune of soldiers.

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Roman Aristocratic Ethos, Values and Goals

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