The Partial Historians

In 409 BCE, there is drama in Rome when the plebeians set their sights on electing one of their own to the quaestorship.

The Partial Historians recap what the ancient sources have recorded for the 410s BCE in Ancient Rome.

The citadel of Carventum enters Roman history when the Volsicans and Aequians squeeze Rome?s allies the Hernicians? how will Rome respond?

We sit down with Dr Emma Southon to discuss her brand new book. We delve into the real and very fascinating lives of Rome's women.

In this episode we tackle the years 413 and 412 BCE. These years come hard on the back of the murder of the patrician Postumius. Rome is facing challenges that seem to be bound up in the spolia in times of war and the broader annalist focus on the idea of the Struggle of the Orders which has been the defining feature of the early republic in Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. To catch up on the unfortunate fate of Postumius, check out Episode 142 - A Wrongheaded Man. Episode 143 - Special Victims Unit Onwards and Upwards? Murder is not something to be overlooked lightly, especially when the victim is a Roman patrician. It might be time for an investigation! And not just any investigation, but a special taskforce is assembled to consider all the evidence and follow the clues wherever they lead. Livy mentions this group as a quaestio perpetua, but there?s good reason to be suspicious of this classification for the investigators. Strong evidence for the quaestio perpetua doesn?t emerge until the second century BCE over 250 years on from 413 BCE! Agrarian Reform Will Rome find a way to reform its practices around conquered land? This topic comes back to the fore as we have the name for a of the tribunes of plebs. Roman conquest of new lands also brings this thorny subject back into the public discourse. How historical could the issue be at this point in the early republic? And will the patricians finally offer the plebeians something on this matter? Time will tell! Issues with the Volscians Rome?s perennial tousle with their neighbours, the Volscii, continues in 413 BCE. The Hernicians seek Rome?s aid against the Volscian forces and Rome is happy to oblige. The city of Ferentinum comes to our attention through this situation. We learn about the location of Ferentinum as likely corresponding with modern Ferentino, which is to the southeast of Rome, and likely part of the territory of the Hernicians at this time. What happens next to the city of Ferentinum? Tune in to find out! Is that Ferentinum way down to the southeast of Rome in the territory of the Hernicii? It surely is! Source: https://www.heritage-history.com/ The Return of the Icilii Perhaps Rome?s most famous plebeians gens at this point in early republican history is the Icilii. And in 412 BCE, we see another member of the Icilii gens come into the role of tribune of the plebs. Famously, the Icilii are connected with the Lex Icilia de Aventino Publicando which our annalist tradition places as early as 456 BCE. Looking to brush up on this? Check out our Episode 104 - Aventine, Aventine. Another Icilius is also connected with the second decemvirate on account of being engaged to Verginia. To revisit Verginia's tale, see Episode 114 - The Tale of Verginia. Things to Listen Out For Ancient sources? What sources? Leniency for those found guilty Land redistribution in Bolae? Does Rome even have ager publicus to redistribute??? Volero returns!? The introduction of later sources Florus and Zonaras The Latin League Is Rome entering an expansionist phase? A history of the Icilius gens Pestilence! The Hernician Federation Our Players 413 BCE Consuls Aulus (or Marcus) Cornelius - f. - n. Cossus (Pat.) Lucius Furius (L. f. Sp. n.?) Medullinus (Pat.) Interrex Quintus Fabius Vibulanus (Pat.) Our Players 412 BCE Consuls Quintus Fabius - f. - n. Ambustus Vibulanus (Pat.) Gaius Furius - f. - n. Pacilus (Pat.) Tribune of the Plebs Lucius Icilius Our Sources Dr Rad reads Livy 4.51.1-4.52.1 Dr G reads Diodorus 13.43.1, 14.54.1; Florus 1.17.1-2; Zonarus 7.20 Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. ? 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association) Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis) Ogilvie,

We delve into more ancient Roman conflict which revolves around the patrician Postumius, described by historians as a wrongheaded man.

This episode features Professor Alastair Blanshard in a conversation about the representation of classical myths in Disney's Hercules (1997).

This episode delves into more conflict between the Romans and the Aequians, as well as some more classic Conflict of the Orders.

We sit down with Yentl Love to take a deep dive in the layered symbolism of the classical allusions in Lil Nas X's music video for 'Call Me By Your Name'.

We consider the drama of 419 and 418 BCE. These years are packed with exciting moments as we get to learn about an uprising from below...!

We sit down to chat with Genn and Jenny, the fabulous cohosts of the Ancient History Fan Girl podcast about their book Women of Myth!

The Partial Historians recap the major events in Ancient Rome during the 420s BCE.

We tackle the drama of 420 BCE by taking a look at the trials of Sempronius and the Vestal Virgin, Postumia.

Part two of our deep dive into the classic sword and sandal epic, Quo Vadis (1951). How was the film shaped by its context? Let's find out!

422 and 421 BCE see the fall-out of Sempronius' military disaster with the Volsci. But things are about to get complicated as four tribunes, previous cavalry leaders, emerge as a political force to be reckoned with...

Quo Vadis (1951) is a roaring sword and sandals film from Hollywood. Herein we cover some of the context and the major arc of the plot.

Rome faces disaster as the consul Gaius Sempronius takes a negligent approach to battle preparation. Will plucky plebeian Sextus Tempanius save the day?

No war to fight? No grumpy neighbours to quibble with? Whatever shall Rome do? One thing's for sure, it's a good time to be a plebeian!

With its mix of ancient Rome and early Christianity, The Robe (1953) is a fascinating film. We come to grips with its classical reception.

The bromance between Mamercus and Cossus knows no bounds. One swift cavalry move later and these two are riding high for Rome!

We recap the confusing details of the 430s BCE. There's a lot of dictators about, a political assassination, and some great Latin names!

We're celebrating ten years of The Partial Historians podcast with our top ten moments from Roman history so far!

The years of 430-428 BCE are a hazy time for recorded Roman history. We dip in to see the lay of the land and catch up on the drought!

Postumius Tubertus becomes dictator in Rome. What happens under his command will make history and but necessarily for all the right reasons...

When enslaved people rose up against their masters in ancient Rome, what role did the women play? We're about to find out!

Military tribunes with consular power, men all dressed up in their white togas (toga candida only please). It's early republican mayhem!

It's the mid-430s BCE. Rome is feeling the pressure of their neighbours, so they order dictators by the dozen. It's going to be a ride!

The power of vegetal symbolism in the age of Augustus is revealed by looking closely at the Ara Pacis and the Garden Room of Livia's Villa

The 430s BCE are a challenging time for Rome. Aulus Cornelius Cossus is a perfect example of the issues of historical chronology!

Medea is powerful, semi-divine, and has an axe to grind with Jason!

Aulus Cornelius Cossus is a patrician on a mission. His exploits against Lars Tolumnius will become the stuff of legend.

This is our short highlights summary of what the ancient sources tell us about the events of the 440s BCE. Jump in to get quickly up to speed!

Did Spurius Maelius incite the violence, or was Ahala a secret assassin? Things are very messy in Rome and there's some mopping up to do!

What happens in Rome during a time of famine when a young equestrian has just come into his inheritance? We're about to find out!

What was life like for women in ancient Athens? In this episode we explore the lives of women with Associate Professor Rebecca Futo Kennedy!

Rome is all caught up in its dealings with the nearby city of Ardea. Tune in for land allotment, pretty plebeian women, and more!

We discuss Roman coins with Professor Liv Yarrow. The Roman republic is fascinating and coins provide an amazing window into that world!

The Romans are in an organisational frenzy. Grab your red tape and sword, we?re off to 443 BCE for a little bureaucracy and war in Ardea.

We sit down to chat all about early Rome with Tim Cornell. His scholarship is a landmark for thinking about the period between 1000-264 BCE

Rome is ruled by three military tribunes with consular power. What happens with three men in place of the consuls? We find out!

Dr G and Dr Rad discuss the influence of Julius Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March on Game of Thrones.

It's 445 BCE and the republic is still young enough to fail. How will Rome face the chaos outside while weakened from internal conflict?

Who has the right to rule Rome? In this episode, the plebs push for new laws that would give them greater political power...

How is the ancient world represented in metal music? And why is the ancient past appealing for metal musicians? Tune in to find out!

The year 446 BCE has it all ? battles, civil strife, virtus, dynamic leadership. Is Rome ready to embrace strength through unity?

Rome seems to be bouncing back into republican form! Listen in for prickly characters and rich kids with too much time on their hands.

Rome is still in the depths in 449 BCE, but there's been an epic turn of events. Appius Claudius may be dead, but what happens next? We're here to find out! Importantly, some of our key players in the plebeian set find themselves upgraded to the status of tribune of the plebs. Episode 119 - The Triumphant Return of the Consulship The end of Spurius Oppius It's not just Appius Claudius who finds himself in trouble after the end of the decemvirate. Spurius Oppius, another decemvir also finds himself in a spot of bother. Publius Numatorius - tribune of the plebs, maternal uncle of Verginia, leds the cause against Spurius Oppius. Livy has Oppius embroiled in a terrible affair involving a loyal solider of Rome while Dionysius of Halicarnassus has a much more speedy account of Spurius Oppius' ultimate fate. It may not be surprising to hear that the rest of the decemivirs realise they need to find their way out of Rome! The Consulship Returns The moderate patricians Lucius Valerius Potitus and Marcus Horatius Barbatus have managed to pass a range of laws that help support stability in the City. To catch up on the action of this front, check out Episode 118. But now that the major crises have passed, Rome begins to look outwards. It turns out that Rome's neighbours have noted their preoccupation with internal politics. The time has come for Rome to take a stand. Valerius takes a force against the Volscians and the Aequians. Horatius also takes out a force against the Sabines. We delve into the details of the strategies deployed by the Roman commanders. Both consuls and their forces make an excellent showing on the battlefield and return home with high expectations of a triumph or two. What are the Tribunes up to? As the year 449 BCE unfolds some of tribunes behaviour starts to garner suspicions. Is it just the case that groups of ten men now look a little shady to Romans in general? Or is there a new grab for power happening? The tribune Marcus Duilius may have some of the answers... Things to listen out for A soldier scourged The quaestores parricidiiThe amazing returning bootySome very interesting fracas about triumphsTribunes acting suspiciously...A new buddy system for tribunes Our Players The Decemvirs Appius Claudius. Ap. f. M. n. Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus Pat ? Cos. 471, 451Spurius Oppius CornicenQuintus Fabius M. f. M. n. Vibulanus Pat ? Cos. 467, 465, 459Quintus Poetelius Libo VisolusManius RabuleiusMarcus Cornelius ? f. Ser. n. Maluginenesis PatLucius Minucius P. f. M. n. Esquilinus Augurinus Pat ? Cos. 458Marcus? Sergius Esquilinus PatTitus Antonius MerendaCaeso Duillius Longus? The Senators Lucius Valerius PotitusMarcus Horatius Barbatus The Verginii and Supporters Verginia ? a Roman maiden, murdered by her father in order to protect her from the lust of Appius ClaudiusVerginius ? father of Verginia and newly elected tribune of the plebsPublius Numitorius ? Verginia?s maternal uncle and newly elected tribune of the plebsLucius(?) Icilius ? Verginia?s betrothedand newly elected tribune of the plebs Tribunes of the Plebs, 449 BCE Lucius VerginiusLucius Icilius (who had served as a tribune previously)Publius NumitoriusGaius Sicinius ? son of the man who was first tribune chosen on Sacred Mount (L?.Sicinius)Marcus Duillius (who had served as a tribune previously)Marcus TitiniusMarcus PomponiusGaius AproniusAppius VilliusGaius Oppius Other Notables Gaius Claudius ? uncle of Appius Claudius Sources Dr G reads Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 11.46-50Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 3.58-64 Joseph Désiré Court 1864. The Martyrdom of Saint Agnes. Not historically aligned with the year we're examining but a very evocative imagining of Rome.

How did the transition to coinage change the ancient world? What are the connections between economies and gender? Women and money explored!

Appius Claudius: what a man, what a couple of decemvirates! Herein, he has to face his crimes and we delve into just what happens next.

Disruption is at the heart of great changes in human society. How might we understand it? We explore the topic with Professor David Potter.