The Patrician Tribune

Publius Clodius Pulcher was a prominent political figure during the last years of the Roman Republic. Born into an illustrious patrician family, his early career was sullied by military failures and especially by the scandal that resulted from his allegedly disguising himself as a woman in order to sneak into a forbidden religious ceremony in the hope of seducing Caesar's wife. Clodius survived this disgrace, however, and emerged as a major political force. He renounced his patrician status and was elected tribune of the people. As tribune, he pursued an ambitious legislative agenda, winning the loyalties of the common people of Rome to such a degree that he was soon able to summon forceful, even violent, demonstrations on his own behalf. The first modern, comprehensive biography of Clodius, The Patrician Tribune traces his career from its earliest stages until its end in 52 B.C., when he was murdered by a political rival. Jeffrey Tatum explores Clodius's political successes, as well as the limitations of his popular strategies, within the broader context of Roman political practices. In the process, Tatum illuminates the relationship between the political contests of Rome's elite and the daily struggles of Rome's urban poor.

New 2nd Edition Featuring Cast of Characters and Glossary! A gripping novel about Tiberius Gracchus, one of the last heroes of the Roman Republic, his struggles at war in Spain, and with Roman senators rabidly opposed to his land reform for benefiting the people. The shocking outcome predates the age of Julius Caesar by 50 years and set the stage for the last days of the Roman Republic. Tiberius Gracchus, the son of a celebrated plebeian father and a venerated patrician mother, fully expects to pursue the course of honor in Rome. After all, at just age 17, he won the Mural Crown for being first over the wall in the last, furious assault on Carthage. Ten years later, his path to glory takes him through northern Italia as a high-ranking officer to join the legions at war against Numantia in Hispania. On his way, however, the sight of countless throngs of starving veterans and their families stuns Tiberius. The devastating vision of fellow plebeians forced off their land by greedy patricians troubles Tiberius profoundly. In Hispania, though grave setbacks plague the Roman army, Tiberius saves 20,000 Roman troops from certain destruction at the hands of the Numantines. Yet, he finds himself persecuted by enemy senators who hope to send him back to the barbarians naked and in chains. In response, Tiberius runs for tribune of the people, promising to restore to the plebeian veterans their land taken by predatory patricians who include his cousin and brother-in-law. Through all, Tiberius struggles to reconcile his ambition with the fears of his beloved wife Claudia and the demand for honor from his mother Cornelia. Ultimately, the escalating class dispute embroiling him ends in violence and bloodshed, the first spilled in the Roman Forum in 500 years. Tiberius's pursuit of distinction in Rome predates the age of Julius Caesar by 50 years and set the stage for the last days of the Roman Republic.