Lucius Sextus Rome

Lucius Sextus: Roman Plebian Tribune:

Lucius Sextus was a Plebian Tribune in this position from 476 BCE- 468BCE.

Lucius Sextus was an elected Plebian Tribune managing Rome. Lucius Sextus tried to pass a bill sending settlers to Bolae (ancient Latium city).[1] Bolae was passed between the Roman’s and their enemies around the late 5^th century BCE. Lucius Sextus was a great speaker according to Livy. A quote directly from Livy; “ Sextus, the tribune, who was an effective speaker and not the man to let an opportunity slip, was quick to see how he could make political capital out of an opponent like Postumus; for clearly such a man, haughty in timbre and hasty in speech, could be irritated and provoked into saying things which could rouse resentment not only against himself but against the senatorial order.”[2] This shows that Sextus was smart, cunning and an eloquent speaker. However, it also shows that sometimes he risked himself, and, also, the senate by saying risky things. He risked the senate completely collapsing as well. Another thing that we can infer from this is that Sextus was a smart political operative.

 A Military Tribune was what was later called a consul[3]. Some military Tribune’s took control of the army and led military campaigns. Tribune’s later on were Plebians, had veto power, and represented the Plebian class. Later on, Tribunes were the first step in moving up the Roman public service ladder.

Bibliography

Livy. The Early History of Rome. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. Revised by R. M. Ogilvie. London: Penguin Classics, 2002.

Beard, Mary. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2015.

[1] Livy, The Early History of Rome, trans. Aubrey de Sélincourt, rev. R. M. Ogilvie (London: Penguin Classics, 2002)pg. 347

[2] Livy, Early History of Rome, pg. 348.

[3] Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2015) Pg. 132.