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The Breakdown of the Late Republic, 88–31 BC

Patronage, clientela and the politics of faction

  • 1 thing to know
  • Component Group 2

Overview

Recall questions on patrons and clients and what clients owed, officium and beneficium, the secret ballot's effect, provincial followings such as Pompey's in the East, freedmen as clients, amicitia, optimates and populares and why they were not parties, characteristic popularis measures, and family-based factions and their instability.

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Key term

Explain how a beneficium placed a Roman under obligation.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Describe the relationship between a patron and his client.

    Model answer

    It was a hereditary bond in which a powerful man gave protection, legal help and material support in return for a dependant's public attendance and political backing.

  2. 2

    What services did a client owe his patron?

    Model answer

    He owed his presence at the morning greeting, an escort through the streets, his vote at elections and his support in the courts.

  3. 3

    Define officium in Roman public life.

    Model answer

    It is the duty to perform a service for a man whose earlier service has placed you under an obligation to repay.

  4. 4

    Explain how a beneficium placed a Roman under obligation.

    Model answer

    A favour created a debt of gratitude that a man of honour was expected to repay in public life, which made generosity a form of political investment.

  5. 5

    Why did the secret ballot weaken the political value of a following of clients?

    Model answer

    A patron could no longer see how his clients had voted, so the obligation could not be enforced at the one moment when it counted.

  6. 6

    How did a Roman commander build a following outside Italy?

    Model answer

    By granting privileges, citizenship, tax relief and favourable judgements to provincial communities, which then looked to him as their protector at Rome.

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