Yet the ‘decline’ of Roman citizenship is
not nearly so simple a story as this account
may suggest. In Cicero’s day great public
honours had effectively been restricted to a
handful of leading families, and the ambitious
son of a father from beyond the city
walls had to struggle for respect his whole
long life – as Cicero himself knew to his
cost. While everyone was theoretically free
to seek office, its actual attainment was ‘a
matter not of libertas but dignitas’. The
Principate opened up public office first to
other social groups, and later to non-
Romans and non-Italians: ‘office was open
to a wider circle through the favour of the
emperor … than ever in the free Republic’
(Sherwin-White, [1939] 1973: 265–8). And
while the Senatorial nobility continued to
reproduce itself, the imperial civil service
was increasingly staffed by members of the
more modestly affluent equestrian class,
with few cultural or emotional ties to the old
Republican order. This was a disaster for the
old noble families, but not necessarily for
the citizenry as a whole.
Yet the ‘decline’ of Roman citizenship isnot nearly so simple a story as this accountmay suggest. In Cicero’s day great publichonours had effectively been restricted to ahandful of leading families, and the ambitiousson of a father from beyond the citywalls had to struggle for respect his wholelong life – as Cicero himself knew to hiscost. While everyone was theoretically freeto seek office, its actual attainment was ‘amatter not of libertas but dignitas’. ThePrincipate opened up public office first toother social groups, and later to non-Romans and non-Italians: ‘office was opento a wider circle through the favour of theemperor … than ever in the free Republic’(Sherwin-White, [1939] 1973: 265–8). Andwhile the Senatorial nobility continued toreproduce itself, the imperial civil servicewas increasingly staffed by members of themore modestly affluent equestrian class,with few cultural or emotional ties to the oldRepublican order. This was a disaster for theold noble families, but not necessarily forthe citizenry as a whole.
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