Lucius Appuleius Saturninus
Lucius Saturninus Appuleius (c. 138 BC; † 10 December 100 BC) was a Roman tribune and representatives of popular group.
Life
As Quaestor (104 BC), he oversaw the import grain in the port of Ostia, but was deposed by the Senate and Marcus Aemilius Scaurus replaced by, a leader of the Optimate group. He does not seem the inability or mismanagement to have been accused so that probably could have brought to a Populares approach to his recall him the perceived arbitrariness.
103 BC, he was elected tribune of the people, and worked with Gaius Marius. Probably to make sure his favor and that of his soldiers, he suggested, each of the veterans of Marius in Africa to leave 100 yoke country. He contributed significantly to the fourth consulate of Marius in 102 BC. An opportunity to ask provocatively against the Senate, he was offered at the arrival of the ambassador of King Mithridates VI. of Pontus in the year 101 BC, the large sums of money to bribe the Senate brought. Saturninus made compromising revelations by which the ambassadors were insulted. He was therefore brought before a court and escaped condemnation only by an ad - misericordiam appeal to the people. The first tribunate of Saturninus is probably attributable to also be maiestas - law, the exact requirements are unknown, but probably the aim was to strengthen the power of the tribune and the Populares. The law turned to the minuta maiestas (decreased authority ) of the Roman people, that is, to all the acts that were likely to affect the integrity of the community, so treated comprehensive than the modern word betrayal. This law also allowed to remove senators in violation of the Senate and thus threatened the Kooptionsprinzip within the Roman elite, who were recruited by the censors Senate members.
Saturninus also initiated a law, whose purpose was to support the common people through the purchase of grain at a fixed price. The quaestor Quintus Servilius Caepio explained that the Treasury can not stand this, and Saturninus own colleagues have subsequently vetoed out. Saturninus ordered yet, proceed with the vote so that Caepio had to dissolve the Assembly by force.
The main objective of Saturninus ' personal interests was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, who had tried in vain than censor it, Saturninus excluded because of immorality from the Senate. In order to become popular with the people, further cultivated the memory of the Gracchi, Saturninus be pointed Equitius, a paid freedmen, who claimed to be the son of Tiberius Gracchus. Although Sempronia, sister of the Gracchi, refused to recognize him, threw the people Caecilius Metellus with stones, because this Equitius denied civil rights. Later Equitius was elected tribune of the people.
Marius, who wanted to achieve a distribution of land to his veterans after his victory over the Cimbri through referendums, concluded an agreement with Saturninus and his ally Gaius Servilius Glaucia, which was supported by the veterans of Marius and the non-performing simple folk. Marius was elected in 100 BC for the sixth time consul. Saturninus now brought a farm bill in extension of the previously introduced African law. It stipulated that all land north of the Padus (Po), which was previously owned by the Cimbri, including the territory of the independent Celts, who had been subjected to by them from time to time, should be kept ready for distribution among the veterans of Marius.
Colonies should be founded in Sicily, Achaea and Macedonia, for which the Tolosanische gold, Quintus Servilius the Caepio (consul 106 BC and father of the eponymous Quaestor ) misappropriated Temple treasure should be used. Furthermore, the Italic population should be admitted to these colonies, and since it was citizen colonies, this would have meant the grant of citizenship. This part of the Act was rejected by the city of Rome plebs. A clause stipulated that within five days should take an oath to the law after the decision of each senator. Otherwise, fines, and expulsion from the Senate was threatened. All senators, took an oath, except Caecilius Metellus, who went into exile because of that. Senatorial opponents argued against the law because thunder was heard; Saturninus said, the Senate should prefer to stay quiet because the thunder would otherwise follow hail. The draft laws (leges Appuleiae ) Saturninus was finally decided with the help of the veterans of Marius.
Marius, who felt ignored by his allies and compromised by its resolute approach, remembered seriously to break with them. Saturninus and Glaucia saw their only chance of integrity in a continued presence in public office. Saturninus was elected for the third time to the tribune for the term that began on December 10, 100 BC, and Glaucia, although already Praetor and therefore can not be selected until the expiry of two years, wanted to run for the consulate. But Marius had Glaucias candidacy not. Marcus Antonius Orator was elected unopposed, the other, Gaius Memmius that would have been voted most likely, was assassinated by hired by Saturninus and Glaucia men during the election process. Saturninus then occupied the Capitol and tried probably a legitimizing a candidacy of Glaucia force. This process produced a complete change in public opinion. The Senate met on the following day, said Saturninus and Glaucia enemies of the state, and paid Marius from a senatus ultimum consultum to defend the Republic. Marius had no alternative but to obey. Marius, who had probably promised them the protection of their lives, they brought in the Curia Hostilia with the intention of the law to take action against them. But the more impulsive members of the Senate climbed onto the roof, tore out the tile and stoned Saturninus and many others to death. Glaucia, who had fled into a house, also came a violent death.
Review of laws
Looking at the sequence of the law in activity of Saturninus, so it seems likely that he has not acted completely arbitrary. The corn law can be seen as a popular and populare action for the recovery of the people for subsequent legislation. The Land Law benefited Marius alone or its veterans. On the other hand, the veterans supply was a major problem of the Republic, which had to be solved. The lex de maiestate evaluated at the position of a tribune of the people. The offensive and obvious choice for the advertising Marius speaks for itself. The exile or banishment of Metellus offers more than the subject of the deposed Quaestor, who wants revenge. Metellus was also an opponent of Marius and also a strong man of the Optimate group that worked against the six-time consul.
Saturninus seems to have forgotten the balance of power of the Republic. With the promising ignoring intercessions, with the oath of allegiance to its laws, and the exile of the famous Metellus, but no later than with the murder of Memmius he crossed the limits of endurance. He was too extreme even for Marius. So this was no other way to eliminate as his circle of supporters. Saturninus was an ambitious and power-political savvy man who was the driving force and which forgets the realities and constraints of the political process.