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1 results

  • Chapter 4 - Benevolence and Freedom

  • from Part II - Translations
  • Edited by Amy Russell, Brown University, Rhode Island, Hans Beck, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
  • Translated by Kathrin Lüddecke
  • Book:
    The Roman Republic and Political Culture
    Published online:
    30 January 2025
    Print publication:
    06 February 2025, pp 95-123

  • Summary

    Observing that the history of the Roman Republic has been one of turbulence, conflict, and dynamic change throughout, Martin Jehne investigates the integrative and indeed moderating force of standardized forms of interaction between the upper and the lower classes. He sees the corresponding modes grounded in what Jehne labelled a Jovialitätsgebot, that is, a communicative and behavioural code of benevolence that structured and lent meaning to the mutual relations between unequals. Under this unspoken code, members of the governing classes were expected to encounter ordinary citizens deliberately and pointedly as if they were on terms of equality with one another, even though all parties understood that they were not. In its Roman context, Jovialität allowed both the nobility and the people to cultivate an institutionalized conversation that supplemented the realm of prevailing power structures and social asymmetries. To flesh out the argument, Jehne discusses a prominent incident from 414 BCE, the battle of words between M. Postumius Regillensis and M. Sextius.