National Geographic History - 11.2019 - 12.2019

44 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Roman citizenship was a complex concept

that varied according to one’s gender, parentage,

and social status. Full citizenship could only be

claimed by males. A child born of a legitimate

union between citizen father and mother would

acquire citizenship at birth. In theory, freeborn

Roman women were regarded as Roman citi-

zens; in practice, however, they could not hold

office or vote, activities considered key aspects

of citizenship.

Citizenship simplified and im-

proved Romans’ everyday lives in

different ways. It also offered

protection. When Gaius

Verres, the governor of

G

aius Mucius Scaevola was a leg-

endary Roman hero, who at-

tempted to assassinate the en-

emy Etruscan king Lars Porsena

in the sixth-century B.C. When

Scaevola failed to kill the king, he was captured

and brought before Lars. But instead of pleading

for clemency, Scaevola declared boldly: Romanus

sum—I am a Roman, before delivering a stir-

ring speech on the bravery of his people. The

king was so impressed that, the story goes, he

let Scaevola go.

Later in Roman history, Romans could declare

pride in their state by using a slightly different

formulation: Civis Romanus Sum which means

“I am a Roman citizen.” This phrase was not only

an expression of deeply felt national pride, but

also a declaration that an individual had

special status within the world and

was a recipient of rights and

privileges—granted in return

for weighty obligations.

“I AM A

ROMAN!”

A 17th-century

painting (above) by

the Neapolitan artist

Bernardo Cavallino

shows the legendary

Roman hero G.M.

Scaevola standing

firm before the

enemy king, Lars

Porsena.

RIGHTS

OF

ROMANS

The lex Iulia de civitate

Latinis et sociis danda,

grants qualified Roman

citizenship to the cities that

remained faithful to Rome

during the so-called Social War

(90-89 BC).

Another consequence

of the Social War, the

lex Plautia Papiria grants

qualified citizenship—

dependent on strict

conditions—to towns that had

rebelled against Roman rule.

MARSIC COIN. THE MARSI WERE ENEMIES OF ROME IN THE SOCIAL WAR. THEIR SYMBOL, THE BULL, IS DEPICTED HERE CHARGING AT THE ROMAN WOLF.

90 b.c. 89 b.c.

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

A third-century a.d. relief of

toga-wearing citizens at a

wedding ceremony was later

incorporated into the tomb of

a 12th-century cardinal in the

Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le

Mura, Rome.

DAGLI ORTI/AURIMAGES

ALAMY/CORDON PRESS

GRANGER/AURIMAGES