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Beyond Crime

  • Silvia Lacorte
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Corruption in the Graeco-Roman World
This chapter is in the book Corruption in the Graeco-Roman World

Abstract

This study delves into the phenomenon of corruption and the significance of its discursive use in the late republican political arena through the multifaceted political history of M. Aemilius Scaurus (cos. 115 BCE). Challenging the ‘idealized’ image of the princeps senatus portrayed by most ancient sources, the research focuses on analysing two corruption trials - for electoral bribery (ambitus) and extortion (repetundis) - involving Scaurus in 116 and in 92-91 BCE. Beyond the crimes per se, both judicial cases testify to the use of corruption charges as political tools that could be strategically employed for ulterior motives: to discredit or reaffirm the dignitas of a candidate, for example in the electoral sphere, or to undermine the position of a political enemy in the broader context of the late republican political struggle.

Abstract

This study delves into the phenomenon of corruption and the significance of its discursive use in the late republican political arena through the multifaceted political history of M. Aemilius Scaurus (cos. 115 BCE). Challenging the ‘idealized’ image of the princeps senatus portrayed by most ancient sources, the research focuses on analysing two corruption trials - for electoral bribery (ambitus) and extortion (repetundis) - involving Scaurus in 116 and in 92-91 BCE. Beyond the crimes per se, both judicial cases testify to the use of corruption charges as political tools that could be strategically employed for ulterior motives: to discredit or reaffirm the dignitas of a candidate, for example in the electoral sphere, or to undermine the position of a political enemy in the broader context of the late republican political struggle.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface VII
  4. Part 1: The Discourse(s) of and on Corruption
  5. Twisted Transfers as Corruption 1
  6. The Corrupted Speak 47
  7. Civil War and the Corruption of liberalitas in Tacitus’ Histories 65
  8. Irreversible Corruption 83
  9. Part 2: Corruption in Social Practice and Daily Life
  10. Creating Evidence for Corruption 111
  11. Corruption in Greco-Roman Egypt 129
  12. Ideas of Corruption in Roman Imperial Ports 145
  13. Suspect Inheritances 167
  14. Salvian and the Corrupted Church of Southern Gaul 199
  15. Part 3: The Politics and Diplomacy of Corruption
  16. Corruption and Anti-Corruption 223
  17. Beyond Crime 257
  18. Usurpation of (and Corruption Involving) the Right of Roman Citizenship in the Republic 287
  19. Balkan Promises 307
  20. Index 335
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111339962-012

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface VII
  4. Part 1: The Discourse(s) of and on Corruption
  5. Twisted Transfers as Corruption 1
  6. The Corrupted Speak 47
  7. Civil War and the Corruption of liberalitas in Tacitus’ Histories 65
  8. Irreversible Corruption 83
  9. Part 2: Corruption in Social Practice and Daily Life
  10. Creating Evidence for Corruption 111
  11. Corruption in Greco-Roman Egypt 129
  12. Ideas of Corruption in Roman Imperial Ports 145
  13. Suspect Inheritances 167
  14. Salvian and the Corrupted Church of Southern Gaul 199
  15. Part 3: The Politics and Diplomacy of Corruption
  16. Corruption and Anti-Corruption 223
  17. Beyond Crime 257
  18. Usurpation of (and Corruption Involving) the Right of Roman Citizenship in the Republic 287
  19. Balkan Promises 307
  20. Index 335
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