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Civil War and the Corruption of liberalitas in Tacitus’ Histories

  • Shushma Malik
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Corruption in the Graeco-Roman World
This chapter is in the book Corruption in the Graeco-Roman World

Abstract

This chapter explores how Tacitus understands the concept of corruption as related to the principate in his Histories. Rather than seeing corruption as an effect brought about by contact with an immoral person or luxurious object, Tacitus emphasises transactional process, such as giving and receiving of gifts, spoils, etc., as inherent to the concept. This embeds corruption into a core role of the princeps, that of benefaction, thus problematizing a key function of the principate in times of peace as well as war.

Abstract

This chapter explores how Tacitus understands the concept of corruption as related to the principate in his Histories. Rather than seeing corruption as an effect brought about by contact with an immoral person or luxurious object, Tacitus emphasises transactional process, such as giving and receiving of gifts, spoils, etc., as inherent to the concept. This embeds corruption into a core role of the princeps, that of benefaction, thus problematizing a key function of the principate in times of peace as well as war.

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/10.1515/9783111339962-004

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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