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Beyond Crime

  • Silvia Lacorte
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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.

Heruntergeladen am 14.11.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111339962-012/html?lang=de
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