History of Europe

A turning point for democratization in Rome! About the Likinius-Sextius method!

Although it is a folklore story and not confirmed, in 494 BC, Rome was a government official for the protection of commoners tribune . Was installed.

The tribunes elected by the Plebeian Council have the right to veto the decisions of the Senate and the Consul, initially two, but in 449 BC the capacity will be ten.

The subject of this time is Sextian-Licinius Sextian-Licinian method Both Licinius and Sextian-Licinian are guardians.

The main points of the Likinius-Sextius method

・ One of the two Consuls who are consuls should be elected from the commoners
・ The occupancy of public land should be limited to 500 Yugera (about 125ha) per person

Republic Rome is a Senate consisting of some aristocrats in the early stages Consul , two consuls who are formally selected from the private assembly but are virtually monopolized by the aristocrats. Was in control of politics.

It was a clear aristocracy.

In Rome, around 450 BC, the Twelve Tables Act was enacted by a committee of 10 people, including those who learned the democracy of Athens, but there was still a difference in the rights between commoners and aristocrats.

It is not unreasonable because the aristocrats monopolize both the Senate and the Consul, who actually carry out politics.

* Actually, in Rome around this time, the consul was temporarily abolished and there was a system of six military officers, but it was abolished and two consuls were replaced again.

Therefore, Licinius, a tribune, tried to make one of the two consuls from a commoner. If many aristocrats did not agree here, there would have been no later development of Rome.

Rome is a mysterious country.

As has been the case since the founding of the country, each person emphasizes how to survive as a group rather than individual self-protection.

It is different from the case where vested interests run for self-protection and erode the country as in Japan.

Adopt it if necessary for the group.

However, it is said that the background to this was the Celtic invasion in 390 BC and the success of Camillus.

In the fight against the Celts, Camillus appointed a talented person from the commoner to a key position and succeeded in winning the battle brilliantly.

Seeing the cityscape of Rome, which was severely destroyed by the Celts, the haze may not have been self-reliant.

The Sextian-Licinian Act was enacted in 367 BC.

The law also limits large land ownership. This is in contrast to the fact that influential aristocrats took possession of large land and manipulated national affairs at will during the Heian period.

The Likinius-Sextius Act strengthened the democratization of Rome and developed it into a powerful country in both name and reality.