Rise of Cato the Elder

Rise of Cato the Elder (234-149 B.C.)

Severely criticized for the damages brought upon other peoples and, in the same time, highly praised for its achievements, the Roman Empire was in fact the predecessor of today's modern constitution which divides the power within a state, instead of offering it to a single ruler. Proof of this stands Rome's lack of exclusivity, as they would generally analyze and even adopt new ideas, concepts and methods from the conquered cultures, combining them into what is contemporaneously known as the greatest empire in all mankind history.

Another issue characteristic of the Roman Empire resides in the means of organizing and sharing the responsibility and power within the state. Leading positions were not only made available for the royal blooded, but also the large public, such as the plebeians. However, in order to reach a leading position within the empire, a representative of the plebeians had to work hard and fully prove his courage, honesty, intelligence and honorable intentions.

Although based on a hierarchical structure, holding a leading position was not in any way determined by affiliation to a certain social class. For instance, many Romans went to war as simple peasants, but due to their heroic acts during battle, returned home as influential generals and were made members of the Senate.

There were six main leading positions within the Roman Empire, and a hard working, honest and intelligent plebeian could reach any one of them: consul (chief civil and military magistrates), praetor (in charge of military commands and administration of the civil law in Rome), quaestor (in charge of state treasury at Rome; in field, served as quartermasters and seconds- in-command), tribunes (charged with protection of lives and property of plebians; their persons were inviolable), censors (elected every 5 years to conduct census, enroll new citizens, review roll of senate; controlled public morals and supervised leasing of public contracts) and finally, the dictator (the highest supreme leader of Rome).

2. Life of Cato the Elder most relevant example of plebeians climbing up the social ladder is Marcus Porcius Cato, also called Censorius (the Censor), Sapiens, Priscus, or Major (the Elder), to distinguish him from Cato the Younger (his great-grandson).

In the year 234 before our era, in Tusculum, a small village in the province of Latium, a little boy was born into a plebeian family. His name was Cato and he came from a long line of honorable military men who had courageously fought along side with the Empire's rulers and had created a favorable reputation for themselves.

When he was only seventeen, Cato joined the Roman military forces in the battle against Hannibal Barca, during the Second Punic War. As a result for its brave behavior and actions, Cato was made military tribune at the early age of twenty. In 205 B.C., at the age of twenty nine, Cato was named quaestor, and sent to a military campaign in Sicily. This is the journey in which Cato was to make his life long enemy - Scipio.

Unstoppable in his military and political ascension, in 199, at the age of thirty five, Cato was appointed aedile, (officer of the Roma Republic). While in this function, Cato made life changing contributions to the Roman people and their culture, such as the restoring of the plebeian games or the organizing of numerous banquets.

In 195, at the age of thirty nine, Cato the Elder became Rome's consul. "During his term of office he vainly opposed the repeal of the lex Oppia, [...] to restrict luxury and extravagance on the part of women. He held a command in Sardinia, where he first showed his strict public morality, and again in Spain, which he reduced to subjection with great cruelty, and gained thereby the honor of a triumph (194)."

Stern and strict in behavior, Cato the Elder was able to impose his points-of-view regarding numerous aspects of Roman life and even made the rebelled colonies obey his commands. "When he had reduced the whole area of land between the river Iberus and the Pyrenees to a hollow, resentful, and temporary obedience, he turned his attention to administrative reforms, and increased the revenues"

3. Cato's success in the Roman Empire

For centuries now, historians have searched for answers as to why was Cato able to reach such powerful positions within the Roman Senate. First of all, there was the rather permissive constitution which allowed members of the plebeians to overcome their social status and participate in the process of ruling. This of course with the condition that they prove worthy of it.

Second of all, Cato's social ascension was also aided by his and his family's military career and reputation. Cato himself, his father and his grandfather had courageously fought in the Roman legions, facts which later on supported Cato's political career as both the Senate and the people trusted him as a brave Roman.

Third, another reason why Cato the Elder was able to achieve a powerful position within the empire was his own personality. "He was renowned for his devotion to the old Roman ideals -- simplicity of life, honesty, and unflinching courage. He inveighed against extravagance and new customs, but his policy was not aimed at repression but rather at reform and the rebuilding of Roman life." His ideas applied to many Romans, both simple people as well as members of the Senate, people who supported his ascension because they shared his dreams.

Furthermore, other personal characteristics that guided Cato towards the peak of Rome were his bravery, inteligence and oratory gifts that appoached him to his audience. Throughout his speeches, Cato revealed his great power of conviction and managed to attract numerous supporters.