Appius Claudius Caecus
Appius Claudius Caecus was a significant Roman statesman active in the early 3rd century BCE, serving as censor in 312 BCE and consul in 307 and 296 BCE. He is notable for being one of the earliest Romans whose life is documented in detail by historians. As censor, Appius commissioned the construction of the first paved road from Rome to Capua and established the first Roman aqueduct, showcasing his commitment to public infrastructure. He also implemented reforms to the Roman voting system, ensuring that the sons of freedmen were included in the census, which was a strategic move reflecting the changing socioeconomic landscape of Rome at the time.
The era saw a burgeoning economy, particularly in non-agricultural sectors, largely due to the wealth gained by former slaves involved in trade. Appius’s reforms aimed to integrate this new wealth into the political framework of Rome. His influence extended beyond his lifetime, as he was remembered for his passionate speeches in the Senate, even in old age, where he advocated against treaties he viewed as unfavorable. His legacy includes both infrastructural advancements and significant electoral reforms that shaped the future of Roman governance.
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Subject Terms
Appius Claudius Caecus
Related civilization:Republican Rome
Major role/position: Political and military leader
Life
Appius Claudius Caecus (AP-ee-uhs KLAWD-ee-uhs SEE-kuhs), censor in 312 b.c.e. and consul in 307 and 296 b.c.e., is in essence the earliest individual Roman whose life is known to modern historians in any convincing detail. As censor, he commissioned the first paved Roman road from Rome to Capua and the first Roman aqueduct. He reorganized the Roman system of voting districts so that the sons of freedmen were counted in the annual census for the first time. This was probably done so that the unlanded wealthy could be counted as liable to military obligation. Individual Romans had always been liable to military service based on the value of their land. The introduction of the first Roman silver coins about this time and a sudden increase in new building construction suggests a fast-growing economy in nonagricultural sectors. Many former slaves—at this date almost exclusively captured enemy soldiers—had become wealthy in Rome’s expanding trade. Appius’s reforms may therefore be seen as an attempt to capitalize on this new wealth. The censor of 304 b.c.e., Quintus Fabius Maximus, redistributed these freedmen throughout the noncity voting districts so that their relative predominance in the four city districts would not unduly affect elections.
Influence
Appius enjoyed a great deal of prestige in his day. For example, as an old man, he was carried into the senate house circa 280 b.c.e. to harangue his colleagues against a treaty with King Pyrrhus of Epirus. Because of the high regard in which he was held, some of his speeches in the senate were preserved for hundreds of years.
Bibliography
Cornell, T. J. The Beginnings of Rome. London: Routledge, 1994.