Tribune

Tribune (from the Latin: tribunus; Greek form tribounos) was a title shared by several elected magistracies and other governmental and/or (para)military offices of the Roman Republic and Empire. It derived originally from the representatives of the tribes (tribi) into which the Roman people were divided for military and voting purposes.

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Tribune of the people

The magistracy of tribune of the people (tribunus plebis) was established in 494 BC, about fifteen years after the foundation of the Roman Republic in 509. The plebeians of Rome seceded as a group -- that is, they left the city entirely -- until the patricians agreed to the establishment of an office that would have sacrosanctity (sacrosanctitas) -- that is, the right to be legally protected from any physical harm -- and the right of help (ius auxiliandi) -- that is, the right to rescue any plebeian from the hands of a patrician magistrate. Later, the tribunes acquired a far more formidable power, the right of intercession (ius intercessio) -- that is, the right to veto any act or proposal of any magistrate, including another tribune of the people ("veto" is Latin for "I forbid"). As the chief representative of the Roman populus, the Tribune's house was required to be open to all at all times, day or night.

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The tribune also had the power to exercise capital punishment against any person who interfered in the performance of his duties (the favourite threat of the tribune was therefore to have someone thrown from the Tarpeian Rock). The tribune's sacrosanctity was enforced by a solemn pledge of the plebeians to kill any person who harmed a tribune during his term of office. The Tribune was the only magistrate that was able to convene the Assembly of the People and acted as its President. Also, the Tribune could summon the Senate and lay proposals before it. The tribune's power, however, was only in effect while he was within Rome. His ability to veto did not affect provincial governors, and his right to sacrosanctity and to help only extended to a mile outside the walls of Rome. In about 450 the number of tribunes was raised to ten.

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Tribunes were required to be plebeians, and until 421 this was the only office open to them. In the late Republic the patrician politician Clodius arranged for his adoption by a plebeian branch of his family, and successfully ran for the tribunate.

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Throughout the Republic and its fall, certain powerful individuals used the tribunes for their personal glory and gain. Clodius and Milo were both tribunes who used violence in the courts and government in order to achieve the needs and requests of Pompey and Caesar. Further more, when the Senate refused to grant Caesar all his requests he turned to the tribunes to grant him all he wanted -- ie. Pompey's veterans lands and him a further governship of Gaul. Again violence was used against those tribunes that prevented their quest for glory.

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Because it was legally impossible for a patrician to be a tribune of the people, the first Roman "emperor", Caesar Augustus, was offered instead all of the powers of the tribunate without actually holding the office (tribunicia potestas or 'Tribunician Power'). This formed one of the two main constitutional bases of Augustus' authority (the other was imperium proconsulare maius). It gave him the absolute right of veto and the authority to convene the Senate. Also, he was sacrosanct, had the authority to veto (ius intercessio), and could exercise capital punishment in the course of the performance of his duties.

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Most emperors' reigns were dated by their assumption of tribunicia potestas, though some emperors, such as Tiberius, Titus, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, etc, had already received it during their predecessor's reign. Also, Marcus Agrippa and Drusus II, though never emperors, received tribunicia potestas.

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By extension from the technical Roman governmental usage, some modern politicians have been identified as Tribunes of the People.

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Consular tribunes

During a period of particular political struggle between the patricians and plebeians (Conflict of the Orders), the unusual office of Tribuni militum consulari potestate (military tribune with consular powers) was used in place of the consulship. These are often referred to as consular tribunes. Being in the place of the reigning consuls, these tribune possesed all the powers and abilities of the consul. These powers included the right to preside over the Senate, lead large scale war for the Republic, and veto all other holders of imperium.

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The first Tribuni militum consulari potestate was in 444 BC, and the office was held on and off (and for as long as 15 years at a stretch) until the Lex Licinia Sextia became effective in 366 BC.

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Latin: Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. It gained great importance as the formal language of the Roman Empire. All Romance languages are descended from Latin, and many words based on Latin are found in other modern languages such as English. The ...

Roman Republic: See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century)...

Empire: :For alternative meanings, see Empire (disambiguation)...

Tribune related Images and Photos (experimental)

Harry Truman Jubilantly Displaying Erroneous Chicago Daily Tribune Headline "Dewey Defeats Truman"

Jean Jaures (1859-1914) Speaking at the Tribune of the Chamber of Deputies 1903