Romans Ethnicities

[Zaknafien]

Salve, EB Fans. As alot of you know, the Romani Groups team is hard at work on implementing Roman ethnicities into a future version of Europa Barbarorum. We believe this will add a new depth and realism to your Roman familiy members, allow for better role-play and immersion, and satisfy some people's intrest in the Roman Houses of the period. We are trying to implement a fair number of both Plebian and Patrician households, but unfortunately the Plebian houses do not have much standing among our historians' records.

Below I will present a format for the Roman Ethnicities (Hereby known as Gentes), and give you a sample Household. If any of you have a nomination for a Plebian household to be included, please write it up in the following format and post it herein, and you could see your favorite household included in the game.

Thanks for all your patience and help in advance guys.



Gens Ivlia
Patrician Romani
Family Names--Caesar, Ivlvs, Mento

This man is of the Ivlian Clan, an important patrician family within our beloved Res Publica, who supposedly are descended from Ivlvs--Ascanivs, and thus from the goddess Venvs--mother of legendary Aeneas whom all Romans descend from, and are the heirs of Alba Longa. The Ivlii are prestigious and proud, and rose to great preeminence early in the days of the Res Publica. It was a Ivlii who saw the risen Romulus before his ascent into the Heavens, spreading the word of his deification as Qvirinivs to the saddened Romans.

The Ivlii are perhaps the most arrogant of the Patrician gentes, they are descended from a goddess, after all. They are more likley to be vain, proud, and stoic. The Ivlii are skilled leaders and charismatic politicians, builders, traders, and tax collecters. Thier method of rule is fair but rigid.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Zak, the formatting of roman lettering/spelling goes like this:

In titles or places where the names are used by themselves, we do use the "v" for "u", so Gens Ivlia is correct as the title, but in *English text* we switch it to "u" for ease of reading. So once you are in the english paragraph you would switch it over to Gens Iulia.

The formatting was decided upon a long while ago, but it seems to be one that was a compromise and specially needed for this faction. One is a realistic title, the way you'd find it written in Latin, the other is a transliteration into English to make it pronounceable/readable.

[Ailfertes]

Forgive me if there are any historical flaws in this.

Gens Licinivs
Plebeian Romani
Family names--Crassvs, Lvcvllvs

This man is a member of the plebeian gens Licinius. It is a subject of rumours that this family is descendant of the Etruscans. It is one of the most prominent plebeian families, for it was a Licinius, Caius Licinius Calvus Stolo, who together with Lucius Sextius Lateranus passed the Lex Licinia Sextia. This law reinstituted the consulship, and declared that one of the two consuls had to be a Plebeian. The Licinii are ferocious defenders of Plebeian rights and are fairly good speakers.

Members of the gens Licinius are more likely to be decadent, warmongers and fluent speakers. They are great in collecting taxes, although most of the times that skill is practised too well. They are sharp but selfish people, and aren't afraid of wars with in particular Iberians and easterners. Though plebeian, they tend to be proud leaders.

[abou]

So how expansive can this get? Since Roman politics became so incredibly complicated and dependent on family ties it would seem justifiable for Rome to have more ethnicities than anyone else. For example, how much room would there be for emerging ethnicities due to Novi Homines? Could a Patrician, seeing more oppurtunities for political advancement by being a popularis, change to a Plebian? I can't help but cite Claudius/Clodius during the trials and tribulations of the late Republic.

[Zaknafien]

Let's not go crazy. We already have a selection of families, we are just looking for a few more plebian gentes to add in. We cant have more ethnicities than any other faction, we must be fair to every faction. Changing from one to the other is probably not possible although my knowledge of code is very limited. Theres no reason a Patrician couldnt be a Populares though.

[Will_YouFight_ForME]

Could a Patrician, seeing more opportunities for political advancement by being a popularis, change to a Plebian?

no.
a Patrician always stays a Patrician because they believe they come from the founders of Rome
a pleb can never become a Patrician, unless marries into a Patrician family
so adopted.. normally because he is rich enough to become a member of the middle class (i have forgotten the Latin)
the family tree follows the Patrician families

as with political advancement, a pleb can only be a tribune of the people, no other political positions that would directly effect the republic
unlike the Patrician but if he wanted to be a tribune of the people, he could but he would abandon his political career for the sake of the title

i might be wrong so correct me at will

[abou]

You're wrong on a couple of points, but here is the main one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Clodius

[Ailfertes]

You are wrong, if I understand you well that is

Like abou said, Claudius is a perfect exemple, in reality. Publius Claudius Pulcher, named Clodius because this was the dialect of the plebs, legally changed to become a plebeian. He did this because he thought a tribune of plebs could achieve much more in those times, and because he was popularis through and through. He succeeded more or less, with the plebeians in rome rising up in the streets. He reinstituted the Collegia as criminal gangs, and did a lot of 'bad' things, so to speak.

The Equites, what you're speaking of, were just people who had personal posessions above some level, I don't recall which. The Equestrian rank could be granted to you by the senate I presume. I think that one sort of became a patrician after he became a member of the senate, which was the definition of a 'novus homo' (EDIT: a novus homo was a unknown man or a plebeian that became a consul in his life, I think). That or you were granted the right by the censors.

In-game it would be VERY, VERY hard I think. On top of that it wasn't that common, though I think (I haven't experienced it yet in my romani campaign) that there should be a novus homo trait and the children of such maybe should become patricians.

EDIT: don't I think a lot, but know so little

[Zaknafien]

equestrian status would be granted by the census, not the senate. its simply a rank according to how much income the family held at the time of the census, just like senators, who had to have an income of a certain level to be included in the senate.

and no, a pleb did not become a patrician after entering the senate. A pleb could however become a nobleman--'nobile' if one of his ancestors had held the consulship. and after a plebian became consul, he enobled his family forever afterwards.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

no.
a Patrician always stays a Patrician because they believe they come from the founders of Rome
a pleb can never become a Patrician, unless marries into a Patrician family
so adopted.. normally because he is rich enough to become a member of the middle class (i have forgotten the Latin)
the family tree follows the Patrician families

as with political advancement, a pleb can only be a tribune of the people, no other political positions that would directly effect the republic
unlike the Patrician but if he wanted to be a tribune of the people, he could but he would abandon his political career for the sake of the title

i might be wrong so correct me at will

I'm afraid you're completely wrong, as others have noted.

A Patrician was, as Zak said, a member of one of the leading families, it has the same root as pater, which means father. The original purpose of the Senate was as an advisory body which ratified the decisions of the assembly. As the Senate gained more (strictly unconstitutional) power Plebeians lobied and eventually gained entrance.

Originally the consulate was closed to Plebeians but by our time period a wealthy Plebeian could hold any office a patrician could, with the exception of some priesthoods. Patricians were never allowed to be Plebeian Tribuns, however.

Most important to note is that it is very difficult to know precisely when the destinction between Plebeian and Patrician came about. Presumably the legal devision should pre-date the closing off offices such as the consulate, yet scholars have examined the lists of sonsuls and found Plebeian names in very early years. Possible explanations for this are that the distinction between the two classes post-dates the Republic or that those familes lost Patrician status. In any case Patrician and Plebeian is not a question of "race", the Claudii were Sabine after all.

As to Equites, they did not become a middle-class until the time of Augustus, prior to that they were simply the apex of the military tree. It is important to note that equites could be Patrician or Plebeian, but not senators.

[Atilius]

Gens Licinivs
Plebeian Romani
Family names--Crassvs, Lvcvllvs

Gens Caecilia
Plebeian Romani
Family names--Metellvs, (Niger)

I know you're still out there somewhere Ailfertes. I thought I'd say thank you on behalf of the EB Romani team for your help digging up info on these two gentes. The trait work is finally finished and they'll appear in EB 1.1.

[Spoofa]

Gens Ivlia
Patrician Romani
Family Names--Caesar, Ivlvs, Mento



is this in EB 1.0? I've only played the romani for a short time and didnt notice them, but maybe I should have gave it more time?

[Atilius]

Yes, those are in EB 1.0.

[cmacq]

Hows this, after editing?

Gens Lvtativs
Plebeian Romani
Family Names—Catvlvs, Cerco, and Pinyhia

This man is a member of the plebeian clan Lvtativs. As their name implies ceramic merchants this clan had not merited notice until after the Latin War. Since, this clan has become one of the foremost plebeian families within our beloved Res Publica. These Lvtatii claim to possess a much favored burial-place called the Pulchrum Lvtatiorvm, located beyond the Tiber. Following the last Secessio Plebis and enactment of the Lex Hortensia the Lvtatii have become even more affluent and influential; rising to preeminence in the latter days of the Res Publica.

Although the Lvtatii are of the gentes minores this clan is well respected and their prestige continues to increase. They are more likely to be well informed, proud, and resolute. The Lvtatii are renowned naval commanders, politicians, businessmen, authors, and traders.


Gens Aemilivs
Patrician Romani
Family Names--Lepidvs, Barbula, Buca, Mamercvs, Papvs, Pavllvs, Regilvs and Scaurvs

This man is of the Aemilivs Clan, a very ancient and one of the most important patrician families within our beloved Res Publica, who allegedly are descended from Mamercvs—called Aimilios because of his refinement and fine speaking ability. Aemilii traditions tell that Mamercus was the fourth son of Numa Pompilivs, the second king of our ancient and venerated city. Also called the Flaminii, the Aemilii are affluent, competitive, and rose to great preeminence late in the days of the Res Publica. It was Aemilia, the daughter of Aeneas, who was the blessed mother of the divine Romulus, the legendary founder of our beloved Roma.

The Aemilii are perhaps the most proud and respected of the Patrician gentes, as they claim descent from the daughter of Aeneas. They are more likely to be modest, proud, and stoic. The Aemilii are component leaders, politicians, builders, businessmen, and traders. Their method of rule is fair and flexible.

Right, must check date of post first.

[The General]

The trait work is finally finished and they'll appear in EB 1.1.

Ya-harrrr! The cap'n approves!

[RabbitDynamite]

Aside from pragmatic benefits, this would allow for some interesting RP opportunites.

"Yes, the lad is a dazzlingly handsome young military prodigy - but his family and ours have hated each other since the days of the founding! Here, my dear daughter, I introduce you to your new husband. Yes, he's obese, incompetent, corrupt and possibly insane, but by the sandals of Mercury, his line are old allies, and loyalty must mean something!"