The Partial Recap - 420s BCE

Another decade is gone and it's time for a Partial Recap! We run through what the ancient sources tell us about this decade. There are some real highs and lows!

The Partial Recap 420s BCE

If you are keen to for some more detail, you can jump into our narrative episodes at 134 – A Dry Period.

A view to the East over the Roman Forum with the Temple of Saturn on the left and the Palatine Hill on the right, showing the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Arch of Titus, Santa Francesca Romana, and the Colosseum. Detail from the photograph by Nicholas Hartmann, June 1976. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under license.

Sound Credits

Our music was composed by the fabulous Bettina Joy de Guzman.

Automated Transcript

Dr Rad:

Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 420s BCE!

Dr G: I’m Dr G 

Dr Rad: and I’m Dr Rad

Dr G: and this is our highlights edition of the 420s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 429 to 420 in an epitome of our normal episodes. 

Dr Rad: Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee – but please be warned – the Roman world is a violent one.  

Dr G: Get ready for a recappuccino. 

429 BCE

• In 429 BCE, the consuls were Hostius Lucretius Tricipitinus and Lucius Sergius Fidenas 
• Who could forget this year? Well, apparently a lot of people could – nothing was recorded in some of our sources
• For others, it might be an issue of confused dates  and actually LOTS of things happened that sound very similar to the events of 428

428 BCE

• In 428 BCE, the consuls were Aulus Cornelius Cossus and Titus Quinctius Poenus Cincinnatus 
• Or maybe Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus and Aulus Sempronius Atratinus 
• Come on Romans, get your consuls straight!
• Veii started muscling in on Roman turf, perhaps with some help from the Fidenates 
• The Romans assembled an elite task force to look into their involvement and some men from FIdenae found themselves banished to Ostia for being decidedly shifty
• For a bit of extra security, more settlers were sent to the colony of Fidenae 
• Rome was then hit by a severe drought, which led to the spread of disease amongst cattle and the citizens 
• In desperation, some superstitions started to spread amongst the populace and had to be reined in 

427 BCE

• In 427 BCE, the consuls were Caius Servilius Structus Ahala and Lucius Papirius Mugillanus 
• Putting the tough times behind them, the ROmans felt well enough to seek revenge against Veii 
• But there’s a procedure to this people! Someone call the fetiales so they can call on Jupiter and get this ball rolling 

426 BCE

• In 426 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Titus Quinctius Poenus Cincinnatus, Caius Furius Pacilus Fusus, Marcus Postumius Albinus, and Aulus Cornelius Cossus – whew!
• The military tribunes with consular power set about this war with Veii – but they didn’t play well together, leading to some humiliating results on the battlefield 
• Crushed and angry, the Romans turned to their favourite solution – a dictator!
• Mamercus Aemilius was chosen by Cossus, and he chose Cossus to be his Master of the Horse – making them the cutest couple in Rome 
• Meanwhile, Veii was bragging about their recent success to anyone who would listen, and Fidenae agreed to join forces with them once again.  
• Lucky the Romans had Mamercus to whip them all into shape. He and his band of trusty helpers worked together like a well-oiled machine to grind their enemies into the dust!
• Once more, Cossus was a standout in the battle and Mamercus received a triumph
• If this all seems very familiar, it is. Suspiciously so! 
• Compare the events yourself by revisiting our episode on 437 BCE

425 BCE

• In 425 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Aulus Sempronius Atratinus, L. Quinctius Cincinnatus, Lucius Furius Medullinus and Lucius Horatius Barbatus. 
• Nothing much happened!
• The Veientes and the Aequians were each granted truces 

424 BCE

• In 424 BCE, the military tribunes with consular power were Appius Claudius Crassus, Spurius Nautius Rutilus, Lucius Sergius Fidenas, and Sextus Iulius Iullus. 
• Games were held and the Romans were exceedingly polite hosts. 
• The tribunes of the plebs found the whole scene in the city far too peaceful and started haranguing the populace
• Why weren’t there any military tribunes with consular power who were plebeians? WHY? They were really sick of patrician domination, especially because it didn’t have to be that way.
• Their words finally had some effect, with some brave plebeians stepping forward to run for office. Will we finally get a plebeian magistrate? 

423 BCE

• In 423 BCE, the consuls were Gaius Sempronius Atratinus and Quintus Fabius Vibulanus.
• The year began with the unfortunate capture of the Etruscan city of Volturnum by the Samnites
• The Etruscans, seemingly exhausted by the endless conflict of this time, allowed the Samnites to enter their city and settle there
• Tragically, t