Curia Session IV - 194 BC

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

The Consul rises.

Conscript fathers,

We are in the midst of a vote, we shall return to debate upon its conclusion. I ask you not to interrupt the proceedings.

I yield the floor.

[Gaius Quinctilius Varus]

Q.Q.Q. rises

Consul you disservice yourself to misconstrue the words of honorable Quinctilius Varus. His belief in the law of Rome is such that he would not fight a war he believed called for without the approval of the Senate. That was the purpose of this entire endeavor these past sessions within the Senate. We now, finally vote for it, so what need was there for the Consul to flex his powers and order a decree? Why did the Consul insist on a new method for deciding promagistrates where he hand selected them, for him to then turn around and scorn the only one who gave his report and performed diplomatic works as you had commanded them? I still do not understand your reasonings.

Aye

[Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo Hispanicus]

Aye.

[Marcus Aurelius Cotta]

Aye

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

Proxy of Decius Bellicus, I take issue with your statement that you vote on behalf of Propraetor Varus. His proxy is here to do that.

I vote AYE on the measure, and wish Roman forces in Hispania good luck and good favour.

[TerranSteel]

By proxy, Aye.

[Marcus Silvius Pastor]

The proxy for Senator M. Silvius Pastor lightly tugged on his own ear, a motion which seemed to jolt energy into the fatigued man - the Senate had truly spent a Session of its valuable time to sanction a campaign against Barbarians, a notion which was all but unanimously supported earlier that day.

Aye by proxy.

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

Vote tally for the DECLARATIO BELLI CONTRA ILERGETUM (Declaration of War on the Ilergetes)

For the motion (12):
Allectus Fabius Maximus
Amulius Valerius Marius
Gaius Cassius Vecellinus
Gaius Claudius Nero
Gaius Quinctilius Varus
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo
Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus
Marcus Aurelius Cotta
Marcus Silvius Pastor
Postumus Caesonius Tacitus
Proculus Lucius Regulus
Titus Furius Pavo

Against/Abstaining (1):
Marcus Decius Bellicus

Absent from the Senate (1):
Gaius Porcius Cato

[Gaius Cassius Vecellinus]

The Consul rises.

Conscript fathers,

It appears the vote has carried and that the prosecution of war against the Ilergetes will take place; the manner in which said war will be conducted has already been decided by military orders sent to the two provincial officials by my hand who I expect to see fulfilled to the best of their ability.

Since we have heard the notion that one of the provincial magistrates has stated that he does not desire to abide by them, I wish to remind those who may be suffering from a bout of amnesia what is the potential penalty for insubordination in regards a higher ranking magistrate:

-> Loss of place in the Senate
-> Loss of Roman citizenship
-> Forbidden fire and water within 800 miles of Rome

Moving on.

I wish to return to the matter of the Cult of Bacchanalia as there appears to be a consensus around it; no one has levied dissenting voices against the motion and as such I am ready to commit it immediately to a vote. If, however, a significant number of Senators ask for further debate, I am willing to rescind the vote to improve the Consultum as necessary.

Inasmuch as it may be good and fortunate for the Roman people of the Quirites, we bring before you, conscript fathers the

SENATUS CONSULTUM DE BACCHANALIBUS (Senatorial decree concerning the Bacchanalia)
Sponsors: Gaius Cassius Vecellinus

INASMUCH as the Bacchanalian cult is a threat to the People of Rome and the Quirites;

INASMUCH as the Bacchanalian cult has spread through Roman and Socii territory;

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Roman Republic in the Curia Hostilia assembled,
I. In the Roman and Socii territory no one is to possess a place where the festivals of Bacchus are celebrated; if there are any who claim that it is necessary for them to have such a place, they are to come to Rome to the praetor urbanus, and the senate is to decide on those matters, when their claims have been heard, provided that not less than 100 senators are present when the affair is discussed;

II. No man is to be a Bacchanalian, neither a Roman citizen, nor one of the Latin name, nor any of our allies unless they come to the praetor urbanus, and he in accordance with the opinion of the senate expressed when not less than 100 senators are present at the discussion, shall have given leave;

III. No man is to be a priest; no one, either man or woman, is to be an officer (to manage the temporal affairs of the organization); nor is anyone of them to have charge of a common treasury; no one shall appoint either man or woman to be master or to act as master; henceforth they shall not form conspiracies among themselves, stir up any disorder, make mutual promises or agreements, or interchange pledges; no one shall observe the sacred rites either in public or private or outside the city, unless he comes to the praetor urbanus, and he, in accordance with the opinion of the senate, expressed when no less than 100 senators are present at the discussion, shall have given leave.

IV. No one in a company of more than five persons altogether, men and women, shall observe the sacred rites, nor in that company shall there be present more than two men or three women, unless in accordance with the opinion of the praetor urbanus and the senate as written above.

V. See it declared to all towns and declared in an assembly (contio) for not less than three market days that the judgement of the Senate is as follows: if there are any who have acted contrary to what was written above, they have decided that a proceeding for a capital offense should be instituted against them; the Senate has justly decreed that you should inscribe this on a brazen tablet, and that you should order it to be placed where it can be easiest read; see to it that the revelries of Bacchus, if there be any, except in case there be concerned in the matter something sacred, as was written above, be disbanded within ten days after this letter shall be delivered to you.

VI. That Consul Gaius Cassius Vecellinus is tasked and empowered to make such measures as required to eradicate the Bacchanalian cult throughout Italia.

Written into the annals in the consular year 194BC of Gaius Cassius Vecellinus and Titus Furius Pavo.

Begin discessio (division).

Quí hoc cénsétis, illuc tránsite; quí alia omnia, in hanc partem. (Whoever thinks this, go over there; whoever thinks anything else, to this part.)

May the will of the Senate be known to all.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

aye