AHC: Federal Roman Republic

Your challenge is to create a Roman Republic that, in some way, incorporates representation for the outlying cities of, at least, Italy. Some sort of league, federation, confederation, or whatever you'd like.

Not applicable:
- The alliance system through which Rome controlled Italy, asking usually for little more than troops in wars.
- The extension of Roman citizenship, enabling the residents of those cities to vote in elections in the city of Rome itself.
 
Your challenge is to create a Roman Republic that, in some way, incorporates representation for the outlying cities of, at least, Italy. Some sort of league, federation, confederation, or whatever you'd like.

Not applicable:
- The alliance system through which Rome controlled Italy, asking usually for little more than troops in wars.
- The extension of Roman citizenship, enabling the residents of those cities to vote in elections in the city of Rome itself.

How about making the senior magistrates of allies citizens and Roman senators automatically upon election, like being elected quaestor makes one a senator? Of course, this would be subject to review by the censors, but I'm sure that unless they are manifestly unfit, they would not be removed. Of course, that would entail the magistrates abandoning their city and moving to Rome, but that would de facto give representation to Roman Allies in Italy.
 
How about making the senior magistrates of allies citizens and Roman senators automatically upon election, like being elected quaestor makes one a senator? Of course, this would be subject to review by the censors, but I'm sure that unless they are manifestly unfit, they would not be removed. Of course, that would entail the magistrates abandoning their city and moving to Rome, but that would de facto give representation to Roman Allies in Italy.

Thats basically my best idea, too. In one of my timelines, I have the Latin War pre-empted by such an action. Whereas, if we belive the histories (which are not 100% reliable), the Latins demanded a Consulship from Rome. The Romans, meanwhile, having just decided to split the office between Plebeians and Patricians wouldn't give the office up. Meanwhile, they souldn't increase the number of Consuls, having just gotten through their experiment with more than two chief executives. However, a praetorship seems a reasonable compromise to me.
 
Thats basically my best idea, too. In one of my timelines, I have the Latin War pre-empted by such an action. Whereas, if we belive the histories (which are not 100% reliable), the Latins demanded a Consulship from Rome. The Romans, meanwhile, having just decided to split the office between Plebeians and Patricians wouldn't give the office up. Meanwhile, they souldn't increase the number of Consuls, having just gotten through their experiment with more than two chief executives. However, a praetorship seems a reasonable compromise to me.

What I mean was that if for example, some one becomes the most senior magistrate of say, Capua, upon the expiration of his term he would he become a junior senator in Rome. Now, imagine the number of allies Rome has in Italy, and even if the original Romans in Rome would limit the number of Senators to say that two or three per city, that would mean about 50-100 senators would be from the allied cities. Now the Republic had 300 senators. 1/3 to 1/4 allied proportion isn't too bad, since I don't think the Romans would concede more.

And as long as they become junior senators and Roman citizens and residents of Rome, they could run for quaestor, Preator, and even Consul on equal footing with the Romans of Rome. Whether or not the centuries would vote for them for those positions is another matter.
 

GdwnsnHo

Banned
I think there may be a chance for serious reform if you look for Federalisation just after the Punic Wars. If we can avoid the destruction of Carthage, but instead see it colonised we see a large Roman Republic with more than a few significant cities, that whilst beaten, are significant to Rome.

I'm not entirely sure how, and I expect it would require the backing of some significant Roman figures, alongside the majority of Italy and territories beyond. But my idea would be

Highest Level - Council of Consuls (say that 5 times fast), with an elected High Consul, or deciding issues on majority vote.

Regional Level - Senate of Cities (Italian Senate, African Senate, Spanish Senate, Gallic Senate, etc) - each city sends a Senator/Represenative to their Senatorial Seat (Italy - Rome, Africa - Carthage, Spain - Seguntum?, Gaul..... Messalia?)

Lowest Level - Each city/group figures out how to represent themselves on their own. Representative of the Lord, Elected Magistrate, Person with the biggest forehead.

Assuming .. 2 Consuls per Senate? The whole alternate years could work with each year a consul is in Rome, representing their region/province, and the other in their Consular seat governing.

The Consuls can either work as a majority voting body, OR every year they choose one of their own as a High Consul - who could have veto, or executive power. I'm not sure. This would likely be where Dictators may have their role, or at the Regional level, superseded by.. Imperators? Or 'First Citizen' (I forget my latin).
 
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