Lex Aemilia sumptuaria

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[[Category:Law and politics]]
 
[[Category:Law and politics]]
  
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We have of late seen that the Lex Hibernia has proven successful in reducing the presence of large numbers of slaves within Rome, which would create the grave risk of individuals using private armies against the State.
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The ''Lex Aemilia sumptuaria'' was enacted by M. Aemilius Scaurus, consul of AUC 639 (115 BCE). As with the ''Lex Licinius sumptuaria'', rather than limit the number of guests at a dinner party, or the cost one could spend on a feast, it sought to prohibit which foods and food preparations could used. Thus the ''Lex Aemilia sumptuaria'' prohibited meals that served mice, rats, stuffed (or force-fed) dormice, mussels, and those birds that came from foreign lands. Similar prohibitions were decreed by censors of an earlier date and the prohibitions applied also to what foods were not acceptable to serve to the Gods.
  
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This latter fear is, unfortunately, all to real. And as was raised last month, many Citizens of repute currently house large numbers of gladiators on their estates. This is a perhaps reasonable thing to do; Marcus Aemilius Scaurus for one knows how vulnerable estates can be to raiders.
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'''Source:''' C. Plinius Secundus, ''Historia Naturalis'' 8.57 (223)
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Yet, allowing this buildup near Rome still allows the opportunity for a private army to be raised and to be marched on Rome before the City has sufficient time to react.
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So it is with the desire to find the proper balance of State security versus private ownership rights that I propose this draft of the Lex Aemilia Anti Privatus Exercitum:
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That no Citizen may maintain more than 100 gladiators or any other guards within Italia-Roma.
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I feel this is a reasonable compromise. Private citizens may still maintain a reasonable guards on estates within the environs of Roma and about their person, and may maintain as many as they feel they need elsewhere. The State also becomes much safer. Therefore, I ask you all to support the Lex Aemilia Anti Privatus Exercitum."
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Latest revision as of 17:21, 17 March 2011


The Lex Aemilia sumptuaria was enacted by M. Aemilius Scaurus, consul of AUC 639 (115 BCE). As with the Lex Licinius sumptuaria, rather than limit the number of guests at a dinner party, or the cost one could spend on a feast, it sought to prohibit which foods and food preparations could used. Thus the Lex Aemilia sumptuaria prohibited meals that served mice, rats, stuffed (or force-fed) dormice, mussels, and those birds that came from foreign lands. Similar prohibitions were decreed by censors of an earlier date and the prohibitions applied also to what foods were not acceptable to serve to the Gods.

Source: C. Plinius Secundus, Historia Naturalis 8.57 (223)

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