RIOTS AND RIOT CONTROL

Breaches of public order, though always exceptional, became a more significant feature of politics over time. Apart from the conflicts associated with the Struggle of the Orders, disturbances intended to influence decisions of the assembly were recorded in some instances during the Middle Republic: the violent obstruction of a trial by tax-farmers (publicani) in 212 (Livy 25.3.12–19) and the besieging of the houses of the tribunes by a crowd including even respectable married women (matronae), to press them to reverse their veto of the abrogation of a sumptuary law in 195 (Livy 34.1.5, 8.1–3). Turbulence at elections is recorded for 185 (Livy 39.32.10–13).

In the Late Republic disturbances occurred more often (see catalogue of cases from 78 to 49 in Vanderbroeck 1987: 218–67), generally as concomitants of the regular processes of decision-making at times when tendencies to sociopolitical disintegration contributed to a disregard for fundamental constitutional conventions. In particular, the emergence of a new type of popular politics led again and again to clashes within the assembly and made informal meetings (contiones) of the plebs the starting-point for riotous rallies (Cic. Clu. 93). The composition of the assembly was different every time; the supporters of a particular proposal were likely to appear in numbers, with the result that the tribune taking the initiative had a very good chance of obtaining the majority of the tribes' votes.