(Ebook) The Praetorship in the Roman Republic (1-2) by Brennan, T. Corey ISBN 9780195114591, 0195114590

(Ebook) The Praetorship in the Roman Republic (1-2) by Brennan, T. Corey ISBN 9780195114591, 0195114590

Brennan's book surveys the history of the Roman praetorship, which was one of the most enduring Roman political institutions, occupying the practical center of Roman Republican administrative life for over three centuries. The study addresses political, social, military and legal history, as well as Roman religion. Volume I begins with a survey of Roman (and modern) views on the development of legitimate power--from the kings, through the early chief magistrates, and down through the creation and early years of the praetorship. Volume II discusses how the introduction in 122 of C. Gracchus' provincia repetundarum pushed the old city-state system to its functional limits."Now I can see why there has never been a comprehensive study of the praetorship in the Roman Republic: it takes a lot of work to picture it as a whole. (For me, about a dozen years’ worth.) On the most basic level, any investigation of this military and civil magistracy—after the consulship, the second most important in Rome—really has to include praetors in office, praetors extended past their term, and non-magistrates granted praetorian powers (whether through special vote or delegation). It has to include the activities of these individuals in fixed territorial provinces (like Sicily or Asia) and in special commands on land and sea. And of course much has to be said about the praetorship within the city of Rome, especially the complex responsibilities of the “urban” praetor (who for much of the Republic often found himself acting as head of state), the praetorian superintendancy of the civil law, the presidency of the major standing criminal courts, and the relationship of praetors of a given year to each other."