Cursus honorum: pathways to rank and power in the Roman Republic

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What was the "cursus honorum" and what was its importance in Roman politics?; How did magistracies evolve in the Roman Republic over time?; What role did the consulares play in the politics and society of Rome?; What were the main magistracies and what specific functions did they perform?; How did age and economic status impact the chances of holding public office?; Editorial Universidad de Sevilla.

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Pina Polo, Francisco (2025): Cursus honorum: pathways to rank and power in the Roman Republic. Zaragoza/Sevilla: Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza/Editorial Universidad de Sevilla (Colección Libera Res Publica, n.º 14).

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Autor/es:
Pina Polo, Francisco
0000-0001-8708-6211

This volume addresses a crucial issue for the political culture of the Roman Republic: competition among individuals and families of the social elite. This rivalry came to head at the annual elections of new magistrates: every year, a number of candidates ran for office and whereas some obtained sufficient votes from the people, others were defeated. The political career of a Roman citizen therefore took the shape of a hierarchical ladder (cursus honorum) whose rungs corresponded to the age at which one or other magistracy was attained. The book deals with the position of the cursus honorum in Republican history, reflects on the way scholarship has constructed its political and social significance for the political culture of the period, and discusses questions relating to how Roman citizens pursued different political careers. The outcome is a groundbreaking and essential contribution to a better understanding of the Roman Republic.