This book is action packed, only covering the years 496 BCE to 492 BCE
Book 6 finds Rome in constant tension wither her neighbors. At this point in Rome's history, the city did not have a professional army, but rather relied on the people taking up (and providing their own) arms when battle arose. According to Dionysius, the people are weighed down by oppressive money-lenders, and since the Senate refuses to alleviate their burdens, they refuse to fight. This causes a great amount of trouble in the city between and among the classes. Eventually, after continually feeling ignored by the wealthy, the soldiers refuse to put down their arms and literally abandon the city. This is the first secession of the plebs. It is in the resolution of this crisis that the offices of Tribune of the Plebs and Aedile are created.
We see some of the same figures from Book 5 appear again (as we are moving very slowly in time). Titus Larcius, Appius Claudius, and relatives of the renowned Publius Valerius Publicola make their appearances. At the very end of Book 6, Gaius Marcius Coriolanus (about whom Shakespeare wrote a play) makes his appearance.
We continue following along in Livy Book 2 and pick up at the beginning of Plutarch's Life of Coriolanus.
Interesting note, in section 34 Dionysius uses the most forms of year reckoning yet. So far we have seen him use the Olympiad system and the Roman favorite of consular years. It is here that we see Dionysius first use the other Roman year calculation, Ab Urbe Condita, "from the foundation of the city." Finally, Dionysius also uses a historical-political reference to further date the year.
He defines the year 493 BCE as:
the year before the 72nd Olympiad
in the consulship of Aulus Verginius Caelimontanus and Titus Veturius Geminus
in the 260th year after the foundation of Rome
the year Themistocles was archon at Athens
1 – Peace at home and abroad, Roman women granted choice of whether to stay in Rome or return to their own homeland (of course they chose Rome)
2 – Truce with Latins expires, Romans are eager for battle while the Latins lack enthusiasm and are under compulsion to fight by Sextus Tarquinius and Octavius Mamilius (son in law of Tarquinius Superbus and some defect to Rome, Aulus Postumius becomes dictator of Rome and prepares for war
3 – Latins take the Roman garrison at Corbio, Postumius comes to their aid
4 – 17 – Battle of Lake Regillus (Livy 2.20)
4 – 13 – Fighting with the Latins
4 – As the Latins debate best strategies, the Romans show up
5 – Fighting ensues
6 – 9 – The dictator Postumius calls his troops together and encourages them with a speech 10 – The Romans are encouraged, and fighting begins again
11 – Leaders on both sides are injured
12 – Marcus Valerius, brother of Publicola, and Publius and Marcus, sons of Publicola fall in battle, the Latin leaders (Sextus Tarquinius and Octavius Mamilius) fall and the Latins flee
13 – The appearance of Castor and Pollux
14 – 17 – Battle with the late-arrived Volscians
14 – Postumius offers sacrifices, the Volscian army are on the move as auxiliary for the Latins
15 – The Volscians plan to feign peace with the Romans as a cover for gathering intelligence and preparing for battle
16 – Postumius sees through the Volscians and calls them out on their underhandedness, having intercepted letters as proof
17 – The Volscians decide not to engage, the Romans bury their dead and celebrate a triumph. Famine from war looms but the gods intervene after the proper sacrifices are conducted
18 – 21 – Rome manages their relationship with their Latin neighbors
18 – The Latin league begs Rome for peace, having opposed the war and fallen under the power of the Tarquin tyranny
19 – Titus Larcius makes a speech to the senate advocating for peace and renewing the treaty with the Latins
20 – Servius Sulpicius agrees but argues the Latins cannot be trusted and must be punished to some extent, Spurius Cassius argues for total eradication of Latin cities
21 – The senate sides with Titus Larcius, who delivers a speech of clemency to the Latin embassy, the old Tarquinius finally dies alone and abandoned by all at the age of 90
22 – 30 – Civil unrest arises; the debt crisis and issues levying troops
22 – Controversies over contract law, issues of debt, Postumius abdicates the dictatorship, not wanting to be responsible for fixing the civil problems
23 – The consuls of the next year (493 BC) decide to stir up foreign war as a diversion from civil strife, the plebs refuse to take up arms, the consul Servilius advocates for debt relief
24 – The consul Appius argues against debt relief, blaming the plebs for their own situation
25 – Servilius raises a volunteer army against the Volscians who quickly surrender, the Latins agree to fight against the Volscians with Rome
26 – An old Roman veteran appears in the Forum dressed in rags and telling all about his misfortunes because of the debt crisis and civil strife.
27 – Appius and Servilius sling insults at each other while the plebians flood the Forum, the Volscian army is on the move
28 – The senate begs Servilius to use his clout with the people to sway them to fight
29 – Servilius secures a proclamation that no one who marches against a Roman enemy can be imprisoned or have family imprisoned for debts, the poor join the war effort, Servilius marches against the Volscians and wins
30 – Appius and Servilius at odds again, Servilius celebrates a triumph and incurs the hatred of the patricians and the love of the people
31 – 43 – Fighting with neighbors and trouble at home
31 – Rome celebrates festivals to quell the populace; Sabines botch their sneak attack
32 – 33 – War with the Auruncans
32 – Auruncans threaten war if Romans don’t help them regain their land; Romans are unfazed
33 – Battle ensues and the Romans win
34 – 41 – A tale of two cities: civil unrest and division in Rome
34 – Sabines are on the attack again, but the plebians won’t fight; struggles between the poor and wealthy
35 – Titus Larcius is called by the consuls to make a speech before the Senate concerning the internal upheaval
36 – Larcius continues, arguing for peace with neighbors so that the issues of the city can be resolved
37 – Publius Verginius argues for a middle ground concerning the debts of the poor; Titus Larcius argues for the plebians
38 – Appius Claudius presents his stance of refusing to give in to the demands of the people
39 – Appius’ motion is approved through violence; Manius Valerius is appointed dictator to handle the matter
40 – 41 – Servilius, Valerius’ Master of the Horse, addresses the people, urging them both to trust him and to defent their city
42 – The people go to war against the Volscans and Sabines
43 – 48 – Secession and attempts to swiftly solve the problem
43 – 44 – Valerius celebrates the customary triumph, gives conquered lands to some of the poor, asks the Senate to make good on their promises to help the poor (who then refuse, to the indignation of Valerius
45 – The secession is planned (fun sidenote on the importance of Roman battle standards “they are thought to be sacred, just like statues of gods”); Sicinius Bellutus seizes the battle standards and they secede to a nearby mountain
46 – The city reacts to great turmoil
47 – Patricians prepare for expected battle; debate amongst themselves on how to solve the situation; safety of the city is decided to be the goal
48 – Ambassadors sent to negotiate with the seceders but the seceders reject the Senate’s proposal
49 – 69 – The Senate and consuls work to solve the matter
49 – Consuls for 492 BCE (72nd Olympiad) are elected; Agrippa Menenius is called upon to address the Senate
49 – 56 – Speech of Agrippa Menenius (argues for peace and understanding of the people’s grievances)
57 – His listeners are impressed; the consuls call on Manius Valerius to speak next
58 – Speech of Manius Valerius; he condemns Appius Claudius and argues in favor of Menenius
59 – 64 – Speech of Appius Claudius (argues against the previous two, stating that he will not be strongarmed by the people; let them just wait it out, they’ll give up eventually)
65 – The Senate is divided
66 – 67 – The consuls present their decision to put the matter to a vote of the people
68 – The Senate advises for Menenius’ plan; Appius Claudius voices his dissent
69 – The young senator Spurius Nautius, representing the younger senators, declares his group will follow the advice of their elders (i.e. Menenius & Co.)
70 – 88 – Peace terms brought to the secession camp
70 – Envoys head to the secession camp to deliver the news; a certain L. Junius Brutus urges Sicinius to refuse the peace terms
71 – Manius Valerius, who is one of the envoys, makes a speech to the seceders
72 – Sicinius responds; Lucius Junius Brutus delivers a speech
72 – 80 – Speech of Lucius Junius Brutus
81 – Titus Larcius steps in as mediator, censuring both the money lenders and the seceders
82 – Sicinius responds negatively to Larcius
83 – 86 – Agrippa Menenius makes his argument for the envoy (including his analogy of the State being like a human body)
87 – The people almost relent; Brutus and Menenius at odds
88 – The office of Tribune of the Plebs is created
89 – 90 – The Secession is ended
89 – The people choose the first Tribunes of the Plebs; their powers and office are defined
90 – An altar to Jupiter the Terrifier is erected, aediles are created
91 – With everything settled, an army is again raised
92 – 93 – The Romans march against the Volscan city of Corioli; Gaius Marcius appears on the scene
94 – Gaius Marcius is given the cognomen Coriolanus
95 – A new treaty with the Latin cities is made
96 – Agrippa Menenius dies and is given a funeral at the expense of the people
Header: The Secession of the People to the Mons Sacer, engraving by Bartolomeo Barloccini, 1849.