SULPĬCĬAE, proposed by the tribune P. Sulpicius Rufus, a
supporter of Marius, B.C. 88, enacted the recall of the exiles,
the distribution of the new citizens and the libertini among the
thirty-five tribes, that the command in the Mithridatic war should
be taken from Sulla and given to Marius, and that a senator should
not contract debt to the amount of more than 2000 denarii. The last
enactment may have been intended to expel persons from the senate
who should get in debt. All these leges were repealed by Sulla.
SULPĬCĬA SEMPRŌNĬA, B.C. 304. No name is given to this lex by Livy,
but it was probably proposed by the consuls. It prevented the
dedicatio of a templum or altar without the consent of the senate
or a majority of the tribunes.
SUMPTUĀRĬAE, the name of various laws passed to prevent inordinate
expense (_sumptus_) in banquets, dress, &c. In the states of
antiquity it was considered the duty of government to put a check
upon extravagance in the private expenses of persons, and among the
Romans in particular we find traces of this in the laws attributed
to the kings, and in the Twelve Tables. The censors, to whom
was entrusted the _disciplina_ or _cura morum_, punished by the
_nota censoria_ all persons guilty of what was then regarded as
a luxurious mode of living; a great many instances of this kind
are recorded. But as the love of luxury greatly increased with
the foreign conquests of the republic and the growing wealth of
the nation, various leges sumptuariae were passed at different
times with the object of restraining it. These, however, as may be
supposed, rarely accomplished their object, and in the latter times
of the republic they were virtually repealed. The following list of
them is arranged in chronological order:--
OPPIA, proposed by the tribune C. Oppius in B.C. 215, enacted
that no woman should have above half an ounce of gold, nor wear a
dress of different colours, nor ride in a carriage in the city or
in any town, or within a mile of it, unless on account of public
sacrifices. This law was repealed twenty years afterwards, whence
we frequently find the Lex Orchia mentioned as the first lex
sumptuaria.
ORCHIA, proposed by the tribune C. Orchius in B.C. 181, limited the
number of guests to be present at entertainments.
FANNIA, proposed by the consul C. Fannius, B.C. 61, limited the
sums which were to be spent on entertainments, and enacted that not
more than 100 asses should be spent on certain festivals named in
the lex, whence it is called _centussis_ by Lucilius; that on ten
other days in each month not more than 30 asses, and that on all
other days not more than 10 asses, should be expended; also that no
other fowl but one hen should be served up, and that not fattened
for the purpose.
DIDIA, passed B.C. 143, extended the Lex Fannia to the whole of
Italy, and enacted that not only those who gave entertainments
which exceeded in expense what the law had prescribed, but also
all who were present at such entertainments, should be liable to
the penalties of the law. We are not, however, told in what these
consisted.
LICINIA, agreed in its chief provisions with the Lex Fannia, and
was brought forward, we are told, that there might be the authority
of a new law upon the subject, inasmuch as the Lex Fannia was
beginning to be neglected. It allowed 200 asses to be spent on
entertainments upon marriage days, and on other days the same as
the Lex Fannia; also, that on ordinary days there should not be
served up more than three pounds of fresh, and one pound of salt
meat. It was probably passed in B.C. 103.
CORNELIA, a law of the dictator Sulla, B.C. 81, was enacted on
account of the neglect of the Fannian and Licinian Laws. Like
these, it regulated the expenses of entertainments. Extravagance in
funerals, which had been forbidden even in the Twelve Tables, was
also restrained by a law of Sulla.
AEMILIA, proposed by the consul Aemilius Lepidus, B.C. 78, did not
limit the expenses of entertainments, but the kind and quantity of
food that was to be used.
ANTIA, of uncertain date, proposed by Antius Resto, besides
limiting the expenses of entertainments, enacted that no actual
magistrate, or magistrate elect, should dine abroad anywhere except
at the houses of certain persons. This law however was little
observed; and we are told that Antius never dined out afterwards,
that he might not see his own law violated.
JULIA, proposed by the dictator C. Julius Caesar, enforced the
former sumptuary laws respecting entertainments which had fallen
into disuse. He stationed officers in the provision market to seize
upon all eatables forbidden by the law, and sometimes sent lictors
and soldiers to banquets to take everything which was not allowed
by the law.
JULIA, a lex of Augustus, allowed 200 sesterces to be expended
upon festivals on dies profesti, 300 on those of the calends,
ides, nones, and some other festive days, and 1000 upon marriage
feasts. There was also an edict of Augustus or Tiberius, by which
as much as from 300 to 2000 sesterces were allowed to be expended
upon entertainments, the increase being made with the hope of
securing thereby the observance of the law. Tiberius attempted to
check extravagance in banquets; and a senatusconsultum was passed
in his reign for the purpose of restraining luxury, which forbade
gold vases to be employed, except for sacred purposes, and also
prohibited the use of silk garments to men. This sumptuary law,
however, was but little observed. Some regulations on the subject
were also made by Nero and by succeeding emperors, but they appear
to have been of little or no avail in checking the increasing love
of luxury in dress and food.
TĂBELLĀRĬAE, the laws by which the ballot was introduced in voting
in the comitia. As to the ancient mode of voting at Rome, see
COMITIA, p. 107.
GABINIA, proposed by the tribune Gabinius B.C. 139, introduced the
ballot in the election of magistrates; whence Cicero calls the
tabella _vindex tacitae libertatis_.
CASSIA, proposed by the tribune L. Cassius Longinus B.C. 137,
introduced the ballot in the _judicium populi_, or cases tried in
the comitia by the whole body of the people, with the exception of
cases of perduellio.
PAPIRIA, proposed by the tribune C. Papirius Carbo, B.C. 131,
introduced the ballot in the enactment and repeal of laws.
CAELIA, proposed by C. Caelius Caldus, B.C. 107, introduced the
ballot in cases of perduellio, which had been excepted in the
Cassian law. There was also a law brought forward by Marius, B.C.
119, which, was intended to secure freedom and order in voting.