THE MASS RECALL OF EXILES IN THE 80s

Following the Social War, the Roman franchise was extended to include all Italy. Although no ancient source comments directly, it has been assumed that Romans could no longer legally seek exile in Italy due to this event. Indeed, of the fifteen post-Social War exiles whose place of banishment is known, only two are mentioned as remaining in Italy. These two examples are exceptional and are discussed below. Scattered comments from Cicero's speeches clearly indicate that by the late 60s, exilium excluded the refugee from Italian soil. This development makes perfect sense, as the enfranchisement of Italy would have placed all the previously independent states under the administrative control of Rome. All subsequent fugitives would have to seek new homes elsewhere. In this regard, the anti-Gracchan exiles of the previous generation were forerunners, as they pioneered the process of relocating outside Italy.

The prospect of recall was one of the major changes in the practice of Roman exile. Immediately after the Social War, the manner by which restoration from banishment was conducted would itself be radically transformed. In the cases of both P. Popillius and Metellus Numidicus, political and social instability was the impetus that enabled their return to Rome. With the increased partisan violence of the early first century, the possibility of recall from banishment became greater.