Scholars have attempted to reconstruct and interpret the history of Greco-Roman antiquity for centuries. As a graduate student at Bryn Mawr College investigating several potential dissertation topics, I was pleased to discover that there are still areas of the ancient world that have received very little attention from previous generations of academics. The practice of exile in the Roman Republic is one such topic that has largely escaped detailed examination. In this work, which is a revised and expanded version of my 1999 dissertation, I have tried to look at the major features of exile and, as much as possible, put them into the context of the wider world of the Roman Republic. Even so, this study is not intended to be an all-inclusive treatment of the topic, but rather as a beginning for further investigations of Roman exile.

I would like to acknowledge the support of others that made this book possible. T. Corey Brennan first suggested the topic of Roman Republican exile to me, and has provided guidance and support well above and beyond what is expected of a good dissertation advisor. His tireless dedication to his students is truly remarkable. Indeed, his advice and constant support on the dissertation and other professional matters have been invaluable to me over the years. In short, he is an exemplary scholar and mentor. Equally as important has been the guidance of R T Scott, the co-director of my dissertation.