ProQuest Dissertations - Historia Antigua

settle Scipio's veterans in Samnium and Apulia in 201-200, as well as the commission toestablish Venusia (200). 115Scipio Africanus has often been discussed as an example where a general drovethe foundation of colonies to further his military agenda. From 194 to 192, the southerncoast of peninsular Italy was peppered with citizen and Latin colonies. 1 ' While Scipioserved on none of the commissions to establish these colonies, he was consul the yearthey were elected and so he is often cited as their instigator. 117Scipio also retired to one1 |Qof the colonies, Liternum, after he fell out of favor in Rome in the 180s.This is thesort of example that tempts modern scholars to posit a theory of factional politics in theforming of colonies. Without further evidence it is not possible to say for certain ifScipio did push the senatus consultum that ordered the tribunes C. Atinius, Q. AeliusTubero, and perhaps M. Baebius Tamphilus to obtain a plebiscite to found these colonies.We also do not have enough evidence to say if some or even all of the colonizingplebiscites originated with a particular faction or magistrate; assertions to this effect, aswith the Scipionic example, are conjectural. 119115 Livy 31.4.1-2, 31.49.5. Cf. Feig Vishnia (1996), pp.116-117. Scullard (1951), p. 95 n. 4, and p. 83 n. 2,where he argues that the Xviri were chosen by the urban praetor M. Iunius Pennus expressly to slight Scipioand to acquire some of the allegiance of Scipio's soldiers for other factions. Not all of the commissionersare as unambiguously anti-Scipionic as Scullard asserts, however.116 These are Volturnum, Liternum, Puteoli, Salernum, Buxentum (Livy 32.29.3-4, 34.45.1-2), ViboValentia, Copia (Livy 34.53.1-2, 35.9.7-8, 35.40.5-6), Sipontum, Tempsa, and Croton (Livy 34.45.3-5).117 MRR 1.342-3. Scullard (1951), pp. 117-118 suggests that Scipio initiated the foundation of thesecolonies in response to a genuine fear of Antiochus' navy. He also links the foundation of Copia and ViboValentia to Scipionic policy (p. 123.) Briscoe (1973), p. 225 disagrees, noting that the threat of Antiochuswas not realized until late in the year, and so either plebiscite was passed at the end of 197 or fear ofAntiochus was not the primary motivation for the foundation of colonies along the coast.118 Livy 38.50-56. Cf. Salmon (1970), p. 97.119 Although occasionally the conjecture may be fruitful: see below for suggestions on how the commissionswere formed.83