Defectio Fregellana: on the Senate’s Reaction to the ‘Case of Fregellae’ in 125/124 BCE

Filyanov Nikita A.

The article examines the issues related to the uprising in Fregellae (a colony of Latin law) in 125 BCE and the reaction of the Senate to this incident. The author concludes that the so-called ‘revolt’ of Fregellae was an internal social conflict that arose after the failure of the rogatio Fulvia de Latinis civitate danda between the poor Fregellans and the members of the ruling elite. The latter were forced to turn to Rome for help and ask the Senate to intervene in resolving the conflict, presenting it as a rebellion against Rome. Brutal suppression of the revolt in Fregellae by praetor L. Opimius is explained by the fact that the Senate was afraid of the spread of a similar conflict to other colonies of Latin law. Granting the rights of Roman citizenship to the members of the elite, who helped L. Opimius in resolving the social conflict is connected with the foundation of the civil colony Fabrateria Nova in 124 BCE on the site of the destroyed Fregellae and the census in 125/124 BCE.

Keywords: Fregellae, Roman citizenship, Senate, Latins, L. Opimius, C. Gracchus, rogatio Fulvia de Latinis civitate danda
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