Editing Dionysius of Halicarnassus (section)

====Institutions====

Dionysus then provided a detailed account of the 'Romulus' constitution, most probably based on the work of [[Terentius Varro]].<ref name="P Wiseman, 2011">T P Wiseman, ''Remembering the Roman Republic'' (2011) p. xviii</ref> Romulus supposedly divides Rome into 3 [[Roman tribe|tribes]], each with a [[Tribune]] in charge. Each tribe was divided into 10 [[Curia]], and each of those into smaller units. He divided the kingdom's land holdings between them, and Dionysus alone among our authorities insists that this was done in equal lots.<ref name="P Wiseman, 2011"/>  The [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|Patrician]] class was separated from the [[Pleb]]eian class; while each curiae was responsible for providing soldiers in the event of war.

[[File:Bernard van Orley - Romulus Gives Laws to the Roman People - WGA16696.jpg|thumb|left|400px|[[Bernard van Orley]], ''Romulus Gives Laws to the Roman People'' – WGA16696]]

A system of [[Patronage in ancient Rome|patronage]] (''clientela''), a [[Roman senate|senate]] (attributed by Dionysius to Greek influence) and a personal bodyguard of 300 of the strongest and fittest among the nobles were also established: the latter, the ''celeres'', were so-named either for their quickness, or, according to [[Valerius Antias]], for their commander.<ref>T P Wiseman, ''Remembering the Roman Republic'' (2011) p. ii</ref>

A [[Separation of powers|separation of power]] and measures to increase manpower were also instituted, as were Rome's religious customs and practices, and a variety of legal measures praised by Dionysius.

Again, Dionysius thoroughly describes the laws of other nations before contrasting the approach of Romulus and lauding his work.  The Roman law governing marriage is, according to his ''Antiquities'', an elegant yet simple improvement over that of other nations, most of which he harshly derides. By declaring that wives would share equally in the possessions and conduct of their husband, Romulus promoted virtue in the former and deterred mistreatment by the latter.  Wives could inherit upon their husband's death.  A wife's adultery was a serious crime, however, drunkenness could be a mitigating factor in determining the appropriate punishment. Because of Romulus' laws, Dionysius claims that not a single Roman couple divorced over the following five centuries.

Romulus' laws governing parental rights, in particular, those that allow fathers to maintain power over their adult children were also considered an improvement over those of others; while Dionysius further approved of how, under the laws of Romulus, native-born free Romans were limited to two forms of employment: farming and the army. All other occupations were filled by slaves or non-Roman labor.

Romulus used the trappings of his office to encourage compliance with the law. His court was imposing and filled with loyal soldiers and he was always accompanied by the [[lictor|12 lictors]] appointed to be his attendants.