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June 14, 2026Klio0 citationsOpen Access

Visualising Empire through Lists? The formula amicorum , sociorum and togatorum

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CBConnor Beattie

Key Points

  • To examine how the Roman lists of allies functioned as a mechanism for visualising the empire.
  • Analyzed the formulae of Italian and Mediterranean allies.
  • Discussed potential display methods, particularly bronze tablets on the Capitol.
  • Explored historical context and implications for Roman behaviours and attitudes.
  • The formulae acted as organizational tools for the Roman Empire.
  • Displaying these lists likely influenced Roman imperial logic.
  • Specific behaviours and attitudes during the middle Republic were shaped by these visual mechanisms.

Abstract

Summary The Romans kept two lists or registers of their Italian allies ( formula togatorum ) and Mediterranean allies and friends ( formula sociorum/amicorum ). It will be argued that these formulae , most likely displayed as bronze tablets on the Capitol, were an organisational mechanism through which the Romans visualised their empire. This created a particular logic of empire which dictated certain Roman behaviours and attitudes during the middle Republic.

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Cite This Study

Connor Beattie (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2e4632b1cc60ccdea8b035https://doi.org/10.1515/klio-2025-0025
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