Romulus Establishes the Senate in Ancient Rome

According to legend, Romulus, the founder of Rome, established the Senate as a governing body to assist in the administration of the newly formed city. He selected 300 of the most noble men, who were wealthy and had legitimate families, to serve as senators. This group was divided into three tribes: the Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres, with each tribe contributing 100 senators. Each tribe was further divided into ten curiae, from which senators were chosen. The Senate functioned primarily as an advisory council to the king, known as the Council of State, and its members were appointed by the king in accordance with established customs. While the Senate was intended to provide counsel on legislative matters, its actual power was limited during the monarchy, as the king retained the majority of political authority and could act independently of the Senate's advice. The Senate's role was to support the king in legislative coordination and to provide counsel on significant issues. Although the king was expected to seek the Senate's advice, he had the discretion to determine which matters were presented to them and could choose to accept or disregard their recommendations. The Senate could only convene at the king's request, except during periods of interregnum when it had the authority to assemble itself. This structure laid the groundwork for the evolution of the Senate's role in Roman governance, which would change significantly in later periods as the political landscape of Rome transformed from monarchy to republic.