INTRODUCTION
Proscription is derived from the Latin term \”proscriptio,\” meaning public notice or proclamation, usually outlaw or condemnatory in nature. The history of the word means a list of people to be killed or exiled, or to suffer confiscation of property, and also has the meaning of death list. Politicians have used proscriptions to keep their critics in line and pacify the opposition.
Instances of Proscription in History
Roman Republic (82-81 BCE)
There is one of the first and most notorious cases of proscription in the late Roman Republic. Lucius Cornelius Sulla issued a series of laws in 82–81 BCE after his victory in the civil war to crush his opponents and strengthen his position of power. More than 500 senators and horsemen were named in Sulla’s proscription lists; most of them were executed with the confiscation of their properties. This event set a dangerous precedent for other political purges by significantly undermining the traditional power structures of the Roman Senate and strengthening the power of the dictator.
The English Civil War and Interregnum (1649-1660)
Both the Parliamentarians and Royalists made use of Acts of Attainder and other legal means to suppress opposition during and after the English Civil War. The most famous of these occurred in 1649, after the execution of King Charles I. Many Royalists were outlawed by acts of the Parliament of England under Oliver Cromwell, which resulted in the confiscation of their properties and, in a number of cases, their beheading. When Charles II took the throne again in 1660, the Interregnum ended, and so did these policies .
The French revolution (1793-1794)
Another significant instance is the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. With Robespierre at its helm, the director of the Committee of Public Safety, the revolutionary government issued proscription lists of prohibited items that were enemies of the revolution. The Reign of Terror killed thousands and executed others by the guillotine from 1793 to 1794. In the long run, the Reign of Terror brought terror and instability, resulting in Robespierre’s fall in 1794. It sought to stamp out counter-revolutionaries and consolidate the gains of the revolution.
Importance and Effects
Such proscriptions have been resorted to in the past as a last-ditch effort of those in power to implement necessary changes, although in doing so, the practice resulted in fundamental and wide-ranging changes, both political and social. Sulla’s proscriptions in the Roman Republic removed his enemies from the scene while at the same time making fundamental changes to the composition of the political body by promoting the military leaders to an even more powerful position and increasing the power of the Senate at the expense of the Senate. In the final analysis, the change resulted In the demise of the Republic and the establishment of the Roman Empire
Proscription was an essential tool of power used during the Reign of Terror to keep the masses in check and induce fear.
CONCLUSION
Throughout history, proscription has been a powerful, if brutal, tool used to stamp out political opposition and assert power. From ancient Rome to 17th-century England and revolutionary France, these actions left an indelible mark on the societies in which they occurred. Often, important shifts in the political climate would follow, and they soberly framed the cost of political purges in terms of human life. The history of proscription highlights the precarious balance that exists between justice and authority, as well as the possible repercussions from its abuse.
