How to eliminate a political opponent? Here are 20 classic tricks.
1. Arrest & prosecute them. Aemilius Scaurus once prosecuted the Stoic Rutilius Rufus for bribery. It was ridiculous. Rufus was honest. Even if the charge doesn’t stick, you tar their reputation, Maybe enough to get a conviction next time. See also: Critias and Theramenes of Athens.
2. Use bribery to sway the outcome in their trial Cicero’s nemesis, Clodius Pulcher, was known for this. Prosecuting? -> Bribe witnesses, not jurors. Securing false testimony is essential. Pay what you need to. The “respectable” are more expensive, but also more convincing.
3. Accuse your opponent of Using Bribery Cicero played this card well against the rich Verres. Even if Verres hadn’t tried to bribe his way out of conviction for embezzlement, it was believable that he did. Emphasize to the audience how bad bribery is for the state.
4. Accuse your opponent of colluding with a foreign power. Worked against Themistocles of Athens, Pausanias of Sparta, Opimius of Rome, and many others. Can even work on Patriots. Say “follow the money,” and mention exotic luxuries (fine wine, Persian rugs, ostrich eggs).
5. Bribe the voters so your opponent loses his election Use parties, theater tickets, vacation experiences, “bread and circuses” Classic Roman style. It’s almost obligatory in the Late Republic. Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Caesar, Crassus…
6. Cause rioting in the streets to scare them and their supporters Caesar and Pompey used this to win a vote against Cato and Bibulus.
7. Exile them. Gaius Marius sent Metellus Numidicus packing to Albania. Countless examples.
8. Have them sent far away to a lame, “important” job … such that it amounts to exile. Clodius had Cato forcibly “awarded” a mission to Cyprus as governor. The job involved mountains of accounting.
9. Declare that they hold office illegitimately The demagogue Tiberius Gracchus used this tactic against his aristocratic colleague Octavius, who allegedly violated “sacred” principles of democracy as tribune. Octavius was voted out in an extraordinary plebiscite.
10. Threaten to have them hauled off to prison As Marius did as tribune, against both Cotta and Metellus in the Senate. Sometimes just the threat is enough to silence them.
11. March on the Capital and have them declared Public Enemy As Sulla did against Marius at Rome.
12. March on the Capital (again) and have THEM declared Public Enemy As Marius did against Sulla in return, also at Rome.
13. Plant moles and thwarters in their retinue Cicero planted Quintus Curius as a mole in Catiline’s conspiracy. Easiest to do if you have salacious dirt on the mole. Cicero had damning evidence from Curius’ ex-girlfriend (who was another man’s wife).
14. Accuse them of impiety in absentia. Athenian demagogues accused Alcibiades of profaning the Mysteries & desecrating the Herms, while he was off in Sicily. Identify people’s most irrational taboos and sacred cows. Rage over the alleged insult will make the people pliable.
15. Start, then lead, a foreign war Caesar picked a fight with the Gauls, then Germans. This will increase your status over your opponent, and distract from your illicit activities at home.
16. Steal leadership of a foreign war from your opponent As Pompey did with Lucullus.
17. Question their birthplace or parentage One of Sparta’s kings died. Leotychidas, his son, was a pawn of Lysander’s enemies. Lysander fomented suspicions of illegitimacy about Leotychidas. He succeeded, and got his own candidate chosen – Agesilaus, the king’s brother.
18. Tempt them with illicit affairs The Spartan commander of Oreus was a notorious lover of boys. The Thebans waited until he left the citadel for a soirée in the village Then seized the city.
19. Make a lot of foreigners new citizens to undermine their voting base Livius Drusus tried to do this against Marcius Philippus. He proposed enrolling large numbers of Italians as Roman citizens. Drusus was later found stabbed to death in his house.
20. The Nuclear Option If nothing else works… Just assassinate them. Caution: this often backfires. Drusus’ assassination caused the Social War and the Italians were made citizens anyway. Caesar’s assassins soon ended up dead losers, too.
About the Author
Very well written and right on the money, as well!