Bret Devereaux

As a note on the previous 'teaching the Roman Republic' tweet - I always find it kind of funny that in speculative fiction (esp. fantasy) you get these simple, elegant governing systems as compared to the hilariously over-complicated kludge of actual historical governments.

Fantasy town: "The party comes to a town. It is run by a Mayor, a unitary executive who appoints a sheriff and there is an elected judge and that's it. This town also has just one tavern with a job board and here are my quest hooks..."

Actual Town: No no, the Consul doesn't handle finances, the ::checks notes:: 10-ish quaestors do. The consul is elected by the people, yeah, but not by THOSE people, he's elected by this different assembly. Also there are two consuls. Shoulda said that first. Now the Senate...

So here's the thing but this guy's a tribune, so he's not elected by either the assembly that elects the consuls or the one for the quaestors, but by this other assembly. Are these assemblies different people? No, mostly the same people, organized slightly differently.

No no, no he's not a military tribune (some of which are appointed by the consuls and some of which are elected) he's a tribune of the plebs, which is a completely different and unrelated office despite both of them being called 'tribunus.' Same name, totally different job.