How did One Become a Senator in Ancient Rome?

Question

I'm taking a course in Ancient Rome and can't completely comprehend the election of Senators.

I understand that Senators were chosen from the patrician class by the Censors. I just don't understand how the censors selected the 300 Senators every five years on a practical level. When they determined the tax rolls, did they just choose the 300 richest Romans? What if one or more of the richest 300 Romans did not have noble ties? Would he still be selected for the Senate?

Please help me understand this.

Thank you.

How did One Become a Senator in Ancient Rome?
I'm taking a course in Ancient Rome and can't completely comprehend the election of Senators.

I understand that Senators were chosen from the patrician class by the Censors. I just don't understand how the censors selected the 300 Senators every five years on a practical level. When they determined the tax rolls, did they just choose the 300 richest Romans? What if one or more of the richest 300 Romans did not have noble ties? Would he still be selected for the Senate?

By the way, this question is applicable to the period of the Republic. We haven't got up to the empire yet.

Please help me understand this.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Not all senators were patricians. Cicero, an extremely famous senator was a plebian who rose up in power. Ceaser increased the size of the senate form 300 to 600 and placed people form other provinces (such as Gaul) into the senate house.

Answer 2

Actually all 300 Senators were not chosen every 5 years. Remember it is a life long position. Once you are in, you are their for life.
When Senators were needed to fill the vacancies, intitially blood was the major factor. In the days of the early Republic, only a patrician (descendents from the original Roman clans and other Roman nobility) could hold the office of Senator. Thus, members of the most powerful and influential (politically) families are being selected to fill vacancies. Wealth was not playing a major role since at this time you had many plebe (all non patricians) families that were wealthier then patrician families.
That begins to change when you have the "Struggle Of the Orders" in the 5-4th century BC. As the plebes are demanding more social and political rights, you start to see wealthy plebes marrying or buying their way into the patrician class, and thus having a chance to be in the Senate. Yet, by the end of the Republic, wealth and connections supersedes blood lines as a means to be a Senator especially when Roman leaders enlarge the size of the Senate.

Answer 3

Senate In Ancient Rome

Answer 4

They became senators be being in the top class and 300 men wee selected and they served for life.