Gambling and Male Sociability in the Streets of Early Modern Rome

Gambling, from cards and dice games to wagering on political events such as the papal election and the promotion of cardinals, engaged the free time of Romans of all classes in the early modern era. However, elite men and women tended to gamble in the privacy of the domestic sitting, usually in salons where the conversation was just as important as the game. In contrast, the laboring classes of Rome, especially the men, played their games in the streets and squares of the city. These men, hailing from all walks, included artisans, servants, and vagabonds. They shared one trait: they were all primarily new to the city, and gambling brought them together and created a sense of community among those from different backgrounds. This paper will examine the urban spaces where these men met to play card and dice games and will also study the male sociability that occurred in these spaces. The gaming that occurred in these spaces allowed Roman men to demonstrate their skill, knowledge and virility to their peers in the community. Through these games Romans, especially younger men, claimed precious spaces of sociability in a city where much of the public arena belonged to elite. However, these activities were also a form of playful risk that involved competition between men which could challenge their honor and reputation, and spark enmity and violence. As such, papal governors issued edicts against public gambling and had the police arrest young men gambling in the streets. However, as attested by the numerous edicts against games and gambling throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the efforts of papal authorities to suppress these popular activities invariably failed.