Neque ad ius

Latin Learning Latin
1

In LLPSI XLV Livy (and it is the original Livy I think) tells us of Tarquin

Custodibus armatis corpus saepsit, neque enim ad ius regni quicquam [quic-quam = quidquam] praeter vim habebat…

He surrounded his person with an armed guard, and it wasn’t the right to the throne but rather (praeter) strength that he had…

– the above is somewhat literal..

Does ‘quicquam’ modify ‘ius’? I’m taking it that ‘ius’ has a disjunctive relationship to ‘vim’ - …nor indeed had he any right to the throne except that he had force’…? (more idiomatically..)

2

On reflection ‘ad’ creates a difficulty for me.

neque enim ad ius regni quicquam [quic-quam = quidquam] praeter vim habebat

what does ‘ad ius regni’ mean - literally? …to the rule of kingdom…?

so .. nor had he anything except force … ad ius regni… literally ‘to the rule of the kingdom’…

so ‘rule’ doesn’t have a disjunctive relationship to ‘vim’.

Do I have that right?

3

Understandable that ad should puzzle you. Lit. for he didn’t have anything towards (i.e. contributing to, relating to) right of kingship except force. Cf. the saying nihil ad Dionysum, nothing to do with Dionysus.

4

Thanks mwh..!