Foundations of Rome

• Events of the Second Secession


  Verginius returned to the camp covered in his daughter's blood.

  He made a speech about how he could not allow men like Crassus to defile women like Virginia, such as the wives, sisters and daughters of the Roman Army.

  He evoked sympathy by saying he considered suicide after killing Virginia. He encouraged the other plebeians to join a second secession.

  They gathered at the Aventine Hill for the secession.

  The Senate sent envoys to the soldiers, who demanded to speak with Horatius and Valerius, as they were the only representation in the Senate the plebs had.

  The meeting would take place if the Decemvirate handed power back to the consuls, but they refused (obvi). Following this, the plebs went to the Sacred Mount.

  The city was almost completely deserted. Livy describes it as a "ghost town" but that could be because he is comparing the Secession to Caesar's march on Rome in 49 BC.

  The Decemvirate agreed to disband if they were protected from prosecution.

  The leaders of the Secession demanded that the tribunes be restored and the Decemvirate be indicted. Horatius and Valerius supported and understood these demands, but could not depose the Decemvirate.

  an election immediately took place on the Aventine Hill. 10 tribunes were elected, including Verginius and Lucius Icilius.

  Icilius said that they should not take revenge on the Decemvirate, so stability in Rome was promoted.

  Crassus was indicted and committed suicide before he could be tried. The other members of the Second Decemvirate were either exiled or killed themselves.
• Outcomes of the Second Secession


  Volero successfully changed how tribunes were elected and the plebs themselves had more control over who got the position

  Land taken from the Volsci was given to the plebs to settle on

  Valerio Horatian laws gave Rome a table of 12 laws which importantly included the right of appeal and the inviolability of the tribunes which protected them from assassinations
• The 12 Tables of Laws covered


  attendance in court

  theft

  lending/debtors

  family law and rights of fathers

  inheritance

  possession, ownership and slavery

  criminal acts

  property law

  public law and treason

  religious law

  protection of patricians (11th and 12th tables)
• Pros of the 12 tables of laws


  they gave the plebs basic civil rights

  available in basic, simple language so were accessible to all
• Cons of the 12 tables of laws


  did not promote 'we are all equal before the law'

  there was still distrust between the orders
• Other legal changes


  Gaius Canuleius removed the marriage ban between patricians and plebs in 445 BC. He tried to make it so plebs could be elected but didn't succeed.

  Plebs could become military tribunes instead, which allowed them to seek glory and command armies.
• First Decemvirate


  In 451 BC, the supreme authority in Rome was passed from Consuls to Decemvirs. The Decemvirs were members of the Decemvirate, a council of 10 men that were in charge of writing a new law code. All of its members were patricians, so there was no more representation for plebs in the Senate. Appius Claudius Crassus helped to create the first 10 Tables of Laws with his fellow Decemvirs. These laws were beneficial to the plebs, but despite his popularity with them he was rapidly becoming a dictator.
• Second Decemvirate


  Many senators became afraid due to Claudius Crassus' increasing popularity. They put him in charge of the selection process for the members of the Second Decemvirate. However, Claudius Crassus simply elected himself and 9 allies. These allies were 10 "Tarquins" according to Livy. They met in secret and appointed 12 lictors (bodyguards). Crassus began to attack plebeian rights and put his enemies on trial. In 499 BC, the Decemvirate announced they were staying in power for another year. The Decemvirate created 2 new tables of laws that protected the patricians. One of these laws was particularly painful for the plebs as it prevented them from marrying into patrician families and improving their social standing. When an army marched on Rome, the Senators refused to attend a meeting hosted by the Decemvirate that would plan how to combat the threat. The soldiers refused to fight for them, too. Crassus displayed his tyranny by forcing the Senators to attend using his lictors.

  Valerius and Horatius were two senators that opposed him and warned the Second Decemvirate that they were risking the same fate as Superbus; exile.

  The Senate feared plebeian unrest, so they voted for an army to be assembled which later suffered many losses.
• The Abduction of Virginia


  Crassus was in love with Virginia, but she was engaged to another man, Lucius Icilius, a former tribune.

  Crassus tried to convince people that Virginia was a runaway slave of his by getting one of his clients, Marcius Claudius, to claim his story.

  Crassus put Virginia on trial and she demanded to talk to her father, Verginius.

  Lucius Icilius knew that Crassus intended to rape Virginia, so he found her father and they presented their evidence to Crassus. They were dismissed anyway.

  Verginius cursed Crassus with Virginia's blood and killed her so she would not be shamed by Crassus' lust.
• First Decemvirate


  In 451 BC, the supreme authority in Rome was passed from Consuls to Decemvirs. The Decemvirs were members of the Decemvirate, a council of 10 men that were in charge of writing a new law code. All of its members were patricians, so there was no more representation for plebs in the Senate. Appius Claudius Crassus helped to create the first 10 Tables of Laws with his fellow Decemvirs. These laws were beneficial to the plebs, but despite his popularity with them he was rapidly becoming a dictator.
• Second Decemvirate


  Many senators became afraid due to Claudius Crassus' increasing popularity. They put him in charge of the selection process for the members of the Second Decemvirate. However, Claudius Crassus simply elected himself and 9 allies. These allies were 10 "Tarquins" according to Livy. They met in secret and appointed 12 lictors (bodyguards). Crassus began to attack plebeian rights and put his enemies on trial. In 499 BC, the Decemvirate announced they were staying in power for another year. The Decemvirate created 2 new tables of laws that protected the patricians. One of these laws was particularly painful for the plebs as it prevented them from marrying into patrician families and improving their social standing. When an army marched on Rome, the Senators refused to attend a meeting hosted by the Decemvirate that would plan how to combat the threat. The soldiers refused to fight for them, too. Crassus displayed his tyranny by forcing the Senators to attend using his lictors.

  Valerius and Horatius were two senators that opposed him and warned the Second Decemvirate that they were risking the same fate as Superbus; exile.

  The Senate feared plebeian unrest, so they voted for an army to be assembled which later suffered many losses.
• The Abduction of Virginia


  Crassus was in love with Virginia, but she was engaged to another man, Lucius Icilius, a former tribune.

  Crassus tried to convince people that Virginia was a runaway slave of his by getting one of his clients, Marcius Claudius, to claim his story.

  Crassus put Virginia on trial and she demanded to talk to her father, Verginius.

  Lucius Icilius knew that Crassus intended to rape Virginia, so he found her father and they presented their evidence to Crassus. They were dismissed anyway.

  Verginius cursed Crassus with Virginia's blood and killed her so she would not be shamed by Crassus' lust.
• Causes of the First Secession


  -homelessness and debt from wars of independence

  -families of war veterans had their homes repossessed and some were imprisoned

  -plebs had no way of raising their concerns regarding agrarian laws and debt

  -greedy patricians had no interest in the agrarian reforms or debt relief

  -the senate discussed the situation and Appius Claudius wanted to crush the plebs even though Servilius wanted debt relief

  -Servilius promised that if the plebs fought to defend Rome from the Volsci then their debts would be relieved but this never happened. Appius blamed Servilius, saying he had no right to promise this.
• Events of the First Secession


  It was announced that the Volsci were planning to march on Rome.

  Due to their exploitation, the plebs were angry and demanded that the patricians be enlisted in their stead, refusing to fight.

  Servilius, the consul, promised to relieve all the plebs of their war debts if they fought for Rome just this once. After making his promise, he quickly assembled an army. The Volsci failed to attack a Roman army camp at night. The Roman legions captured the Volscian camp and allowed soldiers to pillage it, which relieved some of them of debt. Peace was eventually made with the Volscians. The Roman army and Servilius went on to defeat the Sabines after their raids on Roman farms, as well as the Auruncans.

  Appius Claudius, the other consul alongside Servilius, undermined the promise Servilius made to the plebs before the battles against the Volsci, Sabines and Auruncans. He sentenced all debtors very harshly. The plebs tried to appeal to Servilius, but he was unable to convince the Senate or Appius Claudius to agree with him. As a result, the plebs hated both consuls. The plebs ignored the sentences given to them and obstructed 'justice' by crowding the courts. These riots often turned violent.

  Appius accused Servilius of being a traitor to the Republic. They both left consulship hated by the plebs. The plebs began to hold secret meetings on the Aventine and Esquiline hills. Senators were attacked by plebs, and so the Senate rarely convened due to fear of plebeian violence, they were unable to discuss plebeian issues. Sicinius, a plebeian veteran who fought under ex-dictator Valerius, suggested a Secession (peaceful protest in which the plebs left the city) on the Sacred Mount. The plebs agreed as they viewed Valerius as a hero.
• Valerius as dictator


  assembled 10 legions to fight the Volsci, Sabines and Aequi

  appealed to the Senate about the concerns of the people

  asked the Senate to consider debt relief
• Events of the First Secession (2)


  They raided nearby farms for food.

  Menenius was sent as a messenger to the plebs, and convinced them to return to the city because the 'body needed all its parts'.

  The plebs eventually returned to the city.
• Outcomes of the First Secession


  Negotiations were entered into and the position of tribune was created. The tribunes had to be plebs and would help fight against plebeian exploitation. This idea was suggested by Lucius Junius Brutus and Sicinius, the instigator of the Secession.

  Appius Claudius refused to cooperate or enter into negotiations as he was convinced that the plebs were replaceable.
• Coriolanus


  argued that the plebs caused famine during the secession and deserved to starve

  ignored the threats of trial by tribune

  fled to Volsci and encouraged them to wage war on Rome
• Tribunes reaction to Coriolanus


  indicted him

  encouraged the plebs to use violence if he was not punished for his actions
• Impact of Coriolanus on Rome


  division between the Senate and plebs over recovery plans for the famine

  Volsci became hostile
• Spurius Cassius


  wanted to use agrarian laws to his advantage

  wanted to divide 60% of Hernici land between plebs and Latins

  executed in 485 BC
• Tribunes reaction to Spurius Cassius


  proposed agrarian laws (land redistribution)

  suspicious of his motivations for supporting their ideas
• Impact of Spurius Cassius on Rome


  no agrarian laws were enforced at the time
• Volero Publilius


  Refused to join the army as an ordinary soldier

  Demanded reform for the tribune voting system
• Tribunes reaction to Volero Publilius


  Became tribune in 472 BC

  Removed patrician influence from tribune voting system

  Strengthened the tribunes via reforms
• Volero Publilius' impact on Rome


  Mob violence against lictors

  Tribune elections allowed plebs to vote for someone who was more representative of them
• Appius Claudius


  Opposed the Volero reforms but was forced to accept the Volero laws

  Refused to acknowledge charges against him and died in suspension of trial
• Reaction of the tribunes to Appius Claudius


  They indicted him for his refusal to acknowledge Volero reforms
• Impact of Appius Claudius on Rome

  Civil unrest because he rejected Volero reforms
• Quintus Fabius


  Made a colony for the plebs with captured Volsci land

  Opposed Terentilius for his ideas regulating the power of the consuls
• Reaction of tribunes to Fabius


  Tribune influence was reduced due to the pleb colony

  Terentilius' reforms were ignored
• Impact of Quintus Fabius on Rome


  Reduced demand for agrarian laws

  Weakened tribune influence
• Gaius Terentilius Harsa


  When the consuls were on campaign, he proposed that their power be regulated to prevent tyranny

  Demanded a written constitution to limit the powers of the consuls
• Tribunes reaction to Gaius Terentilius Harsa


  Attempted to regulate the powers of the consuls
• Impact of Gaius Terentilius Harsa on Rome


  Senate used delay tactics to avoid following through on Terentilius' proposed reforms
• Tyrannical King (SUPERBUS)


  -bribed young and inexperienced senators for their support

  -once he had enough support he declared himself king

  -publicly denounced and murdered Tullius, didn't allow him burial rites

  -had bodyguards to protect him from assassination

  -anyone who opposed him was accused of capital crime and executed

  -senate had no power

  -treated the plebs badly (turned them into labourers and forced them to modernise the Cloaca Maxima and Circus Maximus so they wouldn't revolt)

  -got rid of the census because the patricians didn't like it

  -banned religion
• Successful King (SUPERBUS)


  -created jobs via building projects

  -effective diplomat and general

  -expanded the empire with colonies at Signia and Cerceii to act as defence for Rome

  -his son Sextus conquered the Gabii

  -defeated the Volsci

  -extended the Circus Maximus and gave it new seats

  -modernised the Cloaca Maxima to improve Rome's sanitation

  -built a number of new temples eg the temple of Jupiter
• The story of Brutus

  Superbus was worried because he'd seen a snake come out of a wooden column, so he sent men to Delphi so the oracle there could interpret it.

  These men included Lucius Junius Brutus, and some of Superbus' sons, but Brutus was there as more of a form of entertainment.

  The oracle said that the first to kiss their mother would be the one to rule Rome.

  The two sons of Superbus took this literally, but Brutus pretended to trip and kissed the ground instead.
• The Rape of Lucretia


  Superbus' sons and Collatinus were drinking heavily during the siege of Ardea.

  They discussed whose wife was the most faithful. It was decided that it was Lucretia, wife of Collatinus.

  Sextus went back to the house of Lucretia with the intention of assaulting her.

  Sextus threatened Lucretia and said he would frame her for adultery if she did not sleep with him. She had no choice but to agree.

  Lucretia sent for her husband (Collatinus) and father (Spurius Lucretius) immediately, and convinced them (as well as their companies Publius Valerius and Lucius Junius Brutus) to avenge her death, before killing herself due to the shame she felt for committing adultery with Sextus.

  Brutus swore he would exile the Tarquins and not allow any king to rule Rome again.

  Public outrage was caused in Rome and Collatia because of the rape of Lucretia.

  Brutus made a speech about the crime and the king's tyranny that worked the crowd into such a frenzy that they demanded the immediate exile of Superbus.
• The death of Superbus

  Superbus died at Cuma, where he had retired for protection.

  Following their elation, the patricians began to mistreat the plebeians again, as all war was over and they no longer had a reason to be banded together.