Conflict of the Orders Flashcards
Causes of the Conflict
- Many plebeians lost their homes and fell into debt after the Wars of Independence
- Many patricians did nothing to help
- The dictator Valerius was unable to convince the senate to relieve debt
The First Secession (494)
- Lucius Sicinius led the army and plebeians on a general strike on the Sacred Mount
- The senate was forced to negotiate because Rome had no army or workforce
- The tribune of the Plebs was created
- They could stop patricians from
persecuting plebeians - They could propose laws which affected
plebeians
- They could stop patricians from
Coriolanus (492)
The First Secession caused famine. The patrician Coriolanus objected to the senate lowering grain prices. The tribunes pressured the senate into exiling Coriolanus.
Spurius Cassius (486)
Spurius Cassius was a consul who proposed splitting new land between the plebeians and Rome’s allies. The senate attacked him for trying to buy popularity and be a tyrant. He tried to use surplus grain to buy plebeian support but was accused of trying to be a king and executed.
Volero Publilius (473-72)
As tribune, Volero changed the voting system so it was harder for patricians to influence the election of tribunes. He thought this would allow strong tribunes, who were hostile towards patricians, to be elected.
Gnaeus Genucius (473)
As tribune, Genucius tried to share out land equally and prosecute consuls of the previous year, who had opposed this. He was murdered by patricians.
Gaius Terentillius Harsa (462)
As tribune, Terentilius demanded a written constitution to define and limit the powers of the consuls. The senate did nothing about Terentilius’ demands for over a decade.
The First Decemvirate (452-451)
- 10 patricians were appointed to write a list of laws They ruled Rome in place of the consuls and tribunes.
- Their rule was just and fair and they created the first Ten Tables of Laws. These were popular, but it was decided that two more table needed to be written.
The Second Decemvirate (450-449)
- Appius Claudius, claiming to be an ally of the plebeians, had himself and nine friends appointed to the next Decemvirate. Livy describes them as the ‘Ten Tarquins’
- They appointed twelve lictors, met in secret and attacked the plebeians.
- Two new tables of laws were created to protect the patricians. One of which was a law banning marriage between patricians and plebeians.
- The other senators hated the Decemvirs - they refused to help them recruit an army and warned them they would go the same way as Superbus
The Second Secession (449) - Causes
- Hatred of the Decemvirs by patricians and plebeians. who saw them as tyrants
- The attempted kidnapping and rape of Verginia by Appius Claudius
The Second Secession (449) - What happened?
- Veriginius killed his daughter to prevent Appius Claudius from taking her for himself, after claiming that she was his runaway slave
- Verginius persuaded the army and plebeians to stage a second general strike, camping on the Aventine Hill
The Second Secession (449) - Aftermath
- Pro-plebeian senators Valerius and Horatius negotiated a deal: the consuls and tribunes would be reinstated and the decemvirs would be removed but not punished. This was an attempt to end the conflict of the orders
- Valerius and Horatius were elected consuls. Verginius and his daughter’s fiance Icilius were elected tribunes.
- Despite their promises, the tribunes prosecuted the Decemvirs. They all fled or committed suicide.
Laws of the 440s
- Valerius and Horatius passed the following laws:
- The right to appeal was restored and
strengthened - The tribunes’ legal protection from
violence was restored - The Twelve Tables were published in
precise and simple language, so all
citizens could be certain of the law
- The right to appeal was restored and
- The tribune Gaius Canuleius achieved the following:
- Patricians and plebeians could marry
- Although the senate refused to allow
plebeians to stand for consulship, they
could become Military Tribunes. This
would give them the power to command
armies and seek the same glory as a
victorious consul.
How much has changed for the plebeians since 494? - Things HAD Changed
- They had plebeian Tribunes to protect their interests
- They could be Military Tribunes and gain glory
- They could marry into patrician families
- The Secessions showed that if they acted together, the plebeians could force the senate to act
- The Twelve Tables made the law clear for all citizens
How much has changed for the plebeians since 494? - Things HAD NOT Changed
- Plebeians still couldn’t stand for consulship and their participation in politics was limited still
- Tribunes still had no power to pass laws affecting patricians
