From its earliest beginnings, the Roman society was defined by a clear social hierarchy. Thus, the population was divided into two groups.
The Patricians – The patricians or patricii were the highly privileged aristocratic class of Roman citizens. They were probably descended from the original Latin settlers in Rome. [ The name itself stemmed from the Latin word patres, meaning fathers, which was applied to the earliest members of the Roman Senate, from whom the patrician clans claimed descent.] The Patricians were divided into three tribes, Ramnes, Tities
and Luceres, corresponding to the three nationa-lities which made the Roman people,
viz., the Latins, the Sabines and the Etruscans. The Patricians alone enjoyed full social and political privileges. They had the government entirely in their own hands. Furthermore, they always tried to maintain the monopoly of these rights and privileges for themselves.
Plebeians - The plebeians or plebei were either foreign traders or later immigrants to Rome. Some of them were descended from the enfranchised slaves of the Patricians and
were known as clients or dependents. Each client was attached to the Patrician family of his emancipated ancestor. The Plebeians occupied an inferior position in the society, being subjected to political disabilities and social degradation. They were denied all social and political privileges. Hence, they were severely discontented.
Due to the disparity existing between the two classes the discontentment of the Plebeians grew. Besides being subjected to a number of grievances and the oppression of the Patrician magistrates, they were denied any opportunity to rectify their dire state. Thus, a political struggle between the Plebeians and the Patricians resulted, in which the Plebeians sought social and political equality with the Patricians. This is commonly referred to as the Struggle of the Orders. It was the major issue during the beginning of the Roman Republic, and played a dominant role in the development of the Constitution of the Roman Republic. It began in 494 B. C. and ended in 300 B. C.
Important Events
509 B. C. - Passing of the Lex Valerio de Provocatione – this law provided that in criminal trials, when the life or the rights of a citizen were at stake, there should always be an appeal from a sentence of a magistrate to the whole assembly. Thus, this law saved the Plebeians from the oppressive judgements of the Patrician magistrates.
494 B. C. - The First Secession of the Plebeians to the sacred mountain. As a result of this they were able to establish their own assembly, the Concilium Plebis, and elect their own magistrates; the Tribunes and the Plebeian Aediles.
471 B. C. – The passing of the first Publilian Law which endorsed that the election of the tribunes and Plebeian Aediles should take place in the Concilium Plebis.
451 B. C. – The appointment of the Decemvirate and the establishment of the Law of the Twelve Tables. This is the first codification of Roman law.
449 B. C. – the Second Secession of the Plebeians. As a result the Decemvirate was abolishes and the old magistracies restored. The passing of the Valerio – Horatian Laws. These laws proclaimed that
· The resolutions passed through the Concilium Plebis should be binding upon the Patricians
and Plebeians alike.
· Tribunes and other Plebeian magistrates should be sacred
· Every citizen should be given the right to appeal against the decisions of the supreme
magistrate
445 B. C. – The Third Secession of the Plebeians and the passing of the Lex Canuleia which allowed intermarriages between Patricians and Plebeians.
367 B. C. – Passing of the Licinian Laws. These laws limited the amount of land a person could possess. Furthermore, the Plebeians became eligible for holding consulship, as the law declared that one of the Consuls must be a Plebeian.
356 B. C. – The Dictatorship was thrown open to the Plebeians. 339 B. C. – The Second Publilian Law was passed which provided that
· All laws passed by the Comitia Centuriata must receive the sanction of the patrician
members of the Senate before and not after their enactment.
· One of the two Censors must be a Plebeian.
300 B. C. – The Lex Ogulnia was passed. This law opened the religious offices to the Plebeians. 287 B. C. – Passing of the Lex Hortensia through which the Plebeians were granted the concession that all plebiscites, measures passed in the Concilium Plebis, had the force of laws for the whole Roman state.
Outcome of the Struggle
As the result of the struggle, the discrepancy between the Plebeians and Patricians began to dissolve. At first, only the Patricians were allowed to hold political offices. Yet, over time these laws were revoked, and eventually all offices were opened to the Plebeians. Furthermore, since most individuals who were elected to political office were given membership in the Roman senate, this development helped to break down the exclusive patrician nature of the senate. Also, the Plebeian legislative assembly, the Plebeian Council, acquired additional power. At first, its acts or
plebiscites applied only to Plebeians, although after 449 B. C., these acts began to apply to both Plebeians and Patricians alike.
However, it should be born in mind that the conflict did not eradicate the deep - rooted hierarchy of the Roman society, nor did it greatly improve the lives or the prospects of the Plebeians. What was essentially achieved by the Plebeians during the conflict of orders was the breakdown of an aristocracy of birth and its replacement with an aristocracy that was based on the holding of political offices and on wealth. This opened new opportunities for the Plebeians that were not accessible for them before.
The struggle also had certain far – reaching effects on Rome as a nation. By the end of this struggle, the two orders felt themselves as one people. This sense of unity resulted in the strengthening of Rome, so that she was able to embark upon a successful imperial career.
2.6.4 The Punic Wars: Causes, Main Events, Outcome.