The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 05 : $b the Roman Republic
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 05 : $b the Roman Republic
World history
510. Rise of the Republic. 509. Consuls for the first year are L. Junius
Brutus and L. Tarquinius Collatinus. Collatinus, being a descendant of
Tarquin, is compelled by a decree of the senate to give up his office.
He is replaced by P. Valerius Publicola. According to Polybius, L.
Junius Brutus and Marcus Horatius were consuls for the first year.
The first dictator is Titus Lartius. Unsuccessful attempts to restore
the Tarquinians. Execution of Brutus’ son. Commercial treaty between
Rome and Carthage. 508. The Romans are defeated by the Etruscan king
Porsenna of Clusium, are forced to disarm and surrender certain lands.
Alliance of thirty Latin cities under the dictatorship of Octavius with
the object of restoring the Tarquinians to the sovereignty of Rome.
Death of Valerius Publicola. 497. The Latins declare war against Rome.
Aulus Postumius is appointed dictator at Rome. Tradition credits the
Romans with a great victory over the Latins at Lake Regillus. The Latin
cities make peace with Rome, and agree to banish Tarquinius. 494. The
plebeians secede to the Sacred Hill, and compel the patricians to make
important concessions, among which is the abrogation of oppressive
debts. Establishment of the tribunate and the plebeian ædileship. 493.
The eternal alliance between Rome and the Latin league is renewed
under the consulate of Spurius Cassius on the basis of equality. Rome
gradually regains hegemony over the Latins. The tribunate is the cause
of anarchy, and leads to further disputes between the patricians and
plebeians. Attempts to abolish the tribunate. 491. Marcius Coriolanus.
During a famine he suggests granting, at the expense of the state, grain
to the plebeians, on condition that they relinquish their claim to
the tribunate. He is summoned before the tribal assembly but fails to
appear, and according to Livy is banished, goes over to the Volscians,
and leads their troops against Rome; at the rebuke of Veturia his
mother, and the entreaties of his wife Volumnia, he abandons the war
against his native city. 487. The consul Aquilius defeats the Hernici
who invade Roman territory. 486. Spurius Cassius Viscellinus consul for
the third time. He again defeats the Hernici, after which they join the
Latin league. He introduces the first agrarian law, and proposes that
a portion of the public lands be divided between the needy plebeians
and Latins; the remainder to be leased for the benefit of the state. He
is attacked by the patricians and wealthy plebeians on account of this
measure, and the poorer plebeians, being opposed to the granting of lands
to the Latins, abandon him. At the expiration of his consulship he is
condemned and executed. 479. Withdrawal of the Fabian gens. 477. The
Etruscans destroy the Fabian gens at the Cremera. Genucius, the people’s
tribune, assassinated for inquiring into the acts of two consuls. 472.
Publilius Volero effects law that the tribal assembly henceforth shall
elect plebeian magistrates. 468.
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