The Partial Recap – The 440s BCE

This is our short scripted summary of what the ancient sources tell us about the events of the 440s BCE. If you would like more detail and analysis, be sure to check out our regular episodes from the Foundation of Rome series.

The Partial Recap for the 440s BCE

To pick up our detailed episodes for this period, we recommend starting with Episode 109 – The First Decemvirate. Although the decemvirs come to power in c. 451 BCE, their story has so much influence on the decade of the 440s that you simply wouldn't want to miss it!

Image of the Forum courtesy of Benson Kua via Flickr.

Transcript for the 440s BCE

Introduction 

FR – Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 440s BCE!

PG – I’m Dr G 

FR – and I’m Dr Rad

PG – and this is our highlights edition of the 440s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 449 to 440 in an epitome of our normal episodes. 

FR – Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee – but please be warned – this episode contains references to murder, violence and sexual assault. 

PG – Get ready for a recappuccino. 

449 BCE

• It’s hard to believe, but when the 440s dawned, Rome was still in the grip of the second decemvirate. Quelle horreur!
• 449 BCE was simply jam-packed with developments – it’s almost too much to believe… so we have no time to waste!
• The days of the decemvirate were numbered. On top of the threat of external enemies, these guys really know how to get their fellow Romans offside. 
• The decemvirs arrange the murder of the highly popular plebeian, Lucius Siccius Dentatus. He’s been speaking out against them far too much, but he’s too highly regarded to kill outright. His death is staged carefully, so that it does not arouse suspicion. 
• Pretty awful stuff, but that’s nothing compared to their next act. 
• One of the most prominent decemvirs, the uber-patrician Appius Claudius, is seized with a desire for a plebeian maiden, Verginia. 
• He tries all sorts of legal tricks to get his paws on her, and it seems like he might succeed, in spite of strenuous opposition from her family. 
• In desperation to protect his daughter’s virginity, and by extension his family’s honour, her father ends up seizing a nearby knife and stabbing her to death in the Forum.
• Verginia’s body is displayed to the crowd, a horrible symbol of the excesses of the Second Decemvirate 
• The plebeians are outraged – and this time, they are not alone. Some of the patricians aren’t that impressed with this tyrannical regime either. 
• Patricians Valerius and Horatius start standing up to Appius Claudius and his gang of decemvirs. 
• Meanwhile, Verginius has fled Rome after murdering his daughter. He makes contact with some of Rome’s armed forces and convinces them to revolt against the decemvirs. 
• A secession of the plebs quickly follows. The plebeians gave the senate an ultimatum – it’s the decemvirs or us! 
• Thanks to some skilful negotiation between Valerius and Horatius, the plebs return to the state and the decemvirs resign. 
• The consulship is restored and given to Varlius and Horatius. 
• This dynamic duo pass the Valerio-Horatian Laws, which restored the sacrosanctity of the tribune of the plebs, restored the right of citizens to appeal, and made the decisions of plebeians binding on all Romans. 
• And there’s some vengeance to be sought against the decemvirs now that they are back on the same level as everyone else. 
• The biggest fish to fry? Well, that would be Appius Claudius, who is pursued by the new tribune of the plebs, Verginius. But before he is officially condemned, he dies in custody under extremely shady circumstances. 
• It seems like some of the tribunes might be getting big ideas 

448 BCE

• From the incredible detail of 449 BCE, we turn to the blankness of 448 BCE 
• In 448 BCE the consuls were Lars (or Sp.) Herminius Cortinesanus and Titus Verginius Tricostus Caeliomontanus 
• Weirdly, some of the plebeian tribunes were patrician ex-consuls. 
• Understandably, not everyone is thrilled by this development, and so a fellow tribune, Lucius Trebonius, fights to preserve the integrity of tribune elections. 

447 BCE

• In 447 BCE the consuls were Marcus Geganius Macerinus and Caius Iulius 
• They appeased the plebs by suspending a levy for a war against the Volscians and Aequians 
• Unfortunately, the young patricians start acting out again and committing acts of violence against the plebs, and even the tribunes themselves. 
• No one seemed to be able to keep them in check… or to at least, no one with power was that invested in keeping them in check.  

446 BCE

• In 446 BCE the consuls were Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus and Agrippa Furius 
• The Romans were facing a combined force of Aequians and the Volscians who could smell their internal issues from just a few miles away… because they were pretty close. 
• Riding high on their recent victory, the Romans are called in to settle a border dispute between the cities of Aricia and Ardea. 
• The people make the terrible decision to take the land for themselves 

445 BCE