Roman Law
The Early Laws

The Twelve Tables are said to have been compiled by high authority (a group of ten Decemviri) in the years 0451 and 0450. Other foundational laws are also attributed to the mid 05th century, and the Tables would seem to be in good company among them. In particular, the Tables mention the bronze bar "as" as a unit of currency, and so should follow the Lex Canuleia of 0455, which established that currency to replace a previous accounting in terms of animals (in which 1 ox was the equivalent of 10 sheep). They also forbid marriage between patricians and plebeians, and so should precede the Lex Canuleia de connubio patrum et plebis of 0445, which abolished that prohibition. These limits agree closely with the date 0451-0450 for the Tables. So far so good, and it may be in the neighborhood of the truth.

The difficulty is that according to criticical historians, our knowledge of the entire 05th century (not to mention the 04th; see the History page) rests on dubious evidence. The laws here mentioned, and most other supposed laws of the 05c-04c, are also suspect in one way or another. The principal laws attributed to the period from the beginning of the Republic down through the 03c are listed here, to give an idea of the firmness with which they are regarded by scholars of repute. Matter in quotes is from OCD2, see especially Lex (2) and Rome (History) section 9. Some events, with their traditional dates, are added for context.

Select Laws in Chronological Order

• 0509: [One traditional date for the beginning of the Republic]
• 0509: Lex Valeriae, establishing the right of provocation
  • Valerius is "of doubtful historicity"
• 0496? Rome makes alliance with Latin League
• 0472: Lex Pinuria Furia, on quadrennial intercalation (cf 0191)
• 0471: Lex Publilia Voleronis
• 0451: Decemvirs said to compile Ten Tables
• 0450: A second body, including plebeians, is said to compile two additional Tables
• 0449: Lex Valeriae, replacing the Decemvirs, another act of Lucius Valerius Potitus on plebiscites
  • "must be rejected since plebiscites were given force of law only in the Lex Hortensia c0287"
• 0445: Lex Canuleia de connubio patrum et plebis
  • OCD2 notes "Livy's lively but historically almost worthless account" of Canuleus
• [There is an approximately 150-year gap in the record at this point]
• 0387: Rome defeated by Celts; city sacked but Capitol defended
• 0367: Licinian-Sextian Rogations
• 0358: Treaty between Rome and Latin League renewed
• 0339: Leges Publiliae [abortive attempt to establish plebiscites; cf Lex Hortensia c0287]
• 0304: Reforms of Cn Flavius
• 0300: Lex Valeriae de provocatione (M Valerius Corvus)
• 0296: Lex Ogulnia made plebeians eligible for the highest priesthoods
  • This date from Beloch Rom Gesch 350f; traditional date 0300
• 0287: Lex Hortensia gave plebiscites the force of law.
• 0275: Pyrrhus defeated; the power of Rome is now undisputed in Italy
• 0273: First contact with Ptolemaic Egypt; Rome now expands into Mediterranean
  • Quintus Ogulnius Gallus [cf 0296] was a member of the delegation
• [There is another gap of approximately 50 years at this point]
• 0218: Lex Claudia de nave senatorum (0218)
• 0204: Lex Cincia de donis et muneribus
• 0199: Lex Porciae de provocatione (0199, extending right of appeal to citizens in the provinces)
• 0198: Lex Porciae de tergo civium (0198, prohibiting the scourging of citizens without appeal)
• 0191: Lex Acilia de intercalando (calendar reform)

 

22 Feb 2006 / Contact The Project / Exit to Comparative History Page