Decemviri: Encyclopedia II - Decemviri - Decemviri Legibus Scribundis Consulari Imperio

Decemviri - Decemviri Legibus Scribundis Consulari Imperio

In 452 BC the plebeians and patricians of Rome agreed to the appointment of a commission of ten men to write up a code of law defining the principles of Roman administration; during the decemviri's term in office, all other magistracies would be suspended, and their decisions were not subject to appeal. The first set of decemviri, composed entirely of patricians, assumed office in 451 BC, and was led by Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus and Titus Genucius Augurinus, who were consuls for that year. Each decemvir administered the government for one day in turn, and whichever decemvir presided on any given day was preceded by lictors bearing the fasces. Their administration of justice was exemplary and they submitted to the Comitia Centuriata a code of laws in ten headings, which was passed.

The success of the Decemvirate prompted the appointment of a second college of decemviri for 450 BC (Appius Claudius being the only decemvir returned). This second set added two more headings to their predecessors' ten, completing the Law of the Twelve Tables (Lex Duodecim Tabularum), which formed the centrepiece of the Roman constitutions for the next several centuries. Nevertheless, this Decemvirate's rule became increasingly violent and tyrannical; each decemvir was attended by twelve lictors, who carried the fasces with axes even within the city (consuls and dictators alone were attended by twelve lictors, and only the dictator could display the fasces with axes within the pomerium).

When the Decemvirate's term of office expired, the decemviri refused to leave office or permit successors to take office. Appius Claudius is said to have made an unjust decision which would have forced a young woman named Verginia into prostitution, prompting her father to kill her, and this travesty caused an uprising against the Decemvirate; the decemviri resigned their offices in 449 BC, and the ordinary magistrates (magistratus ordinarii) were re-instituted.

Decemviri Legibus Scribundis Consulari Imperio (451 BC):

• Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus, consul;
• Titus Genucius Augurinus, consul;
• Titus Veturius Crassus Cicurinus;
• Gaius Iulius Iullus;
• Aulus Manlius Vulso;
• Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus;
• Publius Sestius Capito Vaticanus;
• Publius Curiatius Fistus Trigeminus;
• Titus Romilius Rocus Vaticanus; and
• Spurius Postumius Albus Regillensis

Decemviri Legibus Scribundis Consulari Imperio (450 – 449 BC):

• Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus;
• Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis;
• Marcus Sergius Esquilinus;
• Lucius Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus;
• Quintus Fabius Vibulanus;
• Quintus Poetelius Libo Visolus;
• Titus Antonius Merenda;
• Caeso Duillius Longus;
• Spurius Oppius Cornicen; and
• Manius Rabuleius

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Decemviri Legibus Scribundis Consulari Imperio", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki