Decemviri facts for kids

The decemviri (say: deh-SEM-vih-ree) were special groups of ten men in the Roman Republic. The word "decemviri" comes from Latin and simply means "ten men."

The most famous decemviri were two groups known as the Decemvirates. Their main job was to write down and update Roman law. This happened during a time when the rich, powerful families (called patricians) and the common people (called plebeians) were often in conflict.

Other groups of decemviri had different jobs, like judging lawsuits, taking care of religious ceremonies, or giving out public lands.

The Ten Men Who Wrote Laws

Why New Laws Were Needed

Long ago, a plebeian leader named Gaius Terentilius Harsa wanted to protect the common people. He felt that the power of the Roman consuls (the top leaders) was too great. In 462 BC, he suggested a law to limit their power. The patricians didn't like this idea and stopped the debate for eight years!

Later, in 454 BC, the plebeian leaders changed their approach. They asked the Senate to choose a group of lawmakers, with an equal number of plebeians and patricians. These lawmakers would create rules that were fair to everyone. The patricians agreed to think about it, but they insisted that only patricians could make laws.

According to some ancient writers, three Roman envoys (messengers) were even sent to Athens, a famous Greek city, to study their laws.

In 452 BC, these envoys returned. The plebeian leaders pushed for the laws to be written down. Everyone agreed to appoint decemviri who would have the power of consuls. To make way for them, both the consulship and the plebeian tribunes (leaders of the common people) were temporarily stopped. This made the decemviri very powerful. After some discussion, the plebeian tribunes agreed to have only patricians on the first decemvirate, as long as a law they had already passed was not cancelled.

The First Group of Lawmakers

The first group of decemviri started their work in 451 BC. The two consuls, Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis Sabinus and Titus Genucius Augurinus, stepped down, along with other officials. Appius Claudius and Titus Genucius were then chosen to be part of the decemviri.

Appius Claudius was the most important member. He seemed to be in charge of everything. Each day, a different decemvir would lead the group. They had twelve lictors (bodyguards) with fasces (bundles of rods, a symbol of authority).

These decemviri wrote their new laws on ten bronze tablets. They showed these laws to the people and asked for their ideas. After making changes based on feedback, the laws were approved by the Assembly of the Soldiers. People felt that two more tablets were needed to complete all the Roman laws. So, it was decided to elect a new group of decemviri.

The first decemvirate included:

The Second Group of Lawmakers

According to ancient writers, Appius Claudius cheated in the election for the second decemvirate. He made sure that he and nine of his supporters were chosen. These new officials became very unfair and bossy. Each of them had twelve lictors, and their fasces even had axes, showing their extreme power.

They held trials in secret and made unfair decisions. This made them very scary to the people of Rome. There were rumors that they wanted to rule forever. When it was time for new elections, they refused to hold them and became even more violent.

Around this time, armies from the Sabine and Aequi tribes attacked Roman lands. The decemviri tried to call the Senate, but many senators were so disgusted that they didn't show up. The common people saw this as a sign that the decemviri were no longer legitimate leaders, as their term was over. They even thought about refusing to join the army.

When the Senate finally met, some senators attended. Even though they didn't like the decemviri, they allowed the army to be called up. The plebeians joined the army because they feared harsh punishment if they refused. However, the Roman armies led by the decemviri were defeated.

The Story of Verginia

During this time, a sad event happened that made the people even angrier. Appius Claudius became interested in a young plebeian woman named Verginia. Her father, Lucius Verginius, was a soldier away with the army. Appius Claudius tried to get her to be his, but she refused. So, he arranged for one of his men to falsely claim that Verginia was his slave.

Verginia was dragged into the public square, and her friends and family gathered around. The man claiming her said he was acting legally and had called her to court. The judge was Appius Claudius himself. Verginia's friends asked for a delay until her father could arrive. Appius Claudius agreed to send for Verginius but ordered Verginia to be held by the man claiming her.

Verginia's fiancé, Icilius, arrived and spoke loudly against this injustice, drawing a crowd. Verginia's supporters quickly sent messengers to her father's army camp. Appius Claudius also sent a message to the camp, ordering that Verginius not be given leave and be arrested. However, Verginia's messengers arrived first, and her father was already on his way.

The next morning, a large crowd waited. Verginius arrived with his daughter and many supporters. He pleaded for help to protect his daughter's freedom. The women with Verginia began to cry, which made the crowd even more sympathetic.

Appius Claudius ignored Verginius and ruled that Verginia belonged to the man claiming her. The crowd was stunned. When the man tried to take her, Verginius cried out that he had promised his daughter to Icilius, not to Appius Claudius. Appius Claudius ordered his arrest, but the crowd protected Verginius as he left the city.

In despair, Verginius made a terrible choice to ensure his daughter would remain free rather than become a slave. This tragic event deeply shocked the people. As a result, the crowd began to demand that the plebeian tribunes and the right to appeal decisions be brought back.

The second decemvirate included:

The Plebeians Take Action Again

The senators were also unhappy with the decemviri. They hoped to get rid of them. When Verginius arrived at the army camp, he stirred up the soldiers even more than he had the people in the city. He told them to "look out for themselves and for their own children." The soldiers promised to fight for their freedom.

These soldiers marched to Rome and took over the Aventine Hill. They urged all plebeians to fight for their freedom and elect new plebeian tribunes. The Senate decided not to act harshly because they knew they were partly to blame for the situation. They sent three envoys to find out what the soldiers wanted. The soldiers didn't have one clear leader, but the crowd shouted that they wanted Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius to be the envoys. Verginius suggested electing ten military leaders. He himself was elected as one of them.

Inspired by Icilius, soldiers from another Roman army also rebelled. They marched to Rome and joined the first group on the Aventine. The twenty military leaders then chose two men, Marcus Oppius and Sextus Manilius, to be their main commanders.

The senators argued among themselves. They decided to send Valerius and Horatius to the Aventine, but only if the decemviri resigned. The decemviri refused, saying they would only step down after the last two laws were written. Since the Senate kept arguing, the soldiers decided to leave Rome and go to the Mons Sacer (Sacred Mount), just like they had done in 494 BC. This was a way to put more pressure on the senators and the decemviri.

Now, they demanded that the power of the plebeian tribunes be brought back. As they marched through the city, many civilian plebeians joined them. The Senate was hesitant because of the old rivalry between senators and plebeian tribunes. However, some senators, including Valerius and Horatius, argued that bringing back the tribunes was the only way to get rid of the decemviri and restore order. The decemviri finally agreed to step down, but only if they were protected from punishment.

Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius were sent to negotiate with the plebeians. The plebeians welcomed them and thanked them for their support. They demanded that the protections of the plebeian tribunes and the right to appeal be restored. They also wanted immunity for those who had rebelled and harsh punishment for the decemviri. The envoys agreed to the first three demands and asked to postpone the issue of punishment. The plebeians accepted.

The Senate then officially declared that the decemviri had to step down. They also agreed to the election of plebeian tribunes and immunity for the rebels. The plebeians returned to Rome and elected their tribunes. The plebeian council passed a law granting immunity and another law for the election of consuls, who would be subject to appeal.

The Valerio-Horatian Laws

Lucius Valerius Potitius and Marcus Horatius Barbatus were elected as consuls. They passed important laws known as the Valerio-Horatian Laws.

One key law said that decisions made by the plebeian council were binding on all Roman people. They also brought back the right to appeal decisions made by consuls. They even made a new law that said no one could declare an official elected without the right to appeal. If someone did, they could be killed without being charged with a crime!

The consuls also brought back the idea that plebeian tribunes were "sacred" and could not be harmed. This protection was extended to all plebeian officials, like the aediles (city officials) and the decemviral judges. If anyone violated these rules, their property would be taken and sold.

They also started a new practice: all decrees (official decisions) of the Senate had to be delivered to the aediles at the temple of Ceres. Before this, consuls could hide or change these decrees. The plebeian council also passed a law that said anyone who left the plebeians without tribunes or elected an official without appeal would be punished severely. Even though the patricians didn't like these new laws, they didn't actively fight against them.

The Law of the Twelve Tables

Before leaving the city to fight the Sabine and Aequi armies, the two consuls made sure that the decemviral laws, now known as the Twelve Tables, were carved onto bronze tablets. These tablets were then put up in a public place for everyone to see. Some writers say that the aediles, following orders from the tribunes, did this important work.

The Ten Men Who Judged Lawsuits

The decemviri stlitibus judicandis (say: stlee-tee-boos yoo-dee-KAN-dees) were "the ten men who judge lawsuits." This was a very old civil court. They mostly dealt with questions about a person's legal status, like whether someone was free or a slave.

Originally, they acted like a jury, making decisions under the leadership of a praetor (a high-ranking official). Later, these decemviri became minor officials elected every year. They were part of a larger group called the Vigintisexviri ("Twenty-Six Men").

During the time of the Roman Empire, Emperor Caesar Augustus gave these decemviri even more power. They started to lead the courts of the Centumviri ("Hundred Men") and had power in serious cases that could lead to the death penalty.

The Ten Men Who Handled Religious Rites

The decemviri sacris faciundis (say: sah-krees fah-kee-EN-dees) had religious duties. This group was created because the plebeians wanted an equal say in state religion. So, five of these decemviri were plebeians, and five were patricians.

They were first appointed in 367 BC. Before them, two patrician officials (called duumviri) were in charge of the Sibylline books (ancient prophecies) and the games of Apollo. Membership in this religious group was for life. Later, the group was expanded to fifteen members and renamed the quindecimviri sacris faciundis.

The Ten Men Who Distributed Public Lands

The decemviri agris dandis adsignandis (say: AH-grees DAN-dees ad-sig-NAN-dees) were appointed from time to time. Their job was to manage and distribute public lands (called ager publicus).

Images for kids

• Appius Claudius Crassus.jpg

  Appius Claudius Crassus, a key figure in the decemvirate.