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Rome is founded and Romulus picks senate members, inadvertently creating classes in the process. -
The plebeians leave Rome and settle at the Sacred Mount, protesting their lack of representation in Roman government and lack of compensation for their military service despite leaving their farms or businesses to serve the nation. The patricians convince the plebeians to return to fight the encroaching Volsci, on the condition that two plebeian-held political positions are created: tribune and aedile. -
The people pass a law introduced by Volero Publilius, stating that all tribunal elections are decided by the tribal assembly, cleansing the election of any patrician influence. -
After great public pressure, the plebs and patricians surrendered their power for a year so a group of ten patricians (the Decemviri) could have supreme power and write a new set of formal rules. The Twelve Tables were established to formally declare the rights and duties of a Roman citizen. -
After a year, the Twelve Tables were finished but the Decemviri refused to give up their power. They became cruel leaders to the plebeians. Crowds rioted in Aventine Hill before fleeing to the Sacred Mount. All ten members of the decemviri resigned and then two representatives were sent to negotiate with the plebeians atop the Sacred Mount. The plebeians demanded that the position of plebeian tribune and the right to appeal was restored (on top of the establishment of the Twelve Tables). -
When the Twelve Tables were being passed, one of the Decemvirate placed multiple laws on the plebeians. Among these laws was the restriction of marriage between a plebeian and patrician. The outraged plebeians went on a military strike, leaving Rome susceptible to attacks. Thus the consuls left the matter to a vote and the restriction was repealed. The law barring plebeians from consul wasn't voted on, so the plebs and patricians compromised by creating the position of military tribune. -
In 367 BCE, the consulship was open to the plebeians, meaning plebeians could be appointed dictator. It wasn’t until Gaius Marcius Rutilus’ first term as consul that a plebeian was appointed dictator. Rutilus was made dictator to deal with the Etruscan invasion of Rome. He surprised the enemy and captured 8,000 before driving the rest off Roman land. He was elected consul again in 352 BCE and then successfully ran for censor after his term was over. -
After the Samnites attacked Compania, a region of southern Italy, Rome sent soldiers to help protect Compania. Upon seeing the greater living standards in Compania, the Roman soldiers conspired to march on Rome. The rebellion was met by dictator Marcus Valerius Corvus and his army. Valerius negotiated with the mutineers and heard their struggles. It was decided that all mutineers were to be pardoned and their debt be wiped, as well as the establishment of many laws benefiting the plebs. -
30 years after the position was first created, in 337, plebeians were allowed to run for praetor. That year a plebeian, Quintus Publilius Philo, was elected. Philo was also a consul, censor, and the second-ever plebeian dictator (following Gaius Marcius Rutilus). He passed multiple laws benefiting plebeians during his career. This election marked a greater shift towards political equality in Rome. -
After Roman armies captured Sabine land in 290 BCE, it was distributed solely among the patricians. The plebeians left for Aventine Hill before being met by dictator Quintus Hortensius. He convinced the plebeians to return to Rome and passed a law: the Lex Hortensia, stating that laws passed by plebeian assemblies apply to both plebs and patricians. This event finally evened the plebeians and patricians political power, putting an end to the Conflict of the Orders.