Ancient Roman Patrician Civil War

Introduction
Ancient Roman patricians unfairly divided the spoils of war in a way so that they benefited while the plebeian class sunk deeper into debt (Morey,n.d.). This, along with more provocation by the patricians such as an unfair distribution of public lands;plebeians being unable to hold office; as well as unfair, unwritten, and inaccessible laws lead to division between the two classes and the plebeians revolting.
Division Between Patricians and Plebeians Patricians and plebeians both worked together to overthrow the tyrannical Tarquin rule in 500 B.C.(Morey,n.d.). However, it was the plebeian class, who mainly resided in the war-torn territory of the countryside that felt the devastation of continual warfare the most. With their
Not surprisingly, those of the wealthy patrician class were the only ones allowed to enter into the offices established after Rome’s monarchy was overthrown. Also dividing the plebeians from the patricians was the access to the law. Patricians of Ancient Rome held onto the law as if it were an heirloom, only to be passed on to other patricians. Access to the law was a birthright for
Officers of the tribune had to be plebeians and, as of 472 B.C., were elected by fellow plebeians . A new right granted to plebeians through this office was the ability to veto mandates. To protect this right and the officers, the tribune had diplomatic immunity in the sense that they could not be arrested. Also, those trying to impair them could be sentenced to death (Morey,n.d.). In addressing the issue of unequal division of public lands Spurius Cassius Viscellinus attempted to pass an agrarian law that would redistribute only the public Roman land more fairly. Unfortunately, patricians with political influence blocked the law and Cassius was sentenced to death. In an attempt to rectify these actions, patricians gave plebeians Aventine’s public land. In 462 B.C. Gaius Terentilius Harsa tried to establish a written law that both plebeians and patricians would be held to (Morey,n.d.). Because of opposition from patricians, it took ten years before a group of ten men, known as or the First Decemvirate were assigned the task of drafting a formal law. Unfortunately, the Second Decemvirate were dishonorable and their deeds resulted in a second succession. The result of this succession was the reinstatement of the old order and a newfound respect for plebeians from the patricians.