Publius Valerius Publicola
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Publius Valerius Publicola (or Poplicola, his agnomen meaning "friend of the people") (d. 503 BC) was a Roman consul, the colleague of Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BC, traditionally considered the first year of the Roman Republic.
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[edit] Early Life
According to Livy and Plutarch, the origin of Publius Valerius Publicola's family was the Sabine region. Under the Valerius name, they had settled at Rome during the kingdom of Titus Tatius (8th century BC) and, then, they achieved the peace process by which both regions joined peacefully. [1]
Publius Valerius Publicola belonged to a wealthy family. His father was Volesus and his brother was Marcus. He was married and Valeria was the name of his daughter. Before bearing the Roman public offices, Publicola had been a famed citizen, who used to defend common people as a benefactor, attending their claims. [1] [2]
[edit] The Revolution
With Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, Lucius Junius Brutus led the Roman revolution of 509 BC, deposing the Roman monarchy and banishing the tyrannical 7th Roman King (Lucius Tarquinius Superbus). Refusing more totalitarianism, the Romans instituted the office of Consul, founding the Roman Republic. Then, both revolutionary figures were voted as the first Consuls. Consul Collatinus (a Tarquinius who was disliked by the common people, actually) was chosen particularly by his great political power, which would serve to oppose any counterattack of the formen tyrants. [1] [2]
Publius Valerius Publicola had assisted Brutus closely during the genesis of the popular revolution so he had expected to be the second Consul beside Brutus. Publicola was quite disappointed by the designation of Collatinus so he decided to abandon the public life then (509 BC). However, because, like other public figures, Publicola might join the deposed tyrants, the Senate voted explicitly against surrendering the Roman power to the Tarquinius, again. On that day, Publicola pledged in the Senate too, to defend the national liberties. Indeed, Tarquinius agents approached him but he barred that such dishonest requests might reach the Senate, to be attended publicly. [1] [2]
Then, the Tarquinius plotted with some unhappy Roman noblemen (the Aquillius and the Vitellian, whose members had been beneficiaries during the deposed regime, being direct relatives of both Brutus and Collatinus as well), to assassinate both Roman Consuls. Publius Valerius Publicola discovered such plot, by the denounce of Vindicius (a Roman slave). Then, Publicola investigated personally, sneaking into the Aquillius demesne and finding incriminatory evidence. After struggling physically against his political enemies, he reached the Senate where both Roman Consuls headed a public trial. Then, all conspirators, among whom Consul Brutus' own children were, were executed. During the trial, Publicola had a critical role, for the final condemnation of the culprits. [1]
[edit] Roman Consul
Consul Collatinus had sided with his Tarquinius relatives to restore their properties and Consul Brutus distanced from his peer, then. After the failed conspiracy, Collatinus renounced definitively and he was banished too, by Consul Brutus' initiative. The properties of the former Roman monarchy were plundered and its Palace was leveled. Then, by popular vote, Publius Publicola was appointed Roman Consul. [1]
| "They annex strange incidents to this battle, --that in the silence of the next night a loud voice was emitted from the Arsian wood; that it was believed to be the voice of Silvanus: these words were spoken, "that more of the Etrurians by one had fallen in the battle; that the Roman was victorious in the war." Certainly the Romans departed thence as victors, the Etrurians as vanquished." |
| The History of Rome. Book 02. Chapter 7, by Titus Livius. [2] |
The Tarquinis brought Etruscan reinforcements and they were about attacking Rome. As consuls, Publicola and Brutus led the Romans into the battle. The Romans defeated the enemy, by a small difference. Both sides suffered 10,000 casualties, amongst whom was the Consul Brutus. Publicola plundered the Etruscan camp, capturing 5,000 enemies. Publicola celebrated at Rome, riding a magnificent four horse chariot (which became a Roman victorious tradition, subsequently). Also, he held a magnificent funeral for Brutus whereas his speech was long remembered. [1]
[edit] The Reform
After the death of Brutus, Publius Valerius Publicola was the lone Roman Consul, lacking its corresponding peer though. He protracted such mandate for much time during that year, without scheduling new elections. Particularly, he was building a magnificent new residence on the top of the Velian Hill, which was conspicuously visible from the Senate building. When the people began to comment that he was aiming at kingly power, Publicola stopped its construction, demolishing it in a single night. Publicola defended himself before the Senate: "I have just liberated Rome, bravely, but now I am calumniated, like being either an Aquillius or a Vitellian. I am the bitterest enemy of the former kings so I can't be accused that I bear kingly desires." The Romans renewed their trust on him, then. [1] [2]
For the impending elections, Publicola repopulated the Senate, which had been severely reduced by the monarchical regime and during the recent military confrontations. Also, he inked a series of popular laws:
- Any Roman could be appointed Consul.
- The decisions of the Consuls could be appealed.
- Anyone, who usurped a charge without popular vote, would suffer the capital punishment.
- Anyone, who might attempt to be a king again, could be executed by any citizen without trial. No powerful Roman would be able to corrupt the justice system again, thus. (This was the law invoked by the Liberatores as justification for their assassination of Julius Caesar)
- The needy Romans were exempted to pay taxation, receiving some incentives for trade.
- The noblemen would suffer the worst charges, after disobeying a Consul.
- The treasury was moved far from the hands of the Consuls, into the temple of Saturn, under the administration of anonymous quaestors.
Also, Publicola removed the aggressive ax heads of the traditional fasces, which began to be lowered respectfully before the Roman people. By such revolution, Public Valerius was popularly renamed the "friend of the people", or Publicola. [1] [2]
Publius Valerius Publicola was Roman Consul, successively during the subsequent years. Some Consular companionships were Spurius Lucretius (509 BC, the same year of Brutus' death), who died soon after, Marcus Horatius Pulvillus (509 BC), and Titus Lucretius (508 BC, 505 BC). 506 BC was the exception when Publicola's brother Marcus was Roman Consul. [1] [2]
Politically, the royal party began to show much contempt, against Publicola and his popular policies. Besides, the war continued and, usually, Publius Valerius Publicola had to attend it, traversing the region. [1]
[edit] The Tarquinius War
In 508 BC, the Tarquinius besieged Rome for an entire year with the great army of Lars Porsena, King of Clusium (Etruria) and the most powerful monarch of the Italian Peninsula. The situation was quite complicated. Rome could survive their attack after the heroic Horatius Cocles destroyed the main bridge of the city (Pons Sublicius), over the Tiber river, hindering the enemy. Both Consul Publicola and Consul Titus Lucretius were severely wounded in battle. The disheartened Romans began to suffer famine. Nonetheless, Publicola executed a successful sally, which diverted some Etruscan reinforcements which had just arrived. [1]
In 507 BC, Gasius Mucius failed to assassinate King Porsena at the invaders' camp. Before the king, Mucius showed his determination by torturing himself, losing his hand onto a brazier. The King was effectively moved by his determination and he dreaded other so decided Romans. Consequently, Porsena withdrew the siege. Publicola took further advantage, negotiating directly with Porsena, against the Tarquinius. He surrendered some Roman hostages, among whom his daughter Valeria was, and Porsena protected them against the attacks of the Tarquinius. Eventually, the terms of King Porsena' withdrawal were so amicable that they were long remembered by the Romans. Soon afterward, the Tarquinius surrendered their monarchical dreams definitively, moving to Tusculum. [1] [2]
[edit] The Sabines War
In 506 BC, the Sabines invaded Rome. While his brother Marcus was Consul, Publius Valerius Publicola participated, as his battlefield adviser, in the two Roman definitive victories against the invader. The people rewarded Publicola with a house, which was at the Palatine Hill. Its doors opened outward so the romans would be, symbolically, opening the doors gently to the beloved Publicola. [1]
In 505 BC, both the Latin league and the Sabines menaced to attack again, with a large army. Although the diplomatic negotiations were frozen, Consul Publicola complicated the inner politics of the Sabines helping their controversial Attius Clausus, who was quite wealthy. By Publicola, he moved into Rome with other 5,000 sabines. He was romanized as Appius Claudius (founder of the Claudii lineage). When the Sabines attempted to besiege Rome, Publicola commanded the army victoriously, anticipating their movements and thwarting their plans. Then, with the other Roman Consul, Publicola invaded Sabine and waste was laid over until that nation capitulated definitively. [1] [2]
[edit] His Death
Publius Valerius Publicola died in 503 BC, right after passing the Consul office to his successor. He had been poor, at that time. Nonetheless, by a decree, each citizen contributed with a quadran coin for the funeral. The remains of Publicola were buried within Rome, at the Velian Hill. His death was mourned by the Roman women, for an entire year. After Publicola, all celebrated members of the Valerius family were buried about the same spot. [1] [2]
[edit] Legacy
In a collection of 85 essays promoting the adoption of the United States Constitution written 1787-1788 by Federalists Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison—collectively referred to as the Federalist Papers—Hamilton's essays were written under the allonym "Publius," in honor of his role in establishing the Roman Republic.
[edit] See also
[edit] External Links
- Plutarch, The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, paired with Solon, in "Poplicola"
- Biography of Poplicola, in About.com
- Livius.org: Publius Valerius Publicola
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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