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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.

Early Life

According to Livy and Plutarch, Publius Valerius Publicola's family came from the Sabine region. Under the Valerius name, they had settled at Rome during the kingdom of Titus Tatius (8th century BC) and worked for the peaceful unification of both regions.

Publius Valerius Publicola came from a wealthy family. His father was Volesus Valerius and his brother was Marcus Valerius Volusi. He was married and Valeria was the name of his daughter. Before holding Roman public office, Publicola had defended the plebs as a benefactor.

The Revolution

With Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, Lucius Junius Brutus led the Roman revolution of 509 BC, ending the Roman monarchy and banishing the tyrannical King of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. The Romans instituted the office of Consul, founding the Roman Republic. Both revolutionary figures were voted as the first Consuls. Collatinus (a Tarquinius who was disliked by the plebs) was chosen for his political power, which would oppose any counterattack of the former kings.

Publius Valerius Publicola had worked closely with Brutus during the popular revolution, so he expected to be the second Consul along with Brutus. Publicola was disappointed by the selection of Collatinus, so he left public life in 509 BC. Because, like some other public figures, Publicola might join the deposed kings, the Roman Senate voted against surrendering power to the Tarquinii. On that day, Publicola made a public pledge in the Senate to defend national liberties. Tarquinius agents approached him but he rejected these overtures.

The Tarquinius plotted with some disaffected Roman members of the Aquillius and Vitellian gens, who had benefitted from the deposed regime to assassinate both Roman Consuls. Publicola was informed of the plot by the slave Vindicius. Publicola investigated personally, sneaking into the Aquillius estate and finding incriminatory evidence. Using this evidence, both Roman Consuls headed a public trial. The conspirators, including Brutus' own children, were found guilty and executed. During the trial, Publicola had a leading role.

Roman Consul

Collatinus worked with his Tarquinius relatives to restore their properties, which was opposed by his fellow Consul, Brutus. After the failed conspiracy, Collatinus was denounced and banished by Brutus. The properties of the former Roman monarchy were plundered and the royal palace was leveled. Then, by popular vote, Publius Publicola was elected Roman Consul.

"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.

The Tarquinii gathered Etruscan troops and attacked Rome. As consuls, Publicola and Brutus led the Romans into battle. The Romans defeated the enemy by a small margin. Both sides suffered 10,000 casualties, among whom was Brutus. Publicola plundered the Etruscan camp, capturing 5,000. Publicola celebrated at Rome, riding a four horse chariot, which subsequently became a Roman tradition for celebrating victories. Also, he held a magnificent funeral for Brutus where he made a memorable speech.

The Reform

After the death of Brutus, Publius Valerius Publicola was the lone Roman Consul, which he held without scheduling new elections. He started to build a magnificent new residence on top of the Velian Hill, which was conspicuously visible from the Senate building. When people began to comment that he was apparently going to reestablish the monarchy, 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 slandered, like being either an Aquillius or a Vitellian. I am the bitterest enemy of the former kings, so I shouldn't be accused of wanting to be king." This renewed Romans trust in him.

Before the impending elections, Publicola repopulated the Senate, which had been severely reduced by the king and the recent war. Also, he wrote a series of popular laws:

  • Any Roman could be appointed Consul.
  • Decisions of the Consuls could be appealed.
  • Anyone who seized an office without popular vote would suffer execution.
  • Anyone who attempted to reestablish the monarchy could be executed by any citizen without trial. (This was the law invoked by the Liberatores as justification for their assassination of Julius Caesar)
  • Needy Romans were exempt from taxation.
  • Patricians would be punished more severely than plebs for disobeying a Consul.
  • Control of the treasury was removed from the Consuls. It was physically moved to the temple of Saturn under the administration of appointed quaestors.

Publicola removed the ax heads of the traditional fasces as carried in the Pomerium, the sacred inner city of Rome. Because of these, Publicus Valerius was called the "friend of the people", or Publicola.

Publius Valerius Publicola was Roman Consul for several terms. 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 and 505 BC). 506 BC was the exception when Publicola's brother Marcus was Roman Consul.

Politically, the royal party opposed Publicola and his popular policies. The war continued and Publicola had to attend to it.

The Tarquinius War

In 508 BC, the Tarquinii besieged Rome for a year with the army of Lars Porsena, King of Clusium (Etruria), the most powerful monarch in the Italian Peninsula. Rome survived their attack after Horatius Cocles destroyed the main bridge into the city (Pons Sublicius) over the Tiber river. Both Publicola and his fellow Consul Titus Lucretius were severely wounded in battle. The beseiged Romans began to suffer from want of food. However, Publicola executed a successful sally, which diverted some Etruscan reinforcements which had just arrived.

In 507 BC, Gasius Mucius failed to assassinate Lars Porsena at the invaders' camp. Before the king, Mucius showed his determination by torturing himself, putting his hand onto a brazier. The king was moved by his determination and he dreaded that other Romans would be so resolute. Thus, Porsena halted the siege. Publicola took advantage of this, negotiating directly with Porsena, against the Tarquinii. He surrendered hostages, including his daughter Valeria, and Porsena protected these hostaged from the Tarquinii. The terms of King Porsena's withdrawal were so amicable that they were long remembered. Soon afterward, the Tarquinii abandoned their monarchical dreams and went to Tusculum.

The Sabines War

In 506 BC, the Sabines attacked Rome. While his brother Marcus was Consul, Publius Valerius Publicola participated in two Roman victories which repelled the invasion. The people rewarded Publicola with a house on the Palatine Hill.

In 505 BC, the Latin league and the Sabines threatened Rome with a large army. Although diplomatic negotiations were halted, Publicola meddled in the inner politics of the Sabines by assisting Attius Clausus. With Publicola's help, he moved into Rome with 5,000 sabines. He was made a citizen with the name Appius Claudius, and made founder of the Claudii). When the Sabines attempted to besiege Rome, Publicola successfully commanded the army, anticipating their movements and thwarting their plans. Then he invaded and conquered the Sabine nation.

His Death

Publius Valerius Publicola died in 503 BC, shortly after passing the consular office to his successors, Agrippa Menenius Lanatus and Publius Postumius Tubertus. He had little money, so, by decree, each citizen contributed a Quadrans for the funeral. The remains of Publicola were buried within Rome, at the Velian Hill. His death was mourned by the Roman for an entire year. After Publicola, all noted members of the Valerius family were buried near the same spot.

Legacy

A collection of 85 essays promoting the adoption of the United States Constitution written 1787-1788 by 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.

See also

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