Publius Valerius Publicola

Publius Valerius Publicola (or Poplicola, his surname meaning "friend of the people") was a Roman consul, the colleague of Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BC, traditionally considered the first year of the Roman Republic. According to Livy and Plutarch, his family, whose ancestor Volusus had settled in Rome at the time of King Titus Tatius, was of Sabine origin. He took a prominent part in the expulsion of the last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, and though not originally chosen as the colleague of Brutus he soon took the place of Tarquinius Collatinus.

Related Topics:
Consul - Lucius Junius Brutus - 509 BC - Roman Republic - Livy - Plutarch - Titus Tatius - Sabine - Lucius Tarquinius Superbus - Tarquinius Collatinus

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On the death of Brutus, which left him sole consul, the people began to fear that he was aiming at kingly power. To calm their apprehensions he discontinued the building of his house on the top of the Velian Hill, and also gave orders that the fasces should be lowered whenever he appeared before the people. He further introduced two laws to protect the liberties of the citizens, one enacting that whosoever should attempt to make himself a king might be slain by any man at any time, while another provided an appeal to the people on behalf of any citizen condemned by a magistrate. He died in 503 BC, and was buried at the public expense, the matrons mourning him for ten months.

Related Topics:
Velian Hill - Fasces - 503 BC

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Alexander Hamilton chose to write the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym Publius in honor of his role in establishing the Roman Republic.

Related Topics:
Alexander Hamilton - Federalist Papers - Pseudonym

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