List of Roman laws

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This is a partial list of Roman laws. A Roman law (Latin : lex) is usually named for the sponsoring legislator and designated by the adjectival form of his gens name ( nomen gentilicum ), in the feminine form because the noun lex (plural leges) is of feminine grammatical gender. When a law is the initiative of the two consuls, it is given the name of both, with the nomen of the senior consul first. Sometimes a law is further specified by a short phrase describing the content of the law, to distinguish that law from others sponsored by members of the same gens.

Contents

Roman laws

NameDatePassed byMagistracy heldDescription
Lex Regia 759–509 BCKings of RomeLaws enacted by the Roman kings before the Republic.
Lex Valeria 509, 449, & 300 BC P. Valerius Publicola ConsulGranted every Roman citizen legal right to appeal against a capital sentence, defined and confirmed the right of appeal (provocatio).
Lex Sacrata 494 BClaw after first secession of the plebeians that either affirmed the sacrosanctity of the tribunes or established the plebeians as a sworn confederacy against patricians.
Lex Publilia 471 BC Volero Publilius Tribune of the plebsTransferred the election of the tribunes of the plebs to the comitia tributa.
Lex Icilia de Aventino publicando 456 BC L. Icilius Tribune of the plebsGave land to plebeians.
Lex Aternia Tarpeia 454 BC A. Aternius Varus & S. Tarpeius Montanus Capitolinus ConsulsAllowed magistrates to fine citizens, but set maximum fines.
Lex Menenia Sestia452 BCT. Menenius Lanatus & P. Sestius Capitolinus Vaticanus ConsulsScale for fines, 1 ox = 12 sheep = 100 lb. of bronze.
Lex Valeria Horatia 449 BC L. Valerius Potitus & M. Horatius Barbatus ConsulsThree laws: (1) Lex Valeria Horatia de plebiscitis: established that the resolutions passed by the Plebeian Council were binding on all. (2) Lex Valeria Horatia de provocatione: granted the right to appeal to the People of any decision of magistrates. (3) Lex Valeria Horatia de tribunicia potestate: restored the potestas tribunicia, the powers of the plebeian tribunes.
Lex Trebonia 448 BCL. TreboniusTribune of the plebsForbade the cooptation of additional tribunes of the plebs to fill vacant positions.
Lex Canuleia 445 BC C. Canuleius Tribune of the plebsAllowed patricians and plebeians to intermarry.
Lex Aemilia de censoribus434 BC Mam. Aemilius Mamercinus DictatorReduced the terms of censors to a year and a half.
Lex Papiria Julia 430 BCL. Papirius Crassus & L. Julius Iulus ConsulsMade payment of fines in bronze mandatory.
lex Licinia Sextia 367 BC C. Licinius Stolo & L. Sextius Lateranus Tribunes of the plebsFour laws: (1) Lex de consule altero ex plebe et de praetore ex patribus creando: resumed the consulship and opened it to plebeians, and created the praetorship, reserved to patricians. [1] (2) Lex de aere alieno: provided that the interest already paid on debts should be deducted from the principal and that the payment of the rest of the principal should be in three equal annual instalments. (3) Lex de modo agrorum: restricted individual ownership of public land in excess of 500 iugeras (300 acres) and forbade the grazing of more than 100 cattle on public land. (4) Lex de Decemviri Sacris Faciundis: created the Decemviri sacris faciundis , a college of ten priests, of whom five had to be plebeians.
Lex Genucia 342 BCL. GenuciusTribune of the plebsThree laws: (1) Abolished interest on loans. (2) Required the election of at least one plebeian consul each year. (3) Prohibited a magistrate from holding two magistracies in the same year, or the same magistracy for the next ten years (until 332). [2] [1] [3]
Lex Publilia339 BC Q. Publilius Philo Consul and dictatorThree laws: (1) Reserved one censorship to plebeians. (2) Made plebiscites binding on all citizens (including patricians). (3) Stated that the Senate had to give its prior approval (the Auctoritas patrum) to plebiscites before becoming binding on all citizens (the lex Valeria Horatia of 449 had placed this approval after plebiscites).
Lex Poetelia Papiria 326 BCC. Poetelius Libo & L. Papirius Cursor ConsulsAbolished the contractual form of Nexum, or debt bondage.
Lex Ovinia 312 BC (before)OviniusTribune of the plebsTransferred the right to appoint Senators from the consuls to the censors.
Lex Atilia Marcia 311 BCL. Atilius & C. Marcius Rutilus CensorinusTribunes of the plebsEmpowered the people to elect sixteen military tribunes for each of four legions.
Lex Ogulnia 300 BCCn. & Q. OgulniusTribune of the plebsCreated four plebeian pontiffs and five plebeian augurs.
Lex Hortensia 287 BC Q. Hortensius DictatorPlebiscites approved by the Assembly of the People gain the status of law.
Lex Aquilia de damno 286 BC (possibly)AquiliusTribune of the plebsProvided compensation to the owners of property injured by someone's fault.
Lex Maenia 279 BCMaenius [4] Tribune of the plebsCarried the principle of lex Pubilia to elections (approval of Senate moved before the elections, not after)..
Lex Hieronica 240 BC Hiero II King of SicilyTaxation of Sicily (the legislation of Hiero II was included in Roman law).
Lex Claudia de nave senatoris 218 BCQ. ClaudiusTribune of the plebsProhibited senators from participating in overseas trade, obsolete by the time of Cicero.
Lex Minucia 216 BCM. MinuciusTribune of the plebsAppointment of three finance commissioners.
Lex Oppia 215 BC C. Oppius Tribune of the plebsLimited female adornment.
Lex Cincia de donis et muneribus 204 BCM. Cincius AlimentusTribune of the plebs Tort reform concerning the payment of lawyers.
Lex Porcia 199 BC P. Porcius Laeca Tribune of the plebsGave right of appeal (provocatio) in capital cases.
Lex Porcia de tergo civium 195 BC Cato the Elder ConsulExtended the right to provocatio against flogging.
Lex Acilia de intercalando 191 BC M'. Acilius Glabrio ConsulAdjustment of the calendar, then roughly four months off its Julian equivalent.
Lex Porcia 185 BCL. Porcius LicinusConsulProvided for a very severe sanction (possibly death) against magistrates who refused to grant provocatio.
Lex Baebia de Praetoribus 181 BC M. Baebius Tamphilus ConsulSet number of praetors to alternate, but was never observed.
Lex Cornelia et Baebia de Ambitu 181 BC P. Cornelius Cethegus & M. Baebius Tamphilus ConsulsAgainst electoral bribery.
Lex Villia Annalis 180 BC L. Villius Annalis Tribune of the plebsEstablished minimum ages for the cursus honorum offices; determined an interval of two years between offices.
Lex Claudia de sociis 177 BC C. Claudius Pulcher ConsulLimited immigration of Latin allies to Rome.
Lex Voconia 169 BCQ. Voconius SaxaTribune of the plebsDisallowed women from being the main heir to a dead man's estate, including cases where there were no male relatives alive.
Lex Papiria de dedicationibus 166—155 BC [5] PapiriusTribune of the plebsForbade consecration of real property without approval of the popular assembly.
Lex Vallia de manus iniectione160 BC (circa?)(Gaius) ValliusTribune of the plebsModification or extension of

legis actiones.

Lex Aelia et Fufia 150 BC (circa?)Aelius & Fufius [6] Tribunes of the plebs?Two laws probably regulating auspices.
Lex Atinia de tribunis plebis in senatum legendis 149 BC [7] AtiniusTribune of the plebsAllowed Plebeian Tribunes to be automatically enrolled in the senate upon election.
Lex Atinia de usucapione 149 BCAtiniusTribune of the plebsDealing with ownership.
Lex Calpurnia de repetundis 149 BC L. Calpurnius Piso Tribune of the plebsEstablished a permanent extortion court.
Lex Scantinia 149 BC (circa)M. Scantius or Scantinius [8] Tribune of the plebsRegulating some aspects of homosexual behaviour among citizens, primarily protecting freeborn male minors.
Lex provincia 146 BCSet of laws designed to regulate and organize the administration of Roman provinces.
Lex Gabinia tabellaria 139 BCA. GabiniusTribune of the plebsIntroduced secret votes in election for magistrate offices.
Lex Cassia tabellaria 137 BC L. Cassius Longinus Ravilla Tribune of the plebsIntroduced secret votes in court jury decisions.
Lex Sempronia agraria 133 BC Ti. Sempronius Gracchus Tribune of the plebsSet of laws that redistributed land among the poor; repealed after his assassination.
Lex Aufeia 123 BCAufeiusTribune of the plebsSettlement of Asia.
Lex Acilia repetundarum 122 BC [9] M. Acilius Glabrio (& C. Sempronius Gracchus)Tribunes of the plebsRepetundae procedures for jurors in courts overseeing senatorial class to prevent corruption abroad.
Lex Rubria 122 BCC. RubriusTribune of the plebsAuthorised a colony on the ruins of Carthage.
Lex Aebutia de formulis 120–63 BC (circa)Aebutius [10] Tribune of the plebs (?)Authorized praetor's discretion to be introduced into the court of the praetor urbanus, praetor able to remodel private law of Rome.
Lex Aebutia de magistratibus extraordinariis 120–63 BC (circa)Aebutius [10] Tribune of the plebs?Proposer of extraordinary magistracy cannot hold it.
Lex Servilia Caepio 106 BC Q. Servilius Caepio ConsulSome control of the court de rebus repentundis was handed back to senators from the equites .
Lex Cassia de senatu 104 BCL. Cassius LonginusTribune of the plebsRequired any senator to be expelled from the senate if they had been convicted of a crime, or if their power ( imperium ) had been revoked while serving as a magistrate.
Lex Domitia de sacerdotis 104 BC Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus Tribune of the plebsEstablished the election of the pontifex maximus and the members of the college of priests (chosen by cooptation before).
Lex Appuleia agraria 103–100 BC Saturninus Tribune of the plebsMade provision for public lands taken in Cisalpine Gaul from the Cimbri to be allocated to poor citizens.
Lex Appuleia de maiestate 103–100 BC Saturninus Tribune of the plebsEstablished an equestrian court to try maiestas.
Lex Servilia Glaucia de Repetundis 101 BC C. Servilius Glaucia [11] Tribune of the plebsMade juries in property court composed by equites only.
Lex Caecilia Didia 98 BC Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos & T. Didius ConsulsRequired laws to proposed at least three market days before any vote. Also forbade omnibus bills, which are bills with a large amount of unrelated material.
Lex Licinia Mucia 95 BC L. Licinius Crassus & Q. Mucius Scaevola ConsulsRemoved Latin and Italian allies from Rome's citizen-rolls.
Lex Iulia de Civitate Latinis et Sociis Danda 90 BC Lucius Julius Caesar ConsulOffered citizenship to all Italians who had not raised arms against Rome in the Social War.
Lex Plautia Judiciaria 89 BCM. Plautius SilvanusTribune of the plebsChose jurors from other classes, not just the Equites.
Lex Plautia Papiria 89 BCC. Papirius Carbo & M. Plautius SilvanusTribunes of the plebsGranted citizenship to Roman allies.
Lex Pompeia de Transpadanis 89 BC Cn. Pompeius Strabo ConsulGranted Latin Right to the populations of Cisalpine Gaul.
Lex Valeria 82 BC Lucius Valerius Flaccus InterrexAppointed Sulla dictator.
lex Cornelia de hostibus rei publicae81 BC Sulla DictatorRetroactively legalised Sulla's proscription. [12]
Lex Cornelia annalis 81 BCSullaDictatorReordered the cursus honorum, superseded the lex Villia Annalis of 180 BC.
Lex Cornelia de maiestate 81 BCSullaDictatorTreason law passed by Sulla to regulate the activities of pro-magistrates in their provinces, especially unapproved war and unauthorised travel.
Lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficis 81 BCSullaDictatorDealing with injuries and deaths obtained by magic.
Lex Aurelia de tribunicia potestate 75 BC C. Aurelius Cotta ConsulFormer tribunes of the plebs can hold further magistracies (this right had been removed by Sulla).
Lex Cassia Terentia frumentaria 73 BC C. Cassius Longinus & M. Terentius Varro Lucullus ConsulsRequired the distribution of wheat among the poor citizens.
Lex Terentia Cassia 73 BC M. Terentius Varro Lucullus & C. Cassius Longinus ConsulsSafeguarded Rome's grain supply and distributed grain at reduced rates.
Lex Gellia Cornelia 72 BC L. Gellius Publicola & Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus ConsulsAuthorised Pompey to confer Roman citizenship to his clientela and Spaniards.
Lex Aurelia iudiciaria 70 BC L. Aurelius Cotta PraetorJuries should be chosen from senators, equites and tribuni aerarii.
Lex Plautia de reditu lepidanorum 70 BCPlautiusTribune of the plebsGranted a pardon to Lepidus' former associates.
Lex Antia sumptuaria 68 BC C. Antius Restio Tribune of the plebsForbade magistrates from attending banquets. [13]
Lex Antonia de Termessibus 68 BC C. Antonius Hybrida [14] Tribune of the plebsAlliance with Termessus.
Lex Acilia Calpurnia 67 BC C. Calpurnius Piso & M. Acilius Glabrio ConsulsPermanent exclusion from office in cases of electoral corruption.
Lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis 67 BC A. Gabinius Tribune of the plebsGranted special powers to Pompey in the Mediterranean to fight against pirates
Lex Roscia theatralis 67 BC L. Roscius Otho Tribune of the plebsAllocated a place in Roman theaters to the equestrian order.
Lex Manilia 66 BC C. Manilius Tribune of the plebsPompey's actions against Mithridates.
Lex Papia de peregrinis 65 BCC. PapiusTribune of the plebsChallenged false claims of citizenship and deported foreigners from Rome.
Lex Ampia63 BCT. Ampius Balbus [15] Tribune of the plebsAllowed Pompey to wear the crown of bay at the Ludi Circenses.
Lex Tullia 63 BC Cicero ConsulRegulated election fraud (see ambitus).
Lex Junia Licinia 62 BC D. Junius Silanus & L. Licinius Murena ConsulsA reinforcement law passed to back up the earlier lex Caecilia Didia law of 98 BC.
Lex Aufidia de ambitu 61 BC M. Aufidius Lurco Tribune of the plebsIf a candidate promised money to a tribe and did not pay it, he should be unpunished; but if he did pay the money, he should further pay to each tribe (annually?) 3000 sesterces as long as he lived.
Lex Pupia 61 BC M. Pupius Piso Frugi Calpurnianus ConsulSenate could not meet on Comitiales Dies.
Lex Caecilia de vectigalibus 60 BC Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos Iunior PraetorReleased lands and harbors in Italy from the payment of taxes.
Lex Iulia de repetundis 59 BC Julius Caesar ConsulRegarding extortion in the provinces.
Lex Vatinia 59 BC P. Vatinius Tribune of the plebsGave Julius Caesar governorship of Cisalpine Gaul and of Illyricum for five years.
Leges Clodiae 58 BC P. Clodius Pulcher Tribune of the plebsSeven laws: (1) Lex Clodia de Auspiciis: repealed the leges Aeliae et Fufiae. (2) Lex Clodia de Censoribus: prescribed certain rules for the Roman Censors in exercising their functions as inspectors of public morals. (3) Lex Clodia de Civibus Romanis Interemptis: threatened punishment for anyone who offered fire and water to those who had executed Roman citizens without a trial. (4) Lex Clodia Frumentaria: required the distribution of grain to Rome's poor citizens for free. (5) Lex Clodia de Sodalitatibus: declared that certain clubs of a "semi-political nature" (i.e. armed gangs) were lawful. (6) Lex Clodia de Libertinorum Suffragiis: attempted to extend freedmen's (i.e. ex-slaves') voting rights. (7) Lex Clodia de Rege Ptolemaeo et de exsulibus Byzantinis: pertained to several of Rome's eastern provinces and vassal states.
Lex Licinia Pompeia 55 BC Pompey and Crassus Consuls Caesar's proconsulship in both the Gauls was extended for another 5 years.
Lex Trebonia 55 BC C. Trebonius Tribune of the plebsGranted a five year proconsulship: in Syria to Crassus, in Spain to Pompey.
Lex Caecilia de censoria 52 BC Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio ConsulRepealed the lex Clodia de Censoribus passed by the tribune of the plebs Clodius in 58 BC, which had regulated the Censors.
Lex Pompeia de ambitu 52 BC Pompey ConsulExpediting trials for electoral corruption, and allowing those convicted to escape punishment by successfully prosecuting others.
Lex Antonia de proscriptorum liberis 49 BC Mark Antony Tribune of the plebsLaw removing penalties on the descendants of people proscribed by Sulla, notably access to magistracies. [16]
Lex Roscia 49 BC L. Roscius Fabatus Praetor Caesar proposed full Latin Rights on the people of Transalpine Gaul.
Lex Iulia municipalis 45 BC Julius Caesar Dictator and consulSet regulations for the Italian municipalities.
Leges Antoniae 44 BCMark AntonyConsulNine laws passed by Mark Antony after the death of Julius Caesar: (1) lex Antonia de dictatura in perpetuum tollenda: abolished the dictatorship (2) lex Antonia de actis Caesaris confirmandis: confirmed Caesar's deeds (3) lex antonia de coloniis in agros deducentis: settled veterans (4) lex Antonia agraria: granted lands to Antony's supporters (5) lex Antonia de provinciis consularibus: gave a 5-year proconsulship to the consuls (6) lex Antonia de permutatione provinciarum: gave provincial command of the two Gaul to Antony (7) lex antonia de mense quintili: renamed the month of July (8) lex Antonia de quinto die ludorum romanorum rotondi: added a 5th day to the Ludi Romani (9) lex Antonia iudiciaria: altered the composition of juries. [17]
Lex Cassia 44 BCL. Cassius LonginusTribune of the plebsAllowed Julius Caesar to add new individuals to the patrician (aristocratic) class.
Lex de permutatione provinciae44 BC Mark Antony ConsulGave himself a five-year command in Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul in lieu of Macedon. Also gave authorization to transfer Caesar's legions from Macedon to the new provinces.
Lex Ursonensis 44 BCMark AntonyConsulFoundation charter of the Caesarean colonia Iulia Genetiva.
Lex Titia 43 BCP. TitiusTribune of the plebsGave Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus full powers to defeat the assassins of Julius Caesar; legalised the second triumvirate.
Lex Petronia 32 BC (before) [18] PetroniusTribune of the plebsRegulated appointments of municipal prefects.
Lex Iulia de Ambitu 18 BC Augustus EmperorPenalised bribery when acquiring political offices.
Lex Iulia de maritandis ordinibus 18 BC Augustus EmperorMarrying-age celibates and young widows that would not marry were barred from receiving inheritances and from attending public games.
Lex Iulia de adulteriis coercendis 17 BC Augustus EmperorMade conjugal unfaithfulness a public as well as a private offence, with banishment a possible penalty.
Lex Fufia Caninia 2 BC C. Fufius Geminus & L. Caninius Gallus ConsulsLimited manumissions.
Lex Aelia Sentia 4 AD Sex. Aelius Catus & C. Sentius Saturninus ConsulsManumissions of slaves.
Lex Iulia de vicesima hereditatum 5 AD Augustus EmperorInstituted a 5 percent tax on testamentary inheritances, exempting close relatives.
Lex Valeria Cornelia 5 AD L. Valerius Messalla Volesus & Cn. Cornelius Cinna Magnus ConsulsRegarding voting in the Comitia Centuriata.
Lex Papia Poppaea 9 ADM. Papius Mutilus & Q. Poppaeus Secundus ConsulsRegarding marriage.
Lex Junia Norbana 19 AD M. Junius Silanus Torquatus & L. Norbanus Balbus ConsulsRegarding status of freedmen.
Lex Visellia 24 CERegulated the activities of freedmen
Lex de Imperio Vespasiani [19] 69 ADUnknownConsuls?Conferred powers, privileges and exemptions on the emperor Vespasian.
Lex Manciana 69–96 ADDealt with imperial and private cases in North Africa, regulated relations between cultivators and the proprietors.
Lex Hadriana 117–138 AD Hadrian EmperorEnabled permanent tenants to develop land, it was an extension of the lex Manciana .
Lex citationis 426 AD Valentinian III EmperorDuring court proceedings, only five Roman lawyers could be cited.

Post-Roman law codes based on Roman legislation

General denominations

Other

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Cornell, Cambridge Ancient History, vol. 7-2, p. 337. Cornell explains that Livy confused the contents of the Lex Licinia Sextia of 366 with the Lex Genucia of 342.
  2. Livy, vii. 42.
  3. Brennan, The Praetorship, pp. 65-67, where he shows that the ten year rule was only temporary at this time.
  4. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 193, 237.
  5. W. Jeffrey Tatum, "The lex Papiria de Dedicationibus", in Classical Philology, Vol. 88, No. 4. (October 1993), pp. 319–328. The traditional date of 304 BC is incorrect.
  6. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 452, 453.
  7. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 458, 459.
  8. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 459, 460 (note 3).
  9. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 517, 519 (note 4).
  10. 1 2 Broughton, vol. II, p. 468.
  11. Broughton, vol. I, pp. 571, 572.
  12. Hinard, Proscriptions, pp. 74–76.
  13. Syme, "Ten Tribunes", p. 59.
  14. Broughton, vol. II, pp. 138, 141 (note 8).
  15. Broughton, vol. II, p. 167.
  16. Hinard, Rome, la dernière république, p. 190 (note 72).
  17. Manuwald, Cicero, Philippics 3–9, pp. 13, 14, 574–578, 586, 796, 1000, 1001.
  18. Broughton, vol. II, p. 472.
  19. Brunt, P. A. (1977). "Lex de Imperio Vespasiani". The Journal of Roman Studies. 67: 95–116. doi:10.2307/299922. JSTOR   299922.

Bibliography