Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/33

 CHAPTER III.

THE LATER ROYAL CONSTITUTION.

I. The Plebeians and the Younger Clans.

Origin and Status of the Plebeians. — Just as the status of the clients had been developed in the main from that of the slaves; so, it would seem, the status of the plebs, or multitude, was developed from that of the clients. Some clients became personally independent because the families and clans of their patrons died out; others gained their freedom because their patrons voluntarily surrendered their rights. Still others might become directly dependent on the king or the community. In such cases they, had no private person as their patron, and simply belonged to the multitude, or were plebeians.

While the clients proper were at law wholly dependent on their patrons, the plebeians obtained the right to acquire and dispose of property and to sue in their own name. They possessed no political rights, nor did they perform any regular military service; but they paid an arbitrary tax and helped to construct public works.

Increase of the Plebeians. — The conquests of Rome increased the number of the plebeian class and hastened its development. The persons and property in a town that had been captured or had surrendered unconditionally (dediticii) belonged to the state. Nevertheless, the inhabitants were usually allowed to remain in the town and to occupy a part, perhaps two-thirds, of their former lands.