Timeline: Conflict of Orders

494 BCE

First Secession of the Plebs

This was the first of about five times that the plebeians seceded. Many of them went to the Sacred Mountain and refused to fight for the patricians. This resulted in them getting more political power (it worked!)

494 BCE

Creation of the Tribune of the Plebs

When the plebeians seceded for the first time, the patricians decided to meet their demands and give them a seat in the government called the Tribune of the Plebs, whose job it was to make sure that all of the laws were fair to the plebeians.

491 BCE

Food Shortage of 491 BCE

During this food shortage, the plebeians decided that they would stop cultivating their fields in protest to the patricians. In response to this, Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus lay waste to the fields, adding to the food shortage.

451 BCE

Election of the Decemviri

This was when the decemviri were first elected. Later, they wouldn't give up their power until the plebs seceded again.

450 BCE

Creation of the Twelve Tables

The Twelve Tables were created by the decemviri so that the plebeians would have a set of laws that they knew and lived under.

449 BCE

Second Secession of the Plebs

When the decemviri wouldn't give up their power, the plebeians seceded again. When they seceded, the decemviri put down their power, but the Twelve Tables stayed.

445 BCE

Passage of the Lex Canuleia

This law allowed patricians and plebeians to intermarry, which was a good step in creating more equality for the plebeians.

440 BCE

Food Shortage

Spurius Maelius tried to help the plebeians with this food shortage, but the patricians showed that they didn't want anyone to help the plebs-- widening the rift between the patricians and the plebeians.