Can you tell me about the Horatio-Valerian law? Experts in ancient Roman history might know this.?

Answer 1

The Horatio-Valerian law (or lex Valeriae Horatiae) is said to have been passed in 449 BC by Marcus Horatius Barbatus and Lucius Valerius Potitus (the consuls of that year). The law was apparently a part of the struggle between the patricians (aristocrats) and the plebs (commoners). According to Livy (3.55) it did 3 things: it made plebescites (i.e plebeian resolutions) binding on the whole community; restored the right of appeal (provocatio); and made plebeian magistrates sacrosanct (i.e. immune to personal assault). But there are serious historical problems here: we know that plebescites were given the force of law only in 287 BC (under the lex Hortensia) and the right of appeal was already guaranteed by the 12 Tables (a very ancient legal code). Probably these measures have been retrojected to 449 BC because that year was otherwise momentous in the struggle between elites and commoners. But this is just a guess.