Question

the public list of laws that protected Roman Citizens

Answer 1

In ancient Rome, several laws and legal principles were established to protect the rights of Roman citizens. Some of the most significant laws and legal codes included:

### 1. **The Twelve Tables (c. 450 BC)**
- The Twelve Tables were the first attempt to create a code of law in Rome. They provided legal rights and protections for citizens and addressed various aspects of daily life, including legal procedures, property rights, family law, and torts. The tables ensured that laws were written down and publicly accessible, which helped protect citizens from arbitrary governance.

### 2. **The Lex Canuleia (445 BC)**
- This law allowed for intermarriage between patricians and plebeians, providing greater legal protections and social mobility for citizens of different classes.

### 3. **The Lex Hortensia (287 BC)**
- This law made decisions passed by the Plebeian Council binding on all Roman citizens, thus giving plebeians a more significant voice in the legislative process and protecting their rights.

### 4. **The Lex Julia and Lex Papia Poppaea (18 and 9 BC)**
- These laws aimed to promote marriage and families, providing certain protections and incentives for Roman citizens to marry and bear children. They established penalties for those who remained unmarried or were childless.

### 5. **The Edict of the Praetor**
- Annually, the Praetor would issue an edict outlining the rights and protections for citizens in legal matters. This edict was significant for the development of Roman civil law and helped protect the rights of citizens in legal proceedings.

### 6. **The Lex Aelia Sentia (4 AD)**
- This law regulated the manumission (release from slavery) of slaves, providing certain protections for newly freed citizens.

### 7. **The Principles of Natural Law**
- Roman legal thought was heavily influenced by the concept of natural law, which posited that certain rights or values were inherent and universally applicable to all humans, including Roman citizens. This concept helped support the notion of a citizen's rights.

### 8. **Rights of Appeal**
- Roman citizens had the right to appeal decisions made against them in court, which was a significant protection against injustice.

### 9. **Civitas Romana**
- The status of Roman citizenship conferred numerous legal rights, including the right to a fair trial, the right to own property, and protection from certain forms of punishment (e.g., torture).

While laws and legal frameworks evolved over the centuries, these rules and principles formed the foundation of the legal protections granted to Roman citizens, contributing to their rights and status within Roman society.