The plebs of Rome collectively left the city in 494 BCE as part of a protest against their political and social inequality compared to the patricians. The reasons for their actions included:
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Pleb votes in the Assembly of the Centuries counted less than Patrician votes: This meant that the votes of the plebeians were overshadowed by those of the patricians, effectively denying them significant influence in political decisions.
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Patricians usually got their way in the Assembly of Tribes: The assembly was another political body where the plebs often found it challenging to achieve their aims, as the patricians held considerable power and influence.
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The most important positions of power were held exclusively by patricians: This exclusivity meant that plebeians had very limited opportunities for leadership and representation in governance.
By leaving the city, the plebs aimed to assert their demands for more rights and representation, which eventually led to the establishment of the office of the tribune of the plebs and greater political concessions from the patricians. Thus, the collective departure was a significant event in the struggle for plebeian rights in early Rome.