[1] She is best known for giving a speech in front of the members of the Second Triumvirate in 42 BC that resulted in the partial repeal of a tax on wealthy Roman women.

Her father was well known among Romans due to his moving sermons on history and law and from his rivalry with his fellow orator Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Though the words are not exactly hers, Appian's translation carries the themes of Hortensia:[1] "You have already deprived us of our fathers, our sons, our husbands, and our brothers, whom you accused of having wronged you; if you take away our property also, you reduce us to a condition unbecoming our birth, our manners, our sex.

Appian quoted Hortensia, stating, "Why should we pay taxes when we do not share in the offices, honours, military commands, nor, in short, the government for which you fight between yourselves with such harmful results?

The next day, the three men reduced the number of women subject to the tax to 400, and instead, compensated for the loss of revenue by forcing male property-owners to lend money to the state and contribute to war expenses.