Volero Publilius

The tribunes of the plebs were sacrosanct within the boundaries of Rome, and the entire body of the Roman people obliged to protect them from harm.

For his courage in resisting an unjust order, knowing that it might lead to his death, Publilius became a hero to the people, and was elected one of the tribunes of the plebs for the following year.

[6][10][11] As tribune in 472 BC, Publilius surprised the aristocrats, who expected him to foment violence between the classes, by instead choosing a peaceful course of action.

[12][13] Voting strength in the comitia centuriata was determined by age and property, and the assembly tended to reflect the wishes of the aristocracy, a problem that only increased with the passage of time.

The number of the tribunes of the plebs was not fixed by law; originally two had been appointed following the creation of the office, but they had co-opted two colleagues to serve alongside them, and assist with their duties.

But as an unpractised orator, his rhetoric became inflammatory, and on the day appointed for voting, he and the consul Appius Claudius had a violent confrontation, in which each man attempted to arrest the other.

Public sympathy was against Claudius, who was well known as the champion of the aristocracy, and he was hurried out of the forum by his colleague, the moderate Titus Quinctius, who succeeded in calming the crowd.