Tribune

Definition

Tribune was a title of various offices in ancient Rome, the two most important of which were the tribuni plebis and tribuni militum. The military tribunes were responsible for many administrative and logistics duties, and could lead a section of a legion under a consul, or even command one alone on the battlefield. The tribuni plebis wielded great political power as they effectively ran the popular assembly of Rome, proposing bills to vote on and able to personally veto senatorial legislation.

More about: Tribune

Timeline

  • 494 BCE
    Traditional date the office of the tribuni plebis is created in Rome.
  • 81 BCE
    Sulla significantly curbs the powers of the Roman tribuni plebis.
  • 70 BCE
    The powers of the tribuni plebis in Rome are reinstated.
  • c. 23 BCE
    Augustus takes over most of the powers of the tribuni plebis.
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