e. This office became in after years the most coveted at Rome.

A few years later, in 421, the plebeians made another step forward by
obtaining the right of electing one of their number as Quaestor. There
were now four Quaestors.

Thus the patricians, in spite of the most obstinate resistance,
sustained loss after loss. Even the rich plebeians, who had hitherto
often found it for their interest to side with the patricians, joined
the farmers or lower classes.

Finally, in 367, the Tribunes Licinius and Sextius proposed and passed
the following bills, called the LICINIAN ROGATIONS.

I. To abolish the six military tribunes, and elect annually, as
formerly, two Consuls, choosing one or both of them from the plebeians.

II. To forbid any citizen's holding more than 500 _jugera_ (300 acres)
of the public lands, or feeding thereon more than 100 oxen or 500 sheep.

III. To compel all landlords to employ on their fields a certain number
of free laborers, proportionate to the number of their slaves.

IV. To allow all interest hitherto paid on borrowed money to be deducted
from the principal, and the rest to be paid in three yearly instalments.

These rogations were a great gain for the poorer classes. It gave them
an opportunity for labor which had previously been performed mostly
by slaves. They were less burdened by debts, and had some prospect of
becoming solvent. But most of all, since the office of Consul was open
to them, they felt that their interests were now more likely to be
protected. The temple of CONCORDIA in the Forum was dedicated by
Camillus as a mark of gratitude for the better times that these
rogations promised.

The plebeians, however, did not stop until all the offices, except
that of _Interrex_, were thrown open to them. First they gained that of
Dictator, then those of Censor and of Praetor, and finally, in 286, by
the law of HORTENSIUS, the plebiscita became binding upon all the people
without the sanction of the Senate and Comitia Centuriata. After 200 the
sacred offices of PONTIFEX and AUGUR also could be filled by plebeians.

Thus the strife that had lasted for two centuries was virtually ended;
and although the Roman patricians still held aloof from the commons, yet
their rights as citizens were no greater than those of the plebeians.

To recapitulate:--

Full citizenship comprised four rights, viz.: that of trading and
holding property (COMMERCIUM); that of voting (SUFFRAGIUM); that of
i