Decemvĭri

, 10 magistrates of absolute authority among the Romans. The privileges of the patricians raised di atisfaction among the plebeians; who, though freed from the power of the Tarquins, still saw that the administration of justice depended upon the will and caprice of their superiors, without any written statute to direct them, and convince them that they were governed with equity and impartiality. The tribunes complained to the senate, and demanded that a code of laws might be framed for the use and benefit of the Roman people. This petition was complied with, and three amba adors were sent to Athens, and to all the other Grecian states, to collect the laws of Solon, and of the other celebrated legislators of Greece. Upon the return of the commi ioners, it was universally agreed that 10 new magistrates, called decemviri , should be elected from the senate, to put the project into execution. Their power was absolute; all other offices ceased after their election, and they presided over the city with regal authority. They were invested with the badges of the consul, in the enjoyment of which they succeeded by turns, and only one was preceded by the fasces, and had the power of a embling the senate and confirming decrees. The first decemvirs were Appius Claudius, Titus Genutius, Publius Sextus, Spurius Veturius, Caius Julius, Aulus Manlius, Servius Sulpitius Pluriatius, Titus Romulus, Spurius Post hum i us, A.U.C. 303. Under them, the laws which had been exposed to public view, that every citizen might speak his sentiments, were publicly approved of as constitutional, and ratified by the priests and augurs in the most solemn and religious manner. These laws were 10 in number, and were engraved on tables of bra ; two were afterwards added, and they were called the laws of the 12 tables, leges duodecim tabularum , and leges decemvir a les . The decemviral power, which was beheld by all ranks of people with the greatest satisfaction, was continued; but in the third year after their creation, the decemvirs became odious, on account of their tyranny; and the attempt of Appius Claudius to ravish Virginia, was followed by the total abolition of the office. The people were so exasperated against them, that they demanded them from the senate, to burn them alive. Consuls were again appointed, and tranquillity re-established in the state.――There were other officers in Rome, called decemvirs , who were originally appointed, in the absence of the pretor, to administer justice. Their appointment became afterwards nece ary, and they generally a isted at sales called subha stat i ones , because a spear, hasta , was fixed at the door of the place where the goods were exposed to sale. They were called decemviri litibus judicandis . The officers whom Tarquin appointed to guard the Sibylline books, were also called decemviri. They were originally two in number, called duumviri , till the year of Rome 388, when their number was increased to 10, five of which were chosen from the plebeians, and five from the patricians. Sylla increased their number to 15, called quin decemvirs .