The Establishment of the Tribunate of the People, (c. 442 B.C.) by Lee Lawrie, Façade

According to Livy, Appius Claudius was among the most hated of the Decemvirs.

Appius wanted Virginia, the daughter of Virginius, shown here.

Virginus pleaded for his daughter to be spared, but Appius refused.

Rather than surrender his daughter to the evil Appius, Virginius killed is daughter to preserve her honor.

The resulting outrage at the atrocity of the act sparked a plebian revolt which ultimately resulted in the establishment of the tribunes of the plebs.