History glossary
plebeians
the wider body of common Roman citizens who fought for legal protection and political rights during the Republic.
- Category
- Social class
- Region
- Rome
- Date range
- Roman Republic
What it means
Plebeians were the broader body of common Roman citizens outside the patrician elite. They served in the army, worked land and trades, and fought through the Conflict of the Orders for legal protection, offices, and political recognition.
