Lex Ogulnia Passed by Gnaeus and Quintus Ogulnius

The Lex Ogulnia was a pivotal legislative measure passed by the tribunes of the plebs, Gnaeus and Quintus Ogulnius. This law established four plebeian pontiffs, which matched the number of patrician pontiffs, and introduced five plebeian augurs, thereby surpassing the four patrician augurs in the college. The creation of these positions marked a significant shift in the religious and political landscape of Rome, as it allowed the plebeians greater representation and influence in religious matters, which had previously been dominated by the patrician class. The introduction of plebeian pontiffs and augurs was a crucial step in the ongoing struggle between the plebeians and patricians, known as the Conflict of the Orders, which sought to address the social and political inequalities between these two classes. The Lex Ogulnia effectively contributed to the gradual resolution of this conflict, as it provided the plebeians with a more substantial role in the governance and religious practices of Rome, thereby enhancing their status and power within the Roman Republic.