Claudius Crassus
APPIUS, a Roman decemvir (451 and 450 в. c.), who gained the high favor of his fellowcitizens by his ability and activity. In ability and the latter year, however, he began to , however, show his real aims toward absolute and illegal power. The growing indignation of the Roman populace reached a height on account of his grossly tyrannous action toward Virginia, daughter of a respected plebeian named Lucius Virginius, who was abroad with the army. The proud patrician gained possession of the person of the maiden by pretending that she was the born slave of one of his clients. Her lover Icilius summoned her father Virginius from the army, but another mock-trial again adjudged the girl to be the property of the decemvir's client. To save his daughter from dishonor, the unhappy father seized a knife دو