Publius Valerius Publicola (died 503 BC) was a Roman consul from 509 to 507 BC and in 504 BC. He was one of four Roman aristocrats who took part in the overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy in 509 BC.
Biography[]
Publius Valerius Publicola was born in Rome to a family of Sabine origin, and he came from a wealthy family; he was the brother of Marcus Valerius Volusus and Manius Valerius Maximus. He spoke in defense of the plebeians before taking part in the overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy in 509 BC, collaborating with Lucius Junius Brutus, Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, and Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus. After Collatinus was too lenient on monarchist conspirators, Junius appointed Valerius to replace him as a consul. Valerius and Junius commanded the Roman army at the Battle of Silva Arsia, where they defeated the Etruscans, and Valerius celebrated the triumph and gave the slain Junius a magnificent funeral. In 506 BC, the Sabines attacked Rome, but Publicola won two victories and defeated the invasion. He was rewarded with a house on the Palatine Hill, and, in 505 BC, he defeated a Sabine attempt to besiege Rome. Publicola died in 503 BC.