The Republic
Hortensia
She gave a public speech against a tax on wealthy women.
Years. Spoke in 42 BC. Birth year unknown.
We are not sure. We do not know when she was born or died. The speech we read is a later retelling, not her script.
Three short facts
- 1Her father was a star lawyer named Hortensius.
- 2The rulers wanted rich women to pay for war.
- 3Her speech pushed them to lower the number who paid.
The story
Women in Rome rarely spoke in the Forum.
Hortensia did.
She said women had no vote and no public office, so this war tax was unfair.
The triumvirs were annoyed.
They still cut the tax list.