was the ancient legislation that stood at the foundation of Roman law. The Law of the Twelve Tables formed the centrepiece of the constitution of the Roman Republic and the core of the mos maiorum (custom of the ancestors).

Roman Kingdom
753–509 BC
Roman Republic
509–27 BC
Roman Empire
27 BC – AD 476

The Twelve Tables came about as a result of the long social struggle between patricians and plebeians. After the expulsion of the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, the Republic was governed by a hierarchy of magistrates. Initially only patricians were eligible to become magistrates and this, among other plebeian complaints, was a source of discontent for plebeians.

Concerning the summons to court.

Law I.

When anyone summons another before the tribunal of a judge, the latter must, without hesitation, immediately appear.

Concerning judgments and thefts.

TABLE III. Concerning property which is lent


TABLE IV. concerning the rights of a father, and of marriage.

TABLE V. concerning estates and guardianships.
TABLE VI. concerning ownership and possession

TABLE VII. concerning crimes
TABLE VIII. concerning the laws op real property
TABLE IX. concerning public law.
TABLE X. Concerning religious law

TABLE XI. supplement to the five preceding ones.



.TABLE XII. supplement to the five preceding ones.

http://www.constitution.org/sps/sps01_1.htm

Like most other early codes of law, they were largely procedural, combining strict and rigorous penalties with equally strict and rigorous procedural forms. In most of the surviving quotations from these texts, the original table that held them is not given.