Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus

Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus was a Roman senator in the fifth century BC, and was consul with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus in 462 BC.

Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 1 August 462 BC – 31 July 461 BC [1] Serving with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus (consul 462 BC)
Preceded by	Publius Servilius Priscus Structus (consul 463 BC), Lucius Aebutius Elva
Succeeded by	Publius Volumnius Amintinus Gallus, Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus (consul 461 BC)
Personal details
Born	Unknown Ancient Rome
Died	Unknown Ancient Rome

Family

Tricipitinus was the son of a Titus Lucretius, and grandson of Titus Lucretius Tricipitinus, consul in 508 and 504 BC. His complete name was Lucius Lucretius T.f. T.n. Tricipitinus.[2]

Biography

Consulship

In 462 BC, he was elected consul with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus.[2] The Romans recovered from a severe epidemic that occurred the year before and had taken the two consuls Publius Servilius Priscus Structus and Lucius Aebutius Helva, the augurs Titus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus and Manius Valerius Volusus Maximus, and the Curio Maximus Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus.[2] Before the end of his consulship, a series of interreges were nominated in order to organize new elections. This they conducted during the term of the interrex, Publius Valerius Poplicola in 462 BC.[3]

War against the Aequi and the Volsci

The Aequi and Volsci attempted to take advantage of the consequences of the epidemic and attacked the territories of Rome and the Hernici. Geminus easily put the Volsci to flight while Lucius Lucretius inflicted a serious defeat against the pillagers, recovering the loot that they had taken from Roman territory.[4] For these victories, Lucius Lucretius was given the honor of celebrating a triumph and Geminus was given an Ovation.[5][6][7]

The rogatio Terentilia

When the consuls were absent from Rome, leading their armies in campaign against the Aequi and the Volsci, Terentilius, tribune of the plebs, proposed a law creating a special commission charged with regulating consular power.[8][9] Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, named Praefectus urbi in absence of the consuls, opposed drafting the law and deferred the vote until the return of the consuls.[10]

The trial of Kaeso Quinctius

The following year, in 461 BC, Tricipitinus intervened in support of the young politician, Caeso Quinctius, who was accused by the plebeian tribunes Aulus Verginius and Marcus Volscius Fictor of undermining the sacrosanctness of their office and murder.[11][12]

Later career

Lucretius was himself appointed Praefectus urbi in 459 BC, most likely because both consuls Quintus Fabius Vibulanus and Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis Uritinus, were occupied with wars against the Aequi and Volsci.[13]

References

1. Robert Maxwell Ogilvie, Commentary on Livy, books 1–5, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1965, pp. 404, 405.
2. Broughton 1951, p. 35
3. Broughton 1951, p. 36
4. Livy, Ab urbe condita, III. 8
5. Broughton 1951, p. 35-36
6. Livy, Ab urbe condita, III.10
7. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, IX. 71
8. Briquel 2000, p. 19
9. Broughton 1951, p. 36
10. Briquel 2000, p. 193
11. Broughton 1951, p. 37
12. Livy, Roman History, III.12-13
13. Broughton, vol i, pp.39

Bibliography

Ancient bibliography

• Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, Book IX
• Livy, The History of Rome, Book III

Modern bibliography

• Broughton, T. Robert S. (1951), "The Magistrates of the Roman Republic", Philological Monographs, number XV, volume I, New York: The American Philological Association, vol. I, 509 B.C. - 100 B.C.
• Briquel, Dominique (2000), "La nuit du V^e siècle", Roman History. Tome I, Des origines à Auguste (in French), pp. 163–202, ISBN 978-2-213-03194-1