Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus was a

Roman senator The Roman Senate () was the highest and Roman constitution, constituting assembly of ancient Rome and its aristocracy. With different powers throughout its existence it lasted from the first days of the Rome, city of Rome (traditionally founded ...

in the fifth century BC, and was

consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states thro ...

with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus in 462 BC.

Family

Tricipitinus was the son of a Titus Lucretius, and grandson of

Titus Lucretius Tricipitinus Titus Lucretius Tricipitinus was a politician and military leader in the early days of the Roman Republic. Twice, in the years 508 and 504 BC, he was elected Roman Consul, alongside Publius Valerius Poplicola. Also a military leader, he was victo ...

, consul in 508 and 504 BC. His complete name was ''Lucius Lucretius T.f. T.n. Tricipitinus''.

Biography

Consulship

In 462 BC, he was elected consul with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus. The

Romans Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

recovered from a severe epidemic that occurred the year before and had taken the two consuls

Publius Servilius Priscus Structus Publius Servilius Priscus Structus was a Ancient Rome, Roman statesman who served as Roman Senator, Senator and Roman Consul, Consul. Consulship and military campaigns Servilius was Roman consul in 495 BC, along with Appius Claudius Sabinus Regil ...

and Lucius Aebutius Helva, the augurs

Titus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus Titus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus (died 463 BC), was consul of the Roman Republic in 479 BC. He held the office with Caeso Fabius Vibulanus. According to Livy, he was assigned the war with the Veientes, but because of his temerity his army was ...

and Manius Valerius Volusus Maximus, and the ''Curio Maximus''

Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus ( 500–463 BC) was consul at Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of I ...

. 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 Publius Valerius Poplicola or Publicola (died 503 BC) was one of four Roman aristocrats who led the overthrow of the monarchy, and became a Roman consul, the colleague of Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BC, traditionally considered the first year o ...

in 462 BC.

War against the Aequi and the Volsci

The

Aequi 300px, Location of the Aequi (Equi) in central Italy, 5th century BC. The Aequi were an Italic tribe on a stretch of the Apennine Mountains to the east of Latium in central Italy who appear in the early history of ancient Rome. After a long stru ...

and

Volsci The Volsci (, , ) were an Italic tribe, well known in the history of the first century of the Roman Republic. At the time they inhabited the partly hilly, partly marshy district of the south of Latium, bounded by the Aurunci and Samnites on the ...

attempted to take advantage of the consequences of the epidemic and attacked the territories of Rome and the

Hernici The Hernici were an Italic tribe of ancient Italy, whose territory was in Latium between the Fucine Lake and the Sacco River (''Trerus''), bounded by the Volsci on the south, and by the Aequi and the Marsi on the north. History For many y ...

. 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. For these victories, Lucius Lucretius was given the honor of celebrating a triumph and Geminus was given an

Ovation The ovation ( from ''ovare'': to rejoice) was a lesser form of the Roman triumph. Ovations were granted when war was not declared between enemies on the level of nations or states; when an enemy was considered basely inferior (e.g., slaves, pira ...

The ''rogatio Terentilia''

When the consuls were absent from Rome, leading their armies in campaign against the Aequi and the Volsci,

Terentilius Gaius Terentilius Harsa or Caius Terentilius Arsa was a Tribune of the Plebs of the early Roman Republic in about 462 BC. In 467 BC, Gaius agitated the plebeians to limit the power of consuls. Treason Thinking that the absence of the consuls af ...

tribune of the plebs Tribune of the plebs, tribune of the people or plebeian tribune () was the first office of the Roman Republic, Roman state that was open to the plebs, plebeians, and was, throughout the history of the Republic, the most important check on the pow ...

, proposed a law creating a special commission charged with regulating consular power. Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, named ''

Praefectus urbi The ''praefectus urbanus'', also called ''praefectus urbi'' or urban prefect in English, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, an ...

'' in absence of the consuls, opposed drafting the law and deferred the vote until the return of the consuls.

The trial of Kaeso Quinctius

The following year, in 461 BC, Tricipitinus intervened in support of the young politician,

Caeso Quinctius Caeso Quinctius L. f. L. n. Cincinnatus was a son of the Roman dictator Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus. His trial for obstructing the tribunes of the plebs in 461 BC was one of the key events in the Conflict of the Orders in the years leading up to ...

, who was accused by the

plebeian tribunes Tribune of the plebs, tribune of the people or plebeian tribune () was the first office of the Roman state that was open to the plebeians, and was, throughout the history of the Republic, the most important check on the power of the Roman Senate ...

Aulus Verginius and Marcus Volscius Fictor of undermining the sacrosanctness of their office and murder.

Later career

Lucretius was himself appointed P''raefectus urbi'' in 459 BC, most likely because both consuls Quintus Fabius Vibulanus and Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis Uritinus, were occupied with wars against the

and

.Broughton, vol i, pp.39

References

Bibliography

Ancient bibliography

Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Roman Antiquities'', Book IX

Livy, ''The History of Rome'', Book III

Modern bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lucretius Tricipitinus, Lucius 5th-century BC Roman consuls Tricipitinus, Lucius