Titus Lartius was one of the leading men of the earlyÌýRoman Republic, twiceÌýconsul, and the firstÌýRoman dictator.
Edited by Matthew A. McIntosh / 10.12.2018
Public Historian
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ Editor-in-Chief
Background
The Lartii, whoseÌýnomenÌýis also spelledÌýLarciusÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýLargius, were anÌýEtruscanÌýfamily atÌýRomeÌýduring the early years of the Republic. Their nomen is derived from the EtruscanÌý±è°ù²¹±ð²Ô´Ç³¾±ð²ÔÌý³¢²¹°ù²õ. Titus’ brother,ÌýSpurius Lartius, was one of the heroes of the Republic, who defended theÌýwooden bridgeÌýover theÌýTiberÌýat the side ofÌýHoratius CoclesÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýTitus Herminius. He was also twice consul, in 501 and 498 BC.[1][2][3][4]
Career
Lartius’ first consulship was in 501 BC, the ninth year of the Republic. His colleague wasÌýPostumus Cominius Auruncus. During their year of office, there was a disturbance at Rome, which was attributed to the actions of a group of youngÌýSabines. Only the previous year, the consulÌýSpurius Cassius ViscellinusÌýhad defeated the Sabines nearÌýCures, and for a while it appeared that the war might be rekindled. Tensions were also high because it was anticipated that war with theÌýLatinsÌýwas imminent.ÌýOctavius Mamilius, the prince ofÌýTusculum, and son-in-law ofÌýLucius Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and lastÌýKing of Rome, was forming an alliance amongst the thirty towns ofÌýLatium, with the aim of restoring Tarquin to the throne.[5][6]
In these circumstances it was decided to appoint a single magistrate, originally called theÌýpraetor maximusÌý´Ç°ùÌýmagister populi, “master of the infantry”, but afterwards known simply as theÌýdictator, to oversee the defence of the city. The dictator held supreme authority in the exercise of his duties, and the people had no right to appeal from his decisions, as they could under the consuls. However, the command of the dictator was limited to a period of six months. TheÌýSenateÌýdirected the consuls to nominate a dictator, and Cominius chose his colleague, Lartius. The dictator then proceeded to nominate Spurius Cassius, who had triumphed over the Sabines the previous year, as hisÌýmagister equitum, or “master of the horse”.[5][6][7]
The creation of this magistracy is said to have alarmed the Sabines, who sent envoys to Rome in order to avert war. The negotiations were unsuccessful, andÌýwar was declared, but both sides were reluctant to take the field, and no battle occurred. During the remainder of his office, Lartius held theÌýcensus, negotiated with the various Latin towns in hopes of retaining some old allies and gaining new ones, and presided over the consular elections for the following year. He then laid down his office before the expiration of his term, setting a precedent for future dictators.[8]
He held the consulship a second time in 498 BC, withÌýQuintus Cloelius Siculus. During this year, the long anticipated war with the Latins began. The dictatorÌýAulus Postumius AlbusÌýled the Roman forces to victory at theÌýBattle of Lake Regillus, while the consul Lartius captured the town ofÌýFidenae. After leaving his magistracy, Lartius is said by Dionysius to have dedicated the temple ofÌýSaturnÌýat the foot of theÌýCapitoline Hill.[9][10]
In 494, Lartius unsuccessfully advocated measures to relieve theÌýplebsÌýfrom the burdens of debt; and in the following year, when the plebeiansÌýsecededÌýfrom the city and encamped onÌýMons Sacer, Lartius was one of the envoys sent by the senate to treat with them. The embassy was successful, and resulted in the institution of theÌýtribunes of the people.
Also in 493, Lartius served asÌýlegateÌýto the consul Cominius, his colleague in 501, at the siege ofÌýCorioli, whereÌýGaius Marcius CoriolanusÌýgained fame through his valour.[11][12][13]
Historical Uncertainty
An alternative tradition states that the first dictator was Manius Valerius, the son ofÌýMarcus Valerius Volusus, consul in 505 BC. However, the historianÌýLivyÌýbelieved it unlikely that a man who had not yet been consul would be appointed the first dictator, or that Manius Valerius would have been nominated in place of his father. Another tradition places the institution of the dictatorship three years later, in 498 BC, during Lartius’ second consulship. In that year, Livy states that Aulus Postumius Albus was appointed dictator, and led the Roman army to victory over the Latins at the Battle of Lake Regillus. However, this battle is also placed by some authorities in 496, when Postumius was consul.
Notes
- ÌýDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology,ÌýWilliam Smith, Editor.
- George Davis Chase, “The Origin of Roman Praenomina”,ÌýHarvard Studies in Classical Philology,Ìý8Ìý(1897).
- Livy,ÌýAb Urbe Condita, ii. 10
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus,ÌýRomaike Archaiologia, v. 24, 25, 36, vii. 68.
- Livy, ii. 18
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, v. 71.
- Oxford Classical Dictionary, 2nd Ed. (1970).
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, v. 76, 77.
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, v. 50, 59, 60; vi. 1.
- Livy, ii. 21.
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, vi. 81, 92.
- Livy, ii. 29.
- Plutarch,ÌýLives of the Noble Greeks and Romans,ÌýCoriolanus, 8.
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