Aulus Manlius Vulso Capitolinus was a consular tribune of the Roman Republic in 405, 402 and 397 BC. [1]
Manlius belonged to the Manlia gens, one of the oldest patrician gentes of the Republic. Manlius' father, taken from filiations, was named Aulus which would identify him as Aulus Manlius Vulso, decemviri 451 BC, or another otherwise unattested individual. His grandfather was most likely Gnaeus Manlius Cincinnatus, consul 480 BC but can also have been Gnaeus Manlius Vulso, consul 474 BC. Quintus Manlius Vulso Capitolinus, consular tribune 396 BC, and Titus Manlius Vulso Capitolinus were his brothers. Publius Manlius Capitolinus, dictator 368 BC, and Lucius Manlius Capitolinus Imperiosus, dictator 363 BC, seem to be the sons of Manlius based on their filiations. [2] [3]
Manlius first held the imperium in 405 BC as one of six consular tribunes. His colleagues in the office were Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus, Quintus Quintius Cincinnatus, Gaius Julius Iulus, Lucius Furius Medullinus and Manius Aemilius Mamercinus; Manlius was the only newcomer to the imperium, as all of his colleagues were consulares , the college was also unique in that it was the first year there were six consular tribunes. This year saw the beginning of the long and drawn out Siege of Veii. Diodorus has Mamilius instead of Manlius as consular tribune and only has the college consist of three members this year, which is believed to be a mistake by the ancient historian or by later transcribers. There is some doubt among modern scholars in regards to the historicity of these consular colleges of six and there are indications of a higher degree of interpolation during this period. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
Manlius would be re-elected to the tribuneship in 402 BC, again as part of a six-man consular college. His colleagues were Gaius Servilius Ahala, Quintus Servilius Fidenas, Lucius Verginius Tricostus Esquilinus, Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus and Manius Sergius Fidenas. There was much infighting between the consulars which would lead to the defeat of Sergius at Veii because his colleague Verginius refused him aid. Ahala, took matters into his own hands and forced the abdication of the entire college, including Manlius, to be replaced by a newly elected college. Diodorus only lists five members in his college of 402 BC and omits Q. Servilius. The defeat of the Romans at Veii should be treated as historical, but the reason (such as the rivalry between Sergius and Verginius) provided by ancient authors, such as Livy, should be viewed critically and sceptically, similar scepticism should be directed at the actions of Ahala. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Manlius was elected for a third and final term as consular tribune in 397 BC. He shared the office with his old co-consular Furius and four newcomers, Lucius Julius Iulus, Lucius Sergius Fidenas, Aulus Postumius Albinus Regillensis and Publius Cornelius Maluginensis. The year saw the return of an embassy of consulares sent to Delphi the previous year and war with several of Rome's neighbours. This included the Volsci, Aequi, Veii, Falisci, Capenates and the Tarquinii. Manlius and his colleagues were forced to abdicate because of faults in the election process and a new college was appointed. Julius and Furius is not included among the names provided by Diodorus on his college of 397 BC. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]
Manlius is last mentioned in our sources as one of three ambassadors sent to Delphi in 394 BC to give offerings to Apollo for the successful capture of Veii in 396 BC. The embassy consisted of Manlius and his two colleagues Lucius Valerius Potitus and Lucius Sergius Fidenas (his co-consular in 397 BC). The embassy was to convey an offering to the Oracle of Delphi and to Apollo but was captured by Liparean pirates under the command of the sicilian Greek Timasitheus. The pirates seems to have had a change of heart when they learned of the purpose of the embassy and the three consulares were released to continue their journey. This episode should be treated as largely historical as there are a few archaeological and inscriptiorial evidences connected with it. Although there is some disagreement between the sources in regards to the year, Diodorus gives 396 and Livy 394 BC, and the composition of the embassy as only Livy gives us names. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
Lucius Furius Medullinus, of the patrician gens Furia, was a politician and general of the Roman Republic who was consul twice and Consular Tribune seven times.
Gaius Servilius Ahala was a three time consular tribune, in 408, 407 and 402 and one-time magister equitum, in 408 BC, of the Roman Republic.
Gaius Julius Iullus was a Roman statesman and member of the ancient patrician gens Julia. He was consular tribune in 408 and 405 BC, and censor in 393.
Lucius Julius L. f Vop. n. Iulus was a member of the patrician house of the Julii at ancient Rome. He was military tribune with consular powers in 401 and 397 BC.
Servius Cornelius Maluginensis was a politician and general of the Roman Republic. He was elected consular tribune seven times in 386, 384, 382, 380, 376, 370, and 368 BC. Despite having one of the most successful careers of the Republic, Servius' life is seldom known.
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was a consular tribune of the Roman republic in 438, 425, 420 BC and possibly consul in 428 BC.
Proculus Verginius Tricostus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 435 BC. He was possibly re-elected as consul in 434 BC.
Titus Quinctius PoenusCincinnatus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 431 and 428 BC and a consular tribune in 426 BC. He might have been consular tribune again in 420 BC.
Aulus Sempronius Atratinus was a consular tribune of the Roman Republic in 425, 420, 416 BC and possibly consul in 428 BC.
Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 421 BC.
Marcus Papirius Mugillanus was a consular tribune in 418 and 416 BC, and perhaps consul of the Roman Republic in 411.
Gaius Valerius Potitus Volusus was a consul in 410 and consular tribune in 415, 407 and 404 BC of the Roman Republic.
Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus was a consular tribune in 415 and 405 BC of the Roman Republic.
Lucius Valerius Potitus was a five time consular tribune, in 414, 406, 403, 401 and 398 BC, and two times consul, in 393 and 392 BC, of the Roman Republic.
Manius Aemilius Mamercinus was a three time consular tribune, in 405, 403 and 401 and one-time consul, in 410 BC, of the Roman Republic.
Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus was a consular tribune of the Roman Republic in 406, 404 and 401 BC.
Manius Sergius Fidenas was a consular tribune of the Roman Republic in 404 and 402 BC.
Quintus Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus was a consular tribune of the Roman Republic in 402 and 398 BC.
Lucius Aemilius Mamercinus was a Roman politician and general who, in the early 4th century BC, held the office of consular tribune an extraordinary six times in his distinguished, yet mostly unknown, career.
Quintus Servilius Fidenas was a prominent early Roman politician who achieved the position of Consular tribune six times throughout a sixteen-year period. Quintus Servilius was a member of the illustrious gens Servilia, a patrician family which had achieved great prominence since the foundation of the republic. In particular, Servilius was the son of Quintus Servilius Priscus Fidenas, a well respected statesman and general who served as dictator twice, in 435 and 418 BC, as well as holding the religious title of either augur or pontifex, which he held until his death in 390 BC. Servilius the younger himself had at least one son, also named Quintus Servilius Fidenas, who served as consular tribune in 382, 378, and 369 BC.