Publius Postumius Tubertus

Publius Postumius Tubertus, the son of Quintus, was the first of the patrician gens Postumia to obtain the consulship, which he held in 505 BC, and again in 503. Ten years later, he was one of the envoys sent by the Roman Senate to negotiate with the plebeians during the first secessio plebis. The outcome of those negotiations reunited the Roman people, and established the tribunes of the plebs, one of the most important institutions of the Roman Republic.[1]

Career

Postumius' first consulship came in 505 BC, the fifth year of the Republic. Together with his colleague, Marcus Valerius Volusus, he fought against the Sabines, whom they defeated decisively near Tibur, obtaining a triumph.[2][3][4][5][6]

Postumius was consul for the second time in 503 BC. Livy records that he fought and defeated the Aurunci, and captured the town of Pometia, obtaining a second triumph.[2] Other authorities state that he fought against the Sabines again, at first with little success, but that he was eventually victorious, and was awarded an ovation, or lesser triumph, which he celebrated on 3 April 503 BC.[7][5] This was the first occasion that this honour was bestowed upon a magistrate of the Republic.[8][9] Additionally, according to Jerome, Postumius and his colleague, Agrippa Menenius Lanatus, held a census during their term of office.[10][11]

In 493 BC, Postumius and Menenius were among the ten ambassadors sent by the senate to treat with the plebs gathered on the Mons Sacer during the first secession. Led by Menenius, the envoys successfully negotiated an agreement under which the patricians would forgive some of the debt owed by the plebeians; the terms of the agreement also established the office of the tribuni plebis, or "tribunes of the people", who received the power to veto acts of the magistrates and the senate.[12][13][14]

In consequence of his deeds and reputation, Postumius and his descendants were accorded the privilege of being buried within the city walls.[15]

gollark: Like how people are mortal and thus decide that death is obviously good because [OBVIOUS RATIONALIZATION] and not evil.
gollark: I mean the generalized thing where once you are in a situation you probably can't escape from you *may* just trick yourself into thinking the situation is cool and good.
gollark: That sounds like cognitive dissonance/weird generalized Stockholm syndrome or something.
gollark: Plus, people break up lots so this is obviously not true.
gollark: Well, you shouldn't trust them entirely, that's ridiculous.

See also

  • Postumia (gens)

References

  1. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 1080 ("Tubertus").
  2. Livy, ii. 16.
  3. Zonaras, Epitome Historiarum, v. 37–39, vii. 13.
  4. Plutarch, "The Life of Publicola", 20.
  5. Fasti Triumphales, AE 1889, 70; 1893, 80; 1904, 113, 196; 1930, 60; 1940, 61.
  6. Broughton, vol I, p. 7.
  7. Dionysius, v. 44-47.
  8. Zonaras, Epitome Historiarum, vii. 13.
  9. Pliny the Elder, xv. 29.
  10. Jerome, Chronicon, ad ann. 504.
  11. Broughton, vol I, p. 8.
  12. Dionysius, vi. 69.
  13. Livy, ii. 32.
  14. Broughton, vol I, p. 15.
  15. Cicero, De Legibus, ii. 23.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Tubertus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. 3. p. 1080.

Preceded by
Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius Aquilinus
Consul of the Roman Republic
with Marcus Valerius Volusus
505 BC
Succeeded by
Publius Valerius Poplicola and Titus Lucretius Tricipitinus
Preceded by
Publius Valerius Poplicola and Titus Lucretius Tricipitinus
Consul of the Roman Republic
with Agrippa Menenius Lanatus
503 BC
Succeeded by
Opiter Verginius Tricostus and Spurius Cassius Viscellinus


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