Publius Valerius Poplicola (consul 475 BC)

Publius Valerius Poplicola was consul of the Roman Republic in 475 BC and 460 BC, and interrex in 462 BC.

Publius Valerius Poplicola
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 1 August 475 BC [1] – 31 July 474 BC Serving with Gaius Nautius Rutilus
Preceded by	Aulus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus,Spurius Servilius Priscus Structus (consul 476 BC)
Succeeded by	Lucius Furius Medullinus (consul 474 BC),Gnaeus Manlius Vulso (consul 474 BC)
In office 1 August 460 BC – 31 July 459 BC Serving with Gaius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis
Preceded by	Publius Volumnius Amintinus Gallus,Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus (consul 461 BC)
Succeeded by	Quintus Fabius Vibulanus,Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis Uritinus
Personal details
Born	Unknown Ancient Rome
Died	Unknown Ancient Rome

Prior to his consulship he was one of the two patricians sent by the senate to Sicily to retrieve grain to save Rome during a famine in 492 BC, returning a year later having succeeded.[2][3][4]

In his first consulship Valerius was assigned responsibility for the war against Veii and the Sabines. The Roman army was reinforced by auxiliaries from the Latin allies and the Hernici.[5]

The Sabine army was camped outside the walls of Veii. Valerius attacked the Sabine defences. The Sabines sallied forth from their camp, but the Romans had the better of the fighting, and took the gate of the Sabine camp. The forces of Veii then attacked from the city, but in some disorder, and a Roman cavalry charged routed the Veientes, giving Rome the overall victory.[6]

Valerius was awarded a triumph for the victory, which he celebrated on 1 May.[7]

In the aftermath of the pestilence that ravaged Rome in 463 BC (killing both consuls among others) Valerius was appointed interrex to hold the elections of 462 BC.[8][9]

In his second consulship he was killed recovering the capitol from Appius Herdonius.

He is said to be the son of Publius Valerius Publicola, the consul of 509 BC, but according to another tradition, that son fell in battle at Lake Regillus in c. 496 BC; perhaps the consul of 475 BC was his grandson.[10][11]

References

1. Robert Maxwell Ogilvie, Commentary on Livy, books 1–5, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1965, pp. 404, 405.
2. Broughton, vol i. pp.17
3. Dionysius, vii, 1.3, 2.1
4. Livy, ii, 34.3
5. Livy, Ab Urbe condita, ii.53
6. Livy, Ab Urbe condita, ii.53
7. Fasti Triumphales
8. Livy, iii, 8.2
9. Broughton, vol i, pp.36
10. Livy, ii. 52, 53, iii. 15-19.
11. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ix. 28, x. 14-17.

Political offices
Preceded by Aulus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus Spurius Servilius Structus	Consul of the Roman Republic 475 BC with Gaius Nautius Rutilus	Succeeded by Lucius Furius Medullinus Gnaeus Manlius Vulso
Preceded by Publius Volumnius Amintinus Gallus, and Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus	Consul of the Roman Republic 460 BC with Gaius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis	Succeeded by Quintus Fabius Vibulanus III and Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis Uritinus