Caecilii Metelli
Encyclopedia
The Caecilii Metelli were one of the most important and wealthiest families in the Roman
Republic
. They were nobles, although of plebeian, not of patrician stock. The Caecilii Metelli remained a political power within the state from 3rd century BC to the end of the Republic, holding every office in the cursus honorum
as well as several important military commands.
Important members of the Caecilius Metellus clan include:
Women of the Caecilii Metelli family were always named Caecilia Metella
, according to the Roman naming convention. To distinguish them, the Caecilias often carried their father's cognomen
, declined in a female form. Famous Caecilias include:
In addition to the actual Caecilii Metelli listed here, Decius Caecilius Metellus
is a character created by John Maddox Roberts
for his historical mystery series SPQR
.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. They were nobles, although of plebeian, not of patrician stock. The Caecilii Metelli remained a political power within the state from 3rd century BC to the end of the Republic, holding every office in the cursus honorum
Cursus honorum
The cursus honorum was the sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians in both the Roman Republic and the early Empire. It was designed for men of senatorial rank. The cursus honorum comprised a mixture of military and political administration posts. Each office had a minimum...
as well as several important military commands.
Important members of the Caecilius Metellus clan include:
- Lucius Caecilius Metellus DenterLucius Caecilius Metellus DenterLucius Caecilius Metellus Denter was consul in 284 BC, and praetor the year after. In this capacity he fell in the war against the Senones, and was succeeded by Manius Curius Dentatus....
, consulConsulConsul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
284 BC284 BCYear 284 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tucca and Denter/Dentatus...
, died in battle against the SenonesSenonesThe Senones were an ancient Gaulish tribe.In about 400 BC they crossed the Alps and, having driven out the Umbrians settled on the east coast of Italy from Forlì to Ancona, in the so-called ager Gallicus, and founded the town of Sena Gallica , which became their capital. In 391 BC they invaded...
at Arretium in 284 BC - Lucius Caecilius MetellusLucius Caecilius Metellus (died 221 BC)Lucius Caecilius Metellus was the son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter. He was Consul in 251 BC and 247 BC, Pontifex Maximus in 243 BC and Dictator in 224 BC....
, consulConsulConsul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
251 BC251 BCYear 251 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Metellus and Pacilus...
and 247 BC247 BCYear 247 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Metellus and Buteo...
, died 221 BC221 BCYear 221 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Asina and Rufus/Lepidus...
, pontifex maximusPontifex MaximusThe Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post... - Quintus Caecilius MetellusQuintus Caecilius Metellus (died 175 BC)Quintus Caecilius Metellus was a son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus. He was Pontiff in 216 BC, Aedile of the Plebeians in 209 BC and 208 BC, Consul in 205 BC, Dictator in 203 BC and Ambassador at the Court of Philip V of Macedon in 185 BC.He served as a Legate in the army of Gaius Claudius Nero and...
, consul 206 BC206 BCYear 206 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Philo and Metellus... - Quintus Caecilius MetellusQuintus Caecilius Metellus (tribune)Quintus Caecilius Metellus was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus. He was a Tribune of the Plebeians and later one of Mark Antony's Generals at the Battle of Actium.By adoption he had:...
, tribune of the plebeians - Quintus Caecilius Metellus
- Quintus Caecilius Metellus MacedonicusQuintus Caecilius Metellus MacedonicusQuintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus was a Praetor in 148 BC, Consul in 143 BC, Proconsul of Hispania Citerior in 142 BC and Censor in 131 BC. He was the oldest son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus and grandson of Lucius Caecilius Metellus.A brilliant general, he fought in the Third Macedonian War...
- eldest son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus, consul in 206 BC206 BCYear 206 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Philo and Metellus...
. He was a brilliant general who fought in the Fourth Macedonic War, securing, in 146 BC146 BCYear 146 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Achaicus...
the annexation of Macedonia as a Roman provinceRoman provinceIn Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
, hence the agnomen Macedonicus. He was elected consulConsulConsul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
in 143 BC143 BCYear 143 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Macedonicus...
and censorCensor (ancient Rome)The censor was an officer in ancient Rome who was responsible for maintaining the census, supervising public morality, and overseeing certain aspects of the government's finances....
in 131 BC131 BCYear 131 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Mucianus and Flaccus...
. During his censorship, Macedonicus legislated to make marriage compulsory for Romans, a law that was never put into practice. He died in 115 BC115 BCYear 115 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scaurus and Metellus... - Lucius Caecilius Metellus CalvusLucius Caecilius Metellus CalvusLucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus was a Roman statesman. He was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus and brother of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus...
, consul 142 BC142 BCYear 142 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calvus and Servilianus... - Quintus Caecilius Metellus BalearicusQuintus Caecilius Metellus BalearicusQuintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus. He was a Consul in 123 BC and a Censor in 120 BC, dominated Sardinia and conquered the Balearic Islands - for what he earned his cognomen and the honours of Triumph - establishing at Palma and Pollentia two...
, consul 123 BC123 BCYear 123 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Balearicus and Flamininus...
, censor 120 BC120 BCYear 120 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Manilius and Carbo... - Lucius Caecilius Metellus DalmaticusLucius Caecilius Metellus DalmaticusLucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus was a son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus. He was a Consul in 119 BC, a Censor in 115 BC and then Pontifex Maximus. He had eliminated from the Senate 32 of its members and fought Saturninus, thus contributing to the return to Rome, in 99 BC, of his brother...
, consul 119 BC119 BCYear 119 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Dalmaticus and Cotta...
, pontifex maximusPontifex MaximusThe Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post...
in 115 BC115 BCYear 115 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scaurus and Metellus...
, father of Caecilia Metella Dalmatica - Lucius Caecilius Metellus DiadematusLucius Caecilius Metellus DiadematusLucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus was the second son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus....
, consul 117 BC117 BCYear 117 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Diadematus and Augur...
, censor 115 BC115 BCYear 115 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scaurus and Metellus... - Marcus Caecilius Metellus, consul 115 BC115 BCYear 115 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scaurus and Metellus...
- Gaius Caecilius Metellus CaprariusGaius Caecilius Metellus CaprariusGaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius was born around 160 BC. He served under Scipio Aemilianus in Numantia around 133 BC. He was praetor in 117 BC and consul in 113 BC; his co-consul was Gnaeus Papirius Carbo. Caprarius was proconsul in Thrace from 112-111 BC. He triumphed for his victory there in...
, consul 113 BC113 BCYear 113 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caprarius and Carbo...
, censor 102 BC102 BCYear 102 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Catulus... - Quintus Caecilius Metellus NumidicusQuintus Caecilius Metellus NumidicusQuintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus was the leader of the conservative faction of the Roman Senate and a bitter enemy of Gaius Marius....
, consul 109 BC109 BCYear 109 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Numidicus and Silanus...
, censor 102 BC102 BCYear 102 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Catulus...
second son of Metellus Calvus, political opponent of Gaius MariusGaius MariusGaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
. - Quintus Caecilius Metellus NeposQuintus Caecilius Metellus NeposQuintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus. He was a Consul in 98 BC, having fought at the Iberian Peninsula against the Celtiberians and the Vaccaei, suffering before these ones a memorable defeat.He married Licinia Prima, who after widowed married the...
- son of Balearicus, he was elected consul in 98 BC98 BCYear 98 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nepos and Didius...
. One of the few known aspects of his life are the circumstances that surrounded his marriage to Licinia Crassa, the mother of his sons. Licinia was already married to another man, Quintus Mucius ScaevolaQuintus Mucius Scaevola PontifexQuintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex , the son of Publius Mucius Scaevola was a politician of the Roman Republic and an important early authority on Roman law. He is credited with founding the study of law as a systematic discipline...
, when they started an affair. Being discovered, Licinia was outcast and branded as an adulteress but Metellus Nepos, rather than lose her, divorced his wife and married her less than a week after. This was such a scandalous procedure that the wedding deserved several references in the ancient sources. - Quintus Caecilius Metellus PiusQuintus Caecilius Metellus PiusQuintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was a pro-Sullan politician and general. He was named Pius because of his 99 BC petition to return his father from exile and was true to his cognomen for the constance and inflexibility with which he always fought for his father's rehabilitation and return to...
- only son of Metellus Numidicus, started his military career as a legate to Lucius Cornelius SullaLucius Cornelius SullaLucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
in the Social War. After the outlawing of Sulla, he remained faithful to him and fled to Africa. In 83 BC83 BCYear 83 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Asiaticus and Norbanus...
he returned to Sulla and helped him win the civil war that eventually made Sulla dictatorRoman dictatorIn the Roman Republic, the dictator , was an extraordinary magistrate with the absolute authority to perform tasks beyond the authority of the ordinary magistrate . The office of dictator was a legal innovation originally named Magister Populi , i.e...
. To reward him for his services, Sulla nominated him Pontifex MaximusPontifex MaximusThe Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post...
. He was elected consul 80 BC80 BCYear 80 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sulla and Metellus...
and afterwards, sent as a proconsul to the Hispania provinces. For the next eight years, he remained in Iberia fighting against the rebellious Quintus SertoriusQuintus SertoriusQuintus Sertorius was a Roman statesman and general, born in Nursia, in Sabine territory. His brilliance as a military commander was shown most clearly in his battles against Rome for control of Hispania...
, the last five with the help of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. He eventually returned to Rome, where he celebrated a TriumphRoman triumphThe Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war. In Republican...
for his victories in Hispania. He died around 63 BC63 BCYear 63 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cicero and Hibrida...
. For his campaign against Sertorius, Metellus Pius earned the respect of Roman military historians, particularly Frontinus who often refers his deeds on the book Stratagemata. - Quintus Caecilius Metellus CreticusQuintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus (died 55 BC)Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus was a politically active member of theRoman upper class. He was praetor in 74 BC and pontifex from 73 BC until his death...
, consul 69 BC69 BCYear 69 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hortalus and Metellus... - Lucius Caecilius MetellusLucius Caecilius MetellusLucius Caecilius Metellus was a Roman aristocrat. He was praetor in 71 BC. He succeeded Gaius Verres as governor of Sicily in 70 BC. He died in office as consul in 68 BC. His co-consul was Quintus Marcus Rex.- Family :...
, consul 68 BC68 BCYear 68 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Metellus/Vatia and Rex... - Quintus Caecilius Metellus CelerQuintus Caecilius Metellus Celer (consul)Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer was a Consul in 60 BC and son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos, or, according to some, the son of Tribune Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer while the latter is the son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos...
, consul 60 BC60 BCYear 60 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Metellus and Afranius...
, died 59 BC59 BCYear 59 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Bibulus...
, perhaps poisoned by his wife ClodiaClodiaClodia, Clodia, Clodia, (born Claudia Pulchra Prima or Maior or also Quadrantaria c. 95 BC or c. 94 BC and often referred to in scholarship as Clodia Metelli ("Clodia the wife of Metellus"), was the third daughter of the patrician Appius Claudius Pulcher and Caecilia Metella Balearica.She is not to... - Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer (people's tribune)
- Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos IuniorQuintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos IuniorQuintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos Iunior was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos. He was a Tribune in 62 BC, a Praetor in 60 BC, a Consul in 57 BC and the Governor of Hispania Citerior in 56 BC....
, consul 57 BC57 BCYear 57 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Metellus... - Lucius Caecilius Metellus, tribune of the plebs 49 BC49 BCYear 49 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus...
, resisted Julius CaesarJulius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
when he wanted to plunder the treasury (Caesar Civil War 1.33) - Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio NasicaQuintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio NasicaQuintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica , in modern scholarship often as Metellus Scipio, was a Roman consul and military commander in the Late Republic. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and the senatorial faction led by Pompeius Magnus , he remained a staunch optimate...
- also known as Metellus Scipio, consul 52 BC52 BCYear 52 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pompeius and Scipio...
, adopted son of Metellus Pius, with whom he campaigned against Sertorius. He became father-in-law of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. He commanded the "Republican" army at ThapsusBattle of ThapsusThe Battle of Thapsus took place on April 6, 46 BC near Thapsus . The Republican forces of the Optimates, led by Quintus Caecillius Metellus Scipio, clashed with the veteran forces loyal to Julius Caesar.-Prelude:...
, and was killed in battle against Julius CaesarJulius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
's legions.
Women of the Caecilii Metelli family were always named Caecilia Metella
Caecilia Metella
Caecilia Metella was the name of all women in the Caecilius Metellus family, since feminine names were taken from the father's gens and cognomen declined in the female form.The name may refer to the following people:* Caecilia Metella Dalmatica...
, according to the Roman naming convention. To distinguish them, the Caecilias often carried their father's cognomen
Roman naming conventions
By the Republican era and throughout the Imperial era, a name in ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts : praenomen , nomen and cognomen...
, declined in a female form. Famous Caecilias include:
- Caecilia Metella Dalmatica, wife of Marcus Aemilius ScaurusMarcus Aemilius ScaurusMarcus Aemilius Scaurus was a Roman consul in 115 BC and considered one of the most talented and influential politicians of the Republic....
and Lucius Cornelius SullaLucius Cornelius SullaLucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
, successively - Caecilia Metella Calva, mother of Lucius Licinius Lucullus
- Caecilia Metella Balearica Minor, mother of Publius Clodius
- Caecilia Metella Celer
In addition to the actual Caecilii Metelli listed here, Decius Caecilius Metellus
Decius Metellus
Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is a fictional character created by author John Maddox Roberts, the protagonist of Roberts's SPQR series...
is a character created by John Maddox Roberts
John Maddox Roberts
John Maddox Roberts is an author who has written many science fiction and fantasy novels, including his successful historical fiction, such as the SPQR series and Hannibal's Children....
for his historical mystery series SPQR
SPQR series
The SPQR series is a collection of detective stories by John Maddox Roberts set in the time of the Roman Republic. SPQR is a Latin initialism for Senatus Populusque Romanus , the official name of the Republic.The stories are told in first-person form by Senator Decius...
.