Marcus Cornelius Cethegus
Encyclopedia
Marcus Cornelius Cethegus (died 196 BC) was a Roman Republican consul
and censor during the Second Punic War
, best known as a political ally of his kinsman Scipio Africanus
.
, 213 BC, apparently with his young kinsman Scipio Africanus
as his colleague, although Scipio was under-age (the usual age being the mid-thirties). He was also Pontifex Maximus
that same year on the death of Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus.
In 211 BC, as praetor
, he had charge of Apulia
; later, he was sent to Sicily
, where he proved a successful administrator. In 209 BC, before he had been consul, he was elected censor
with Publius Sempronius Tuditanus
. During their censorship, Cethegus disagreed with his colleague about which senator should be elected Princeps Senatus; Tuditanus had the right of choice and chose Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucoses Cunctator
, while Cethegus wanted the most senior censor Titus Manlius Torquatus
to be the Princeps Senatus.
In 204 BC, he was elected consul
, possibly to aid his kinsman Scipio, then in Africa. In 203 BC he was proconsul
in Italia Superior, where, in conjunction with the praetor Publius Quintilius Varus, he gained a hard-won victory over Mago Barca
, Hannibal's brother, in Insubrian territory, and obliged him to leave Italy.
as the quintessence of persuasiveness (suadae medulla). Horace calls him an authority on the use of Latin words.
Consul
Consul 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...
and censor during the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
, best known as a political ally of his kinsman Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
.
Political career
He was chosen curule aedileAedile
Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public order. There were two pairs of aediles. Two aediles were from the ranks of plebeians and the other...
, 213 BC, apparently with his young kinsman Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
as his colleague, although Scipio was under-age (the usual age being the mid-thirties). He was also Pontifex Maximus
Pontifex Maximus
The 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...
that same year on the death of Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus.
In 211 BC, as praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
, he had charge of Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
; later, he was sent to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, where he proved a successful administrator. In 209 BC, before he had been consul, he was elected censor
Censor (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....
with Publius Sempronius Tuditanus
Publius Sempronius Tuditanus
Publius Sempronius C.f. Tuditanus was a Roman Republican consul and censor, best known for leading about 600 men to safety at Cannae in August, 216 BC.-Tuditanus at Cannae:...
. During their censorship, Cethegus disagreed with his colleague about which senator should be elected Princeps Senatus; Tuditanus had the right of choice and chose Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucoses Cunctator
Quintus Fabius Maximus
Quintus Fabius Maximus most commonly refers to;*Quintus Fabius Maximus*A number of ancient Romans from the gens Fabia.The ancient Romans that share the name Quintus Fabius Maximus include:* Quintus Fabius Maximus, augur 203–196 BC....
, while Cethegus wanted the most senior censor Titus Manlius Torquatus
Titus Manlius Torquatus (235 BC)
Titus Manlius Torquatus, son of Titus , was Roman Republican consul 235 BC and 224 BC, censor 231 BC, and dictator 208 BC.-Family background:...
to be the Princeps Senatus.
In 204 BC, he was elected consul
Consul
Consul 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...
, possibly to aid his kinsman Scipio, then in Africa. In 203 BC he was proconsul
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
in Italia Superior, where, in conjunction with the praetor Publius Quintilius Varus, he gained a hard-won victory over Mago Barca
Mago Barca
Mago, son of Hamilcar Barca, also spelled Magon, Phoenician MGN, "God sent" , was a member of the Barcid family, and played an important role in the Second Punic War, leading forces of Carthage against the Roman Republic in Hispania, Gallia Cisalpina and Italy...
, Hannibal's brother, in Insubrian territory, and obliged him to leave Italy.
Other roles
He had a great reputation as an orator, and is characterized by EnniusEnnius
Quintus Ennius was a writer during the period of the Roman Republic, and is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was of Calabrian descent...
as the quintessence of persuasiveness (suadae medulla). Horace calls him an authority on the use of Latin words.
Sources
- EnniusEnniusQuintus Ennius was a writer during the period of the Roman Republic, and is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was of Calabrian descent...
. - HoraceHoraceQuintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
. - LivyLivyTitus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
- The History of Rome