Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus
Encyclopedia
Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus (180 BC – 130 BC) was the son by blood of Publius Mucius Scaevola, the consul of 175 BC, and brother of Publius Mucius Scaevola
. He was adopted at an unknown date by a son of the consul of 205 BC, Publius Licinus Crassus Dives
.
Mucianus became Pontifex Maximus
in 132 BC after the death of the exiled Pontifex Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio
. In 131 BC he was elected consul along with Lucius Valerius Flaccus, the flamen Martialis
. Mucianus forbade his colleague to fight against Aristonicus
and fined him for neglecting his sacred duties. The people remitted the fine but wished Flaccus to submit to his religious superior. Mucianus, nevertheless, went to fight Aristonicus, who had occupied the kingdom of Pergamum, after it had been left to Rome in the will of Attalus
; he was the first Pontifex Maximus to voluntarily leave Italy (whereas Scipio Nasica Serapio had been sent out of Italy by the Senate). Crassus Mucianus met with defeat against Aristonicus, and while retreating, he was overtaken by the enemy and stabbed to death; according to one source, he deliberately refused to reveal his identity to avoid the humiliation of being captured alive.
According to ancient historians, he was a wealthy, cultivated man who spoke several varieties of Greek fluently. He and his brother were in support of political and economic reforms, and as such, staunch supporters of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
(kd. 133 BC), who was married to his wife's niece, another Claudia. Crassus Mucianus would later marry his younger daughter to Tiberius's younger brother Gaius.
had been consul in the following year 174 BC. His elder brother Publius Mucius Scaevola
became consul in 133 BC; thus Crassus Mucianus was related to several consuls. His paternal grandfather Quintus Mucius Scaevola
had been praetor in 215 BC but had fallen ill and died before he could stand for election to the consulship.
Crassus Mucianus was probably born circa 180 BC. The date of his adoption is unknown. He married Claudia, sister of Appius Claudius Pulcher
, consul 143 BC and censor and Princeps Senatus
in 136 BC. By her, he had several children, of whom at least one son and two daughters outlived him. His younger daughter Licinia was wife of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus, the would-be reformer who died in 121 BC. Their granddaughter was Fulvia
, third wife of Mark Antony
.
A cousin was Quintus Mucius Scaevola Augur
consul in 117 BC, friend, patron and tutor of Cicero
. Crassus Mucianus's nephew was the rhetorician and jurist Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex
, son of Publius Mucius Scaevola. Both relatives died or were killed during the Social War.
The family Mucii won several consulships between 175 BC and 95 BC, including no less than three consuls who became Pontifex Maximus
(including Crassus Mucianus who was adopted out).
Publius Mucius Scaevola
Publius Mucius Scaevola was a prominent Roman politician and jurist. He was tribune in 141 BC, praetor in 136 BC, and consul in 133 BC....
. He was adopted at an unknown date by a son of the consul of 205 BC, Publius Licinus Crassus Dives
Publius Licinius Crassus Dives (consul 205 BC)
Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Pontifex Maximus was consul in 205 BC with Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus ; he was also Pontifex Maximus since 213 or 212 BC , and held several other important positions. Licinius Crassus is mentioned several times in Livy's Histories...
.
Mucianus became 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...
in 132 BC after the death of the exiled Pontifex Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio
Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio
Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio , the son of Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum and his wife Cornelia Africana Major, was a member of the gens Cornelia and a politician of the ancient Roman Republic. He was consul in 138 BC.He was also a member of the gens Cornelia, a family of...
. In 131 BC he was elected consul along with Lucius Valerius Flaccus, the flamen Martialis
Flamen Martialis
In ancient Roman religion, the Flamen Martialis was the high priest of the official state cult of Mars, the god of war. He was one of the flamines maiores, the three high priests who were the most important of the fifteen...
. Mucianus forbade his colleague to fight against Aristonicus
Aristonicus
Aristonicus may refer to:* Aristonicus of Pergamon, who as king became Eumenes III , and promised freedom to the slaves* Aristonicus of Alexandria, a grammarian and Homeric scholar* Aristonicus of Methymnae, a 4th century Lesbian tyrant...
and fined him for neglecting his sacred duties. The people remitted the fine but wished Flaccus to submit to his religious superior. Mucianus, nevertheless, went to fight Aristonicus, who had occupied the kingdom of Pergamum, after it had been left to Rome in the will of Attalus
Attalus
Attalus may refer to:*Several members of the Attalid dynasty of Pergamon**Attalus I, ruled 241 BC–197 BC**Attalus II Philadelphus, ruled 160 BC–138 BC**Attalus III, ruled 138 BC–133 BC...
; he was the first Pontifex Maximus to voluntarily leave Italy (whereas Scipio Nasica Serapio had been sent out of Italy by the Senate). Crassus Mucianus met with defeat against Aristonicus, and while retreating, he was overtaken by the enemy and stabbed to death; according to one source, he deliberately refused to reveal his identity to avoid the humiliation of being captured alive.
According to ancient historians, he was a wealthy, cultivated man who spoke several varieties of Greek fluently. He and his brother were in support of political and economic reforms, and as such, staunch supporters of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
Tiberius Gracchus
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was a Roman Populares politician of the 2nd century BC and brother of Gaius Gracchus. As a plebeian tribune, his reforms of agrarian legislation caused political turmoil in the Republic. These reforms threatened the holdings of rich landowners in Italy...
(kd. 133 BC), who was married to his wife's niece, another Claudia. Crassus Mucianus would later marry his younger daughter to Tiberius's younger brother Gaius.
Family
Publius Licinius Crassus Mucianus was the son of Publius Mucius Scaevola, consul in 175 BC by his wife Licinia, sister of Publius Licinius Crassus, consul in 171 BC. His paternal uncle Quintus Mucius ScaevolaQuintus Mucius Scaevola (consul 174 BC)
Quintus Mucius Scaevola was a politician of the Roman Republic, believed to be the son of his namesake who was praetor in 215 BC. He was made praetor in 179 BC, and became governor of Sicily. In 174 BC he was made consul, and in 171 BC, tribune...
had been consul in the following year 174 BC. His elder brother Publius Mucius Scaevola
Publius Mucius Scaevola
Publius Mucius Scaevola was a prominent Roman politician and jurist. He was tribune in 141 BC, praetor in 136 BC, and consul in 133 BC....
became consul in 133 BC; thus Crassus Mucianus was related to several consuls. His paternal grandfather Quintus Mucius Scaevola
Quintus Mucius Scaevola (praetor 215 BC)
Quintus Mucius Scaevola was a politician of the Roman Republic. He was made praetor in 215 BC, and became governor of Sardinia, a post that was extended twice, first for two years, and then for another year....
had been praetor in 215 BC but had fallen ill and died before he could stand for election to the consulship.
Crassus Mucianus was probably born circa 180 BC. The date of his adoption is unknown. He married Claudia, sister of Appius Claudius Pulcher
Appius Claudius Pulcher (consul 143 BC)
Appius Claudius Pulcher was a Roman politician of the 2nd century BC.-Life:Son of Gaius Claudius Pulcher , he was appointed consul in 143 BC, and, to obtain a pretext for a triumph, attacked the Salassi, an Alpine tribe...
, consul 143 BC and censor and Princeps Senatus
Princeps senatus
The princeps senatus was the first member by precedence of the Roman Senate. Although officially out of the cursus honorum and owning no imperium, this office brought enormous prestige to the senator holding it.-Overview:...
in 136 BC. By her, he had several children, of whom at least one son and two daughters outlived him. His younger daughter Licinia was wife of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus, the would-be reformer who died in 121 BC. Their granddaughter was Fulvia
Fulvia
Fulvia Flacca Bambula , commonly referred to as simply Fulvia, was an aristocratic Roman woman who lived during the Late Roman Republic. Through her marriage to three of the most promising Roman men of her generation, Publius Clodius Pulcher, Gaius Scribonius Curio and Mark Antony, she gained...
, third wife of Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
.
A cousin was Quintus Mucius Scaevola Augur
Quintus Mucius Scaevola Augur
Quintus Mucius Scaevola Augur was a politician of the Roman Republic and an early authority on Roman law. He was first educated in law by his father and in philosophy by the stoic Panaetius of Rhodes....
consul in 117 BC, friend, patron and tutor of Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
. Crassus Mucianus's nephew was the rhetorician and jurist Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex
Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex
Quintus 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...
, son of Publius Mucius Scaevola. Both relatives died or were killed during the Social War.
The family Mucii won several consulships between 175 BC and 95 BC, including no less than three consuls who became 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...
(including Crassus Mucianus who was adopted out).