Episode 98 – Cincinnatus, Suffect Consul

The Partial Historians

It’s c. 460 BCE and
this hectic year in Roman history continues! In this episode we
consider Rome in the wake of the sneak attack on the Capitol by
Herdonius’ disaffected Sabines. During the challenges of wrestling
control back, the Romans lose one of their own. The consul Publius
Valerius Pubicola falls in battle. This is a tragic loss and opens
the way for Lucius Cincinnatus to return to the narrative.

Episode 98 – Cincinnatus, Suffect Consul

Looking to catch up on the narrative before diving into this episode? You can find out more about the earlier events of this year here.

Who’s Who

Consuls

• Publius
  Valerius P. f. Volusi n. Publicola (cos II)
• Gaius
  Claudius Ap. f. M. n. Inrigillensis (or Regillensis) Sabinus

Suffect Consul

• Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus

Tribune of the Plebs

• Aulus
  Verginius
• Marcus
  Volscius Fictor

A Man of the Land

There’s nothing
quite like a man who farms. For fans of men of the land, Cincinnatus
is here for you. We explore the important symbolism of Cincinnatus
working the land and his reaction to learning about his election as
suffect consul.

A New Political
Strategy

Cincinnatus takes
the opportunity to lead in a new way. With much rhetorical flourish,
our new consul lays forth a plan that spells trouble for the
plebeians and the ambitions of the tribunes. We dig into the
discrepancies between our sources – Livy and Dionysius of
Halicarnassus have different takes on the essential narrative. This
is very revealing in terms of thinking about the aims of our written
sources for this period.

Things to Look
Forward To

• a taking of
  auspices
• a desire for
  a dictator
• some
  senatorial love for our man Cincinnatus

Alexandre Cabanel 1843. Cincinnatus receiving the ambassadors of Rome. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Our Sources

Primary sources

• Dr G is
  reading Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities
  10.17-19
• Dr
  R is reading Livy 3.19.1-3

Secondary
sources

• Broughton,
  T. R. S. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic,
  Volume I
  (American Philological Association)
• Eck,
  W. (Colonge) ‘Suffect Consul’ Brill’s New Pauly,
  Cancik, H. Schneider, H., Salazar, C. F. (eds.), accessed online
  29-9-2019
• Lomas,
  K. 2017. The Rise
  of Rome: from the Iron Age to the Punic Wars (1000-264
  BC) (Profile Books)
• Müller,
  C. (Bochum) ‘Q. Cincinnatus, L.’
  Brill’s New Pauly,
  Cancik, H. Schneider, H., Salazar, C. F. (eds.), accessed online
  29-9-2019