Aulus Verginius Tricostus Caeliomontanus

Aulus Verginius Tricostus Caeliomontanus (also spelt Virginius) was a Roman Republican politician and general of the gens Verginia. He served as a Roman consul in 494 BC together with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus

Family Origins

Caeliomontanus is the name of one of the families of the gens Verginia. Almost all the members of this branch of the family were named Tricostus and the Caeliomontanus name was without a doubt taken from the fact that the family originally came from the Caelian hill. This would have distinguished this branch of the family from others in the same gens.

Consulship

During his consulship, Verginius and his colleague Veturius were faced with the popular unrest which led to a secession of the plebs. The two consuls brought the matter before the senate, however the senators were critical of the consuls for not using their consular authority to prevent the growing sedition. The consuls were instructed to enrol the army levies from the populace, however the people refused. The senate, beginning to realise the seriousness of the situation, debated the crisis and chose to appoint Manius Valerius Maximus as dictator.[1]

A number of military threats emerged, and Verginius was assigned three legions to deal with the neighbouring Volsci who had taken up arms. Verginius successfully invaded and waged war against the Volsci, and captured the town of Velitrae in which a Roman colony was planted.[2]

After the armies returned to Rome, the dictator resigned his office in disgust at the senate's unwillingness to reach a compromise with the people. Then, on the pretext of some renewed hostilities by the Aequi, the senate ordered the legions to be led out of the city. The people were outraged by this turn of events. In order to escape their military oath, the people contemplated murdering the consuls, however it was observed that a criminal act could not absolve them of their oath which was holy in its nature. Shortly afterwards, the plebs seceded to the Mons Sacer, and the crisis continued into the following consular year.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Livy, Ab urbe condita, 2.28-30
  2. ↑ Livy, 2.30
  3. ↑ Livy, 2.32
Political offices
Preceded by
Appius Claudius Sabinus Inregillensis
Publius Servilius Priscus Structus		 Consul of the Roman Republic
with Titus Veturius Geminus Cicurinus
494 BC 		Succeeded by
Postumus Cominius Auruncus
Spurius Cassius Viscellinus
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