C. Aelius may be the Caelius whom Ennius celebrated in Annals 15 (401-408 V) for his valor against the Istri (Macrob. Sat. 6.3.3). It is notable that according to Livy the Tribune who withstood the enemy and was killed was not Caelius but M. Licinius Strabo. Perhaps Livy or his source mistook the role as well as the name. M. Agnew convincingly suggests that C. Caecilius in a fragment of Cato (FOR 1.217, no. 242) should be corrected to C. Caelius and assigned to the speech De Re Histriae Militari (FOR 1.57f., 188; cf. AJPh 60 [1939] 214-219). (Broughton MRR I)
Served in the third legion under Manlius Vulso in Istria (Liv. 41.1.7). Aided in the counterattack on the Istri who had captured Manlius' camp (Liv. 41.4.3). See below, note 7. (Broughton MRR I)