Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

DECI0596 P. Decius (16) P. f. Q. n. Mus

Life Dates

  • 340?, birth (Develin 1979) Expand

    Develin no. 13.

  • 295, death - violent (Broughton MRR I) Expand

    Devotio, suicide.

Relationships

son of
P. Decius (15) Q. f. Mus (cos. 340) (RE)
father of
P. Decius (17) P. f. P. n. Mus (cos. 279) (RE)

Career

  • Consul 312 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 9.28.8; Diod. 19.105.1; Fast. Cap. (names entire); Frontin. Aq. 1.5; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Degrassi 36f., 110, 420f. Decius was ill and remained in Rome (Liv. 9.29.3; cf. Auct. Vir. Ill. 27, a triumph over Samnites, not otherwise attested), but Valerius defeated the Samnites (Liv. 9.29.3), and, according to Act. Tr., celebrated a triumph over Samnites and Sorani (Degrassi 70f., 542). Diod. (19.105.5) mentions an attack on Pollitia of the Marrucini. On Valerius, see Münzer, Gent. Val. 50, no. 50. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumphator? 312 (Itgenshorst 2005) Expand
    • Triumph? de Samnitibus. MRR I.159, Itgenshorst no.79a (triumphus incertus). Not listed in Rich. (Itgenshorst 2005)
  • Legatus (Lieutenant) 310 Samnium (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Served under the Dictator Papirius Cursor at Longulae (Liv. 9.40.12-13 and 21). On Valerius, see Münzer, Gent. Val. 49, no. 49. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 308 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 9.41.1; Diod. 20.37.1; Fast. Cap. (names entire); Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Degrassi 38f., 110, 420f. Decius served in Etruria, giving Tarquinii a forty year truce and Volsinii and other towns an annual one, then turned to face Umbrian attacks on Rome, while Fabius fought Samnites, Marsi, Paeligni, and received the surrender of Mevania in Umbria (Liv. 9.41; cf. Diod. 20.44.8-9; cf. Auct. Vir. Ill. 27, Decius). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Magister Equitum 306 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 9.44.1-2; Fast. Cap. ([- -] Mus), Degrassi 38f., 111, 422f. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Censor 304 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 9.46.14; 10.22.3, and 24.1; Fast. Cap. ([- -] N. n. Maxim. Rullianu[s]); Degrassi 38f., 111, 422f. Against the Censors of 312,{168} these restricted the registration of the "forensis turba" (libertini, Auct. Vir. Ill. 32) to the four urban tribes, and also instituted the procession of the knights (Liv. 9.46.14-15; Val. Max. 2.2.9; Auct. Vir. Ill. 32.2; Ampel. 18.6; cf. Plut. Pomp. 13.5). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Pontifex 300 to 295 (Rüpke 2005) Expand
    • Plebeians elected under the Lex Ogulnia (Liv. 10.9.2, and 10.6-9; on Livius, 10.28.14, and 29.3; and perhaps on Marcius, ILS 9338, no. 1). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 297 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 10.13.13, and 14.1; Fast. Cap. ([- - - -Mus II]I); Chr. 354 (Rulliano IIII et Mure); Fast. Hyd. (Rullo III et Musone III); Auct. Vir. Ill. 27; Chr. Pasc. ({Gr}); Cassiod.; Degrassi 38f., 111, 426f. Decius was victorious at Maleventum over the Apulians (Liv. 10.15.1-5), while Fabius ravaged Samnium and captured Cimetra (Liv. 10.14-15; Frontin. Str. 2.4.2; 4.1.35). He refused to admit the election of himself and another patrician for 296 (Liv. 10.15.7-12; cf. Auct. Vir. Ill. 34.4). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Proconsul 296 Samnium (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Prorogued imperium, Liv. 10.16.1. Continued in command for six months in Samnium where, according to Livy, he captured Murgantia, Romulea, and Ferentinum (Liv. 10.17, and 18.9, and 20.2). See note 1.{177} (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 295 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Liv. 10.22.9; Fast. Cap. ([- - - -Maxi]m. Rull[ianus]); Chr. 354 (Rulliano V et Mure IIII); Fast. Hyd. (Rullo V et Musone V), so also Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Degrassi 38f., 111f., 426f. Decius went to Etruria with his colleague, thence to Sentinum to face the co-operating forces of Samnites, Gauls and Etruscans, and in the great battle there with the Samnites and Gauls he devoted himself and met his death (Liv. 10.26-30, 24.10.8; Duris in Diod. 21.6.1; Cic. Sest. 48, and Schol. Bob. p. 131, Stangl; Dom. 64; Rab. Perd. 2; Phil. 11.13; 13.27; ND 2.10; 3.15; Off. 3.16; Div. 1.51; Fin. 2.61; Tusc. 1.89, 2.59; Sen. 43 and 75; Parad. 1.12; Diod. 21.6.1; Fast. Cap.; Vell. 1.14.6; Val. Max. 5.6.6; Plin. NH 28.12; Frontin. Str. 1.8.3; 4.5.15; Iuven. 8.254ff., and Schol.; Plut. Par. Min. 18; Flor. 1.12.7; Auct. Vir. Ill. 27; Ampel. 18.6; Oros. 3.21.1-6; Zon. 8.1; cf. Polyb. 2.19.5-6; Accius, TRF(2) 1.326-328). Fabius also went to Etruria where either he, or his army before he arrived, suffered a defeat, 2 then at Sentinum was victorious after his colleague's death, and celebrated a triumph over Samnites, Etruscans, and Gauls (Liv. 10.24-30, and 31.3; Duris, in Diod. 21.6.1; Act. Tr., Degrassi 72f., 543f.; Vell. 1.14.6; Frontin. Str. 1.8.3; 2.1.8; Auct. Vir. Ill. 27; Ampel. 18.6; Oros. 3.21.1-6; Zon. 8.1; cf. Polyb. 2.19.5-6; Val. Max. 5.7.1; Auct. Vir. Ill. 32.1). (Broughton MRR I)
    • Livy himself doubts the authenticity of the dispute between Decius and Fabius regarding the assignment of provinces (10.24, and 26.5-7). The dispute with Claudius and the elaborate invitation to Decius to come to Etruria also seem unreliable (10.25.13-26.4). The situation demanded two consular armies in Etruria and they were sent. (Broughton MRR I)

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