Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

CURI0641 M'. Curius (9) M'. f. M'. n. Cor.? Dentatus

Status

  • Nobilis Expand

    Cic. Brut. 14.55-16.62 (founder of family's nobilitas), Juv. Sat. 8.1-32, [Acro.] Hor. Carm. 1.12

  • Novus Expand

    Cic. Mur. 17

Life Dates

  • Before 324?, birth (Sumner Orators) Expand

    Sumner R7 (by 321?), Develin no. 12 (by 323).

  • 270, death (Broughton MRR I) Expand

    Senex in 270 (Cic. Sen. 6.15, 16.55-56).

Career

  • Tribunus Plebis 298 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Since Ap. Claudius was Interrex three times (Elog.) and only this occasion is dated, the year of Curius' tribunate remains uncertain. However this year{175} is a probable one for the tribunate of the Consul of 290. On the other hand, Livy asserts that Sulpicius held the elections. Niccolini suggests (FTP 77f.) that Dentatus' opposition delayed the election to a new Interrex. (Broughton MRR I)
    • He opposed Claudius when as Interrex the latter refused to accept the candidacy of plebeians, and induced the patres to grant the auctoritas before the election (Cic. Brut. 55; Auct. Vir. Ill. 34.3; see Interreges). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumphator 290 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Triumph de Samnitibus. MRR I.183-4, Itgenshorst no. 99, Rich no. 99. (Rich 2014)
  • Consul 290 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Vell. 1.14.6; Plin. NH 7.166 (Rufus for Rufinus); Eutrop. 2.9.3; Chr. 354 (Dentato et Rufino); Cassiod.; cf. on Curius, Cic. Sen. 43; on Rufinus, Dion. Hal. 20.13; Val. Max. 2.9.4; Frontin. Str. 3.6.4; Gell. 4.8.7; 17.21.39; Degrassi 112, 428f. Cornelius took part in the final campaign of the Samnite War and celebrated a triumph (Val. Max. 2.9.4; Plin. NH 18.39; 33.142). Curius completed the Samnite war, reduced the Sabines and Praetuttians, and celebrated two triumphs, one over the Samnites and one over the Sabines (Cic. Sen. 55, cf. Pis. 58; Liv. Per. 11; Columell. 1, pref. 14; Val. Max. 4.3.5; Frontin. Str.{184} 1.8.4; Flor. 1.10.2-3; Apul. Apol. 17; Dio fr. 36.33; Eutrop. 2.9.3; Auct. Vir. Ill. 33.1-3; Oros. 3.22.11; Degrassi 544), and an ovation over the Lucanians (Auct. Vir. Ill. 33.4; see 289, Promagistrates). He refused more than the regular assignment of land (Val. Max. 4.3.5; Columell. 1, pref. 14; 1.3.10; Plin. NH 18.18; Frontin. Str. 4.3.12; Plut. Apophth. M'. Curi 1; Flor. 1.10.2-3; Auct. Vir. Ill. 33.5-6 and 10). (Broughton MRR I)
    • The triumph must be dated either in his consulship or his dictatorship (by 285). The end of the Samnite war in 290 (Eutrop. 2.9.3) is the most probable date, Degrassi 544. On the name of Rufinus, see Fast. Cap. 277; on that of Curius, Fast. Cap. and Act. Tr. for 275. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumphator 290 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Triumph de Sabineis. MRR I.183-4, Itgenshorst no. 101, Rich no. 101. (Rich 2014)
  • Triumphator c. 289 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Ovation de Lucaneis. MRR I.183-4 (289), Itgenshorst no. 102 (289?), Rich no. 102 (283). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumphator c. 283 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Ovation de Lucaneis. MRR I.183-4 (289), Itgenshorst no. 102 (289?), Rich no. 102 (283). (Rich 2014)
  • Praetor Suffectus 283 (Brennan 2000) Expand
    • According to Polybius (2.19.9-12), he succeeded Caecilius and drove the Gauls from their country, where the colony of Sena was placed. See note 2; and Degrassi, 112, on 284. (Broughton MRR I)
    • p. 725, footnote 6 (Brennan 2000)
  • Triumphator 275 (Rich 2014) Expand
    • Triumph de Samnitibus et rege Pyrrho. MRR I.195, Itgenshorst no. 112, Rich no. 111. (Rich 2014)
  • Consul 275 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire); Act. Tr.; Chr. 354; Eutrop. 2.14; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; and on Curius, Plut. Pyrr. 25.2. See Degrassi, 40f., 114, 430f. Curius administered the final defeat to King Pyrrhus near Malventum, and celebrated a triumph over the Samnites and the King (on the levy and the battle, Varro, Sat. Men. 140 Riese; Liv. Per. 14; Dion. Hal. 20.10-12; Val. Max. 6.3.4; Frontin. Str. 2.2.1; 4.1.14; Plut. Pyrr. 25.1-5; Cat. Mai. 2.1; Flor. 1.13.25; Gell. 10.16.16; 14.1.24; Auct. Vir. Ill. 33.5; 35.8; Oros. 4.2.3-6; Zon. 8.6; on his triumph, Act. Tr., Degrassi, 74f., 546; Cic. Mur. 31; Pis. 58; Sen. 55; Liv. 45.38.11; Senec. Brev. Vit. 13.3; Plut. Cat. Mai. 2.1; Flor. 1.13.26-28; Apul. Apol. 17; Eutrop. 2.14; Zon. 8.6). He used his personal share of the booty (Plin. NH 16.185; Auct. Vir. Ill. 33.8-9; cf. Val. Max. 4.3.5) to build the Old Anio aqueduct (Front. Aq. 1.6). Cornelius campaigned against the Samnites, from whom he probably took Caudium, and the Lucanians, and celebrated a triumph (Act. Tr., Degrassi, 74f., 546; Plin. NH 33.38; Eutrop. 2.14; cf. Plut. Pyrr. 25.1-2). (Broughton MRR I)
    • Beloch (RG 467) suggests the reading rege Pyrrho in Act. Tr., but Plutarch (Pyrr. 25.1-2) shows that Cornelius was in Lucania and that Pyrrhus, while proceeding against Curius, sent a detachment to keep him occupied there (Weuilleumier, Tarente 134f.; Frank, CAH 7.653; and cf. Flor. 1.13.11; Frontin. Str. 4.1.14; Oros. 4.2.3, on the scene of the main battle with Pyrrhus). Degrassi (546) reports that the space in Act. Tr. fits better with Lucaneis than rege Pyrrho. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Consul 274 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire); Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; Degrassi, 40f., 114, 430f. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Censor 272 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Fast. Cap. (names entire except [L. ?] Papirius), Degrassi, 40f., 114, 430f.; Frontin. Aq. 1.6; cf. Cato in FOR 1.196f. Papirius died in office, but Curius had contracted for the building of the Anio Vetus (Frontin.). (Broughton MRR I)
  • Duovir Aquae Perducendae 270 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Elected to complete the Anio aqueduct, which was begun under the censorship of Curius (Frontin. Aq. 1.6). Curius died and the work was completed by Fulvius (Frontin.). (Broughton MRR I)

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