Manlia gens

The gens Manlia ()Chapter 3, Charles E. Bennett (1907) The Latin Language – a historical outline of its sounds, inflections, and syntax. Allyn & Bacon, Boston. was one of the oldest and noblest patrician houses at Rome, from the earliest days of the Republic until imperial times. The first of the gens to obtain the consulship was Gnaeus Manlius Cincinnatus, consul in 480 BC, and for nearly five centuries its members frequently held the most important magistracies. Many of them were distinguished statesmen and generals, and a number of prominent individuals under the Empire claimed the illustrious Manlii among their ancestors.Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. II, p. 920 ("Manlia Gens").

Origin The Manlii were said to hail from the ancient Latin city of Tusculum. The nomen Manlia may be a patronymic surname, based on the praenomen Manius, presumably the name of an ancestor of the gens.Chase, pp. 122, 123. The gens Manilia was derived from the same name, and its members are frequently confused with the Manlii, as are the Mallii. However, Manius was not used by any of the Manlii in historical times. The Manlii were probably numbered amongst the gentes maiores, the greatest of the patrician families. As with many patrician gentes, the Manlii seem to have acquired plebeian branches as well, and one of the family was tribune of the plebs in the time of Cicero. The plebeian Manlii were probably descended from freedmen of the patricians, from members who had gone over to the plebeians, or from unrelated persons who acquired the nomen after obtaining the franchise from one of the Manlii.

Praenomina The Manlii used the praenomina Publius, Gnaeus, Aulus, Lucius, and Marcus. The Manlii Torquati also favored the name Titus, using primarily that, Aulus, and Lucius.

A well-known story relates that after Marcus Manlius Capitolinus was condemned for treason, the Roman Senate decreed that henceforth none of the gens should bear the praenomen Marcus. However, this legend may have originated as a way to explain the scarcity of the name amongst the Manlii, as the name was rarely used in later generations.

Branches and cognomina

The earliest cognomen found amongst the Manlii is Cincinnatus, better known from the Quinctia gens. This name originally referred to a person with fine, curly hair. The descendants of Gnaeus Manlius Cincinnatus bore the surname Vulso, meaning "plucked", perhaps chosen for its contrast to Cincinnatus.Chase, pp. 109, 110. Münzer, noting that the cognomen Cincinnatus is missing from the older historians, supposed that it might be a mistake, and that Vulso was the original surname of the Manlian gens.PW, vol. 27, p. 1157.Broughton, vol. I, p. 25 (note 1). The Manlii Vulsones flourished for over three hundred years.Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, pp. 1285, 1286 ("Vulso").

The Manlii Capitolini were descended from the Vulsones, and first appear in the second half of the fifth century BC. The surname Capitolinus probably indicates that the family lived on the Capitoline Hill, although the role of Marcus Manlius in saving the Capitol from the Gauls during the sack of Rome in 390 BC is also credited with establishing the name in his family.Chase, pp. 113, 114. The surname was relatively short-lived amongst the Manlii, being replaced by that of Torquatus. This surname was first acquired by Titus Manlius Imperiosus, who defeated a giant Gaul during a battle in 361 BC, and took his torque as a trophy, placing it around his own neck.Livy, vii. 10. The descendants of Torquatus remained prominent until the final decades of the Republic, and adopted the torque as an emblem upon their coins. Imperiosus, a cognomen borne by Torquatus and his father, was bestowed on account of their imperious manner.Chase, pp. 110, 111.Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, pp. 604, 605 ("Manlius Capitolinus"), vol. II, p. 571 ("Imperiosus"), vol. III, pp. 1163–1165 ("Manlius Torquatus"). The Manlii Torquati were firmly aligned with the aristocratic party toward the end of the Republic, siding first with Sulla, then with Pompeius and the Liberatores. In later times, Torquatus was borne by the Junii Silani, who were descended from the Manlii.

The Manlii Acidini rose to prominence during the Second Punic War, but achieved only one consulship, in 179, before fading into relative obscurity. They still flourished in the time of Cicero, who praises their nobility.Cicero, De Lege Agraria, ii. 24.Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, pp. 12, 13 ("Acidinus").

From coins of the Manlii featuring the inscriptions SER and SERGIA, Münzer concluded that one stirps of this gens bore the cognomen Sergianus, indicating descent from the Sergia gens. However, this probably referred to the tribus Sergia; a plebeian branch of the Manlii used the name of their tribe to distinguish themselves from the patrician Manlii, a practice also found among the Memmii.Eckhel, vol. v, p. 244.PW, vol. 27, p. 1159.Taylor, Voting Districts, pp. 229, 230.Mattingly, "Numismatic Evidence", pp. 12–14.

Towards the end of the Republic, several early Manlii appear without cognomina, such as Quintus and Gnaeus Manlius, tribunes of the plebs in 69 and 58 BC.

Members

Manlii Cincinnati et Vulsones Publius Manlius, father of the consul Cincinnatus. Gnaeus Manlius P. f. Cincinnatus, consul in 480 BC, fought against the Etruscans, and was slain in battle.Livy, ii. 43, 45, 47.Dionysius, ix. 5, 6, 11, 12.Orosius, ii. 5.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 24, 25 (note 1). Gnaeus Manlius Cn. f. P. n. Vulso, consul in 474 BC, marched against Veii, who agreed to a forty-year truce, for which Manlius received an ovation. A number of scholars identify him with the decemvir of 451, but this seems doubtful on chronological grounds; he was probably the decemvir's father.Livy, ii. 54.Dionysius, ix. 36–38.Diodorus Siculus, xi. 63.Fasti Triumphales.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 28, 43–46. Aulus Manlius Cn. f. P. n. Vulso, one of the ambassadors sent to research Greek laws in 454 BC, and subsequently one of the decemvirs elected in 451.Livy, iii. 33.Dionysius, x. 52, 56, 57.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 43–46. Marcus Manlius Cn. f. Vulso, consular tribune in 420 BC.Livy, iv. 44.Broughton, vol. I, p. 70. Publius Manlius M. f. Cn. n. Vulso, consular tribune in 400 BC.Livy, v. 12Broughton, vol. I, pp. 84, 85 (note 1). Gnaeus Manlius (Vulso), consular tribune in 379 BC.Livy, vi. 30 Lucius Manlius A. f. P. n. Vulso Longus, consul in 256 and 250 BC.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 208, 209, 213. Lucius Manlius L. f. A. n. Vulso, praetor peregrinus in 218 BC, was an unsuccessful candidate for the consulship in 216.Livy, xxii. 35.PW, vol. 27, pp. 1178, 1222, 1223.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 238, 240 (note 4). Publius Manlius L. f. A. n. Vulso, praetor in BC 210, received Sardinia as his province. He minted coins during his magistracy.Livy, xxvi. 23, xxvii. 6, 7.Broughton, vol. I, p. 279.Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, p. 165. Gnaeus Manlius Cn. f. L. n. Vulso, curule aedile in 197 BC, praetor of Sicily in 195, and consul in 189 BC. As proconsul of Asia in 188–187, he negotiated the Treaty of Apamea with Antiochus III.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 333, 340, 360, 366, 369. Lucius Manlius Cn. f. L. n. Vulso, praetor in 197 BC, received Sicilia as his province. He was also legate to his brother Gnaeus, the consul of 189, during his campaign in Asia. In 188, he demanded from Antiochus III his oath to uphold the Treaty of Apamea.Livy, xxxii. 27, 28, xxxviii. 20, 39.Polybius, xxii, 25, 26.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 333, 364, 367. Publius Manlius Vulso, praetor in 195 BC, was later again praetor in 182 BC.Livy, xxxiii. 42, xxxix. 51.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 340, 382. Aulus Manlius Cn. f. L. n. Vulso, one of the triumvirs appointed to establish a colony in the territory of Thurii and Frentinum from 194 to 192 BC. He was praetor suffectus in 189, and consul in 178. He was assigned the province of Cisalpine Gaul, whence he attacked and conquered Istria.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 345, 349, 361, 395, 397 (note 1), 399. Lucius Manlius Vulso, ambassador in Bythinia 149 BC.PW, vol. 27, pp. 1178, 1228.Broughton, vol. I, p. 460 (note 6).

Manlii Capitolini Marcus Manlius P. f. Vulso Capitolinus, consul or consular tribune in 434 BC.Livy, iv. 23.Broughton, vol. I, p. 61. Lucius Manlius Vulso Capitolinus, consular tribune in 422 BC.Livy, iv. 42.Broughton, vol. I, p. 69. Aulus Manlius A. f. Cn. n. Vulso Capitolinus, consular tribune in 405, 402, and 397 BC.Livy, iv. 61, v. 8, 16.Fasti Capitolini, ; 1940, 59, 60.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 80, 83, 87. Titus Manlius A. f. Cn. n. Vulso Capitolinus, the father of Marcus, consul in 392 BC, and Aulus, four times consular tribune. He is only known from his sons' filiation. Quintus Manlius A. f. Cn. n. Vulso Capitolinus, consular tribune in 396 BC.Broughton, vol. I, p. 87. Marcus Manlius T. f. A. n. Capitolinus, consul in 392 BC, the deliverer of the Capitol from the Gauls. He was also interrex in 387.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 92, 99. Aulus Manlius T. f. A. n. Capitolinus, consular tribune in 389, 385, 383 and 370 BC.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 96, 97, 99, 100 (note 2), 101, 103, 110, 111 (note 1). Titus Manlius T. f. A. n. Capitolinus, the brother of Marcus and Aulus Manlius Capitolinus.Livy, vii. 12. Publius Manlius A. f. A. n. Capitolinus, consular tribune in 379 and 367 BC. As dictator in 368, he nominated the first plebeian magister equitum, Gaius Licinius Calvus.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 106, 112, 113. Lucius Manlius A. f. A. n. Capitolinus Imperiosus, dictator in 363 BC, and father of Titus Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus. He was prosecuted in 362 by the tribune Marcus Pomponius for having stayed in power for more than six months, and for his cruelty toward some citizens and his own son, the future Torquatus, who nonetheless forced Pomponius to drop the charges against his father.Livy, vii. 3, 4.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 117, 118. Gnaeus Manlius L. f. A. n. Capitolinus Imperiosus, consul in 359 and 357 BC, and Interrex in 355.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 121, 122, 123 (note 1), 124.

Manlii Torquati

Titus Manlius L. f. A. n. Imperiosus Torquatus, dictator in 353, 349, and 320; and consul in 347, 344, and 340 BC, was a celebrated general, and won the name Torquatus for defeating a Gaulish champion in single combat, and taking his torque as a trophy. He is equally remembered for the severe discipline that he imposed upon his eldest son during his final consulship.Broughton, vol.I, pp. 119, 120, 125, 129, 130, 132, 135, 136, 153. Titus Manlius T. f. L. n. Torquatus, while serving as prefect in 340 BC, he was put to death by his father, the consul, after disobeying orders to engage an enemy champion in single combat, hoping to replicate his father's feat.Broughton, vol. I, pp. 136, 137. Titus Manlius T. f. T. n. Torquatus, consul in 299 BC, thrown from his horse and killed.Broughton, vol.I, pp. 173, 174 (note 2). Lucius Manlius T. f. T. n. Torquatus, legate of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus in the great campaign of 295 BC.Livy, x. 26.Broughton, vol. I, p. 178. Aulus Manlius T. f. T. n. Torquatus Atticus, censor in 247 BC, consul in 244 and 241. He received a triumph during his second consulship for having thwarted a revolt of the Falisci.Broughton, vol.I, pp. 216, 217, 219. Titus Manlius T. f. T. n. Torquatus, consul in 235 and 224, censor in 231, propraetor in Sardinia in 215, and dictator in 208 BC. He was awarded a triumph in 235 for his campaign in Sardinia. He was also a pontiff.Livy, xxiii. 34.Broughton, vol.I, pp. 223, 226, 231, 256-258 (note 4), 282, 290. Aulus Manlius T. f. T. n. Torquatus, tribunus militum in 208 BC, he was killed with the consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus in a Carthaginian ambush near Petelia.Broughton, vol.I, p. 292.