Manius Valerius Maximus was

Roman dictator A Roman dictator was an extraordinary magistrate in the Roman Republic endowed with full authority to resolve some specific problem to which he had been assigned. He received the full powers of the state, subordinating the other magistrates, con ...

in 494 BC during the first secession of the plebs. His brothers were

Publius Valerius Publicola Publius Valerius Poplicola or Publicola (died 503 BC) was one of four Roman aristocrats who led the overthrow of the monarchy, and became a Roman consul, the colleague of Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BC, traditionally considered the first year of ...

and Marcus Valerius Volusus. They were said to be the sons of Volesus Valerius.

Livy Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional founding in ...

, '' Ab urbe condita'', 2.30

Appointment as dictator

During the period of popular discontent in Rome which led to the

First secessio plebis The first was a significant event in ancient Roman political and social history that occurred between 495 and 493 BC. It involved a dispute between the patrician ruling class and the plebeian underclass, and was one of a number of secessions by ...

, the

Volsci The Volsci (, , ) were an Italic tribe, well known in the history of the first century of the Roman Republic. At the time they inhabited the partly hilly, partly marshy district of the south of Latium, bounded by the Aurunci and Samnites on the ...

, Sabines and the

Aequi 300px, Location of the Aequi (Equi) in central Italy, 5th century BC. The Aequi ( grc, Αἴκουοι and Αἴκοι) were an Italic tribe on a stretch of the Apennine Mountains to the east of Latium in central Italy who appear in the early hist ...

took up arms against Rome at the same time. To meet the threat and because of the popular political concerns at the time, in 494 BC Valerius was appointed dictator by the

Roman senate The Roman Senate ( la, Senātus Rōmānus) was a governing and advisory assembly in ancient Rome. It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being established in the first days of the city of Rome (traditionally founded in ...

. He was said to have been chosen because of his moderate temper. His appointment was accepted by the people because of the popularity of his late brother Publius.

Resolution of military affairs

Valerius called for conscripts and the people responded positively. Ten legions (about 45,000 men) were raised, a greater number than had been raised previously at any one time. Four of these legions were assigned to the dictator to deal with the Sabines who were regarded as the most serious of the three military threats, and three to each of the consuls to meet the Aequi and the Volsci. Valerius marched with his army to meet the Sabines and won a victory, for which he was awarded a

triumph The Roman triumph (Latin triumphus) was a celebration for a victorious military commander in ancient Rome. For later imitations, in life or in art, see Trionfo. Numerous later uses of the term, up to the present, are derived directly or indirectl ...

. Additionally the honour of a

curule chair A curule seat is a design of a (usually) foldable and transportable chair noted for its uses in Ancient Rome and Europe through to the 20th century. Its status in early Rome as a symbol of political or military power carried over to other civilizat ...

in the

circus maximus The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian: ''Circo Massimo'') is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and l ...

was given to him and his descendants.

, '' Ab urbe condita'', 2.31

Secession of the plebs

After the armies' return to Rome, Valerius requested the senate to deal with the ongoing debt issues which were afflicting the people. The senate declined to act, and the dictator was outraged. He said before the senate: He resigned his commission, and went to his house, greeted by the applause of the people. In some traditions, following his dictatorship, he was first elected augur in 494 BC and then princeps senatus during the census of 493 BC. He would remain an augur until his death in a pestilence in 463 BC. Broughton, vol i, pp.14 (see note 1 for his discussion on the name), 35.

, 3.7.6. Dionysius of Halicarnassus 6.39.2

Legacy

In AD 2, a statue of Manius Valerius Maximus was erected in the Forum of Augustus alongside other "great men of Rome", under which was an elogia.

Conflicting identification and death

Festus identifies Manius Valerius Maximus as a son of Marcus Valerius Volusus and puts him as Rome's first dictator in 501 BC. Broughton, vol i, pp.9,

Festus,_216_L_Similarly_there_is_some_confusion_regarding_the_Valerius_who_was_chosen_as_Augur_in_494_BC,_which_can_be_either_identified_as_the_former_consul_Marcus_Valerius_Volusus,_his_son,_the_previously_mentioned_Manius_Valerius_Maximus,_or_this_Manius_Valerius_Maximus,_the_dictator_of_494_BC._If_it_was_either_of_the_brothers_to_Publius_Valerius_Publicola.html" "title="ote 3, pp.10). Festus, 216 L Similarly there is some confusion regarding the Valerius who was chosen as Augur in 494 BC, which can be either identified as the former consul Marcus Valerius Volusus, his son, the previously mentioned Manius Valerius Maximus, or this Manius Valerius Maximus, the dictator of 494 BC. If it was either of the brothers to Publius Valerius Publicola">Poplicola Publius Valerius Poplicola or Publicola (died 503 BC) was one of four Roman aristocrats who led the overthrow of the monarchy, and became a Roman consul, the colleague of Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BC, traditionally considered the first year of ...

(both described as elderly) they would have been extremely old by 463 BC when this Augur is said to have succumbed during a large pestilence in Rome.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valerius Maximus, Manius Ancient Roman dictators 5th-century BC Romans Roman patricians Valerii, Maximus, Manius Valerius