Publius Licinius Crassus Dives (died 183 BC) was
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throug ...
in 205 BC with
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (, , ; 236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military com ...
; he was also
Pontifex Maximus since 213 or 212 BC (until his death), and held several other important positions. Licinius Crassus is mentioned several times (sometimes as Licinius Crassus or as Publius Crassus) in
Livy's ''Histories.'' He is first mentioned in connection with his surprising election as Pontifex Maximus, and then several times since in various other capacities.
Publius Licinius Crassus, otherwise called Licinius Crassus or Licinius in Livy's ''Histories,'' was a handsome, amiable man of a distinguished
plebeian
In ancient Rome, the plebeians (also called plebs) were the general body of free Roman citizens who were not patricians, as determined by the census, or in other words " commoners". Both classes were hereditary.
Etymology
The precise origins of ...
family, who rose relatively young to the position of Pontifex Maximus (chief priest of Rome) before he had been elected
curule aedile
''Aedile'' ( ; la, aedīlis , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enf ...
.
Family background
Publius Licinius Crassus was the son of Publius Licinius Varus, whose ancestry is unknown. It is possible that he was related to the consul
Gaius Licinius Varus
Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen).
People
*Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist
*Gaius Acilius
*Gaius Antonius
*Gaius Antonius Hybrida
*Gaius Asinius Gallus
*Gaius Asinius Pol ...
(consul in 236 BC) whose grandson was
Publius Licinius Crassus (consul 171 BC)
Publius Licinius Crassus ( fl. 176 to 171 BC) was Roman consul for year 171 BC, together with Gaius Cassius Longinus.
He was the son of Gaius Licinius Varus, possibly related to the Gaius Licinius Varus who was consul in 236 BC and who was still ...
and whose great-grandson was
Publius Licinius Crassus Mucianus, also consul and Pontifex Maximus. The connections between these Licinii and the earliest mentioned plebeian consul Licinius and the more famous
Gaius Licinius Stolo
Gaius Licinius Stolo, along with Lucius Sextius, was one of the two tribunes of ancient Rome who opened the consulship to the plebeians.
A member of the plebeian ''Licinia gens'', Stolo was tribune from 376 BC to 367 BC, during which he passed t ...
are not clear. Licinius Crassus is later described as "Dives" (or rich, an additional
cognomen
A ''cognomen'' (; plural ''cognomina''; from ''con-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became here ...
) indicating that he was particularly wealthy among Romans of his day (the family tradition of wealth continued, with several of his descendants, notably the
triumvir
A triumvirate ( la, triumvirātus) or a triarchy is a political institution ruled or dominated by three individuals, known as triumvirs ( la, triumviri). The arrangement can be formal or informal. Though the three leaders in a triumvirate are ...
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome." Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, I ...
, being nicknamed "Dives" as well).
Nothing is known of Licinius Crassus's mother or his childhood or early youth, or for that matter, his year of birth. He was probably born during the
First Punic War
The First Punic War (264–241 BC) was the first of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the early 3rd century BC. For 23 years, in the longest continuous conflict and grea ...
(ca. 250-245 BC), and educated and trained much like noble Romans of his day.
Career as priest
He is first mentioned by Livy in his ''Histories'' in connection with the death of the Pontifex Maximus Lentulus in 213 BC. In the election for Pontifex Maximus, two
censors, the patrician
Titus Manlius Torquatus and the plebeian
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, were suddenly joined by Licinius Crassus, who was then standing for election as curule aedile. Presumably, by then, he was already a pontiff or priest to be eligible for election, since Livy does not mention otherwise. Surprisingly, the two eminent censors were defeated by a younger virtually unknown man.
Livy does not mention the details of this election but later mentions that Licinius Crassus was handsome, amiable, rich, and well-connected. All of them might have helped him win popular support; it is also possible that the two eminent senior candidates cancelled each other's votes out, thus allowing the unknown third candidate to slip through.
Licinius Crassus is described as being well-versed in pontifical law; he is shown by Livy as reminding Romans of their religious duties repeatedly (particularly after the conclusion of the
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC) was the second of three wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. For 17 years the two states struggled for supremacy, primarily in Ital ...
). As Pontifex Maximus and as consul, he also reminded the elderly
Princeps Senatus
The ''princeps senatus'' ( ''principes senatus'') was the first member by precedence on the membership rolls of the Roman Senate. Although officially out of the ''cursus honorum'' and possessing no ''imperium'', this office conferred prestige on t ...
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, surnamed Cunctator ( 280 – 203 BC), was a Roman statesman and general of the third century BC. He was consul five times (233, 228, 215, 214, and 209 BC) and was appointed dictator in 221 and 217 BC. He was ...
in 205 BC during a debate that he (Licinius) could not leave Italy, but his co-consul
Scipio suffered no such religious disability.
Political career
His early political career is not known. However, like his future political ally Scipio (and a few other young Roman aristocrats of the same era such as
Publius Sempronius Tuditanus Publius Sempronius C.f. Tuditanus (fl. 3rd century BC) was a Roman Republican consul and censor, best known for leading about 600 men to safety at Cannae in August, 216 BC and for the Treaty of Phoenice which ended the First Macedonian War, in 20 ...
), Licinius Crassus was elected young to important positions, being chosen to certain positions over those of greater age and seniority in the political arena. He was known for his learning in pontifical law, his great bodily strength, and his military skills (although he never won a triumph). Licinius Crassus is perhaps best known for his refusal to leave Italy, as Fabius wanted, which allowed his co-consul Scipio to take Sicily as his province and eventually invade Africa.
Licinius Crassus was elected to the following positions:
*Pontifex Maximus ca. 212 BC (held that position until his death in 183 BC)
*curule aedile ca. 212/211 BC
*censor in 210 BC, resigned without starting the ''lustrum,'' when his colleague died immediately
*
Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today.
(Ancient Rome)
The original Master of the Horse ( la, Magister Equitu ...
(''Magister equitum'') to the dictator Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, proconsul and former consul and censor (and his unsuccessful rival in the pontifical election) in 210/209 BC
*Praetor in 208 BC, elected the same year as Publius Licinius Varus (possibly son of the consul Gaius Licinius Varus).
*Consul in 205 BC, elected along with his political ally
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (, , ; 236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military com ...
During his consulship, Licinius Crassus remained in
Bruttium 01 or '01 may refer to:
* The year 2001, or any year ending with 01
* The month of January
* 1 (number)
Music
* 01'' (Richard Müller album), 2001
* ''01'' (Son of Dave album), 2000
* ''01'' (Urban Zakapa album), 2011
* ''O1'' (Hiroyuki Sawano ...
, prosecuting the war against
Hannibal
Hannibal (; xpu, 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋, ''Ḥannibaʿl''; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Puni ...
, by then penned up in that corner of Italy. He was ill at the end of his year and so requested that a
dictator
A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a small clique. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to rule the republic in times ...
be appointed to conduct elections since neither consul was able to be present. Licinius Crassus was appointed
proconsul
A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority.
In the Roman Republic, military command, or ' ...
for the following year by the Senate. He was presumably relieved of his duties in 203 BC, when Hannibal evacuated all his troops back home.
Family and descendants
Licinius Crassus's wife is unknown, but he had a son living at his death, also named Publius Licinius Crassus, who organized magnificent funeral games in 183 BC. This son was paternal great-grandfather of the future triumvir
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome." Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, I ...
.
Descendants of Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Pontifex Maximus include:
: Publius Licinius Crassus, fl. 183 BC, son of the Pontifex Maximus; who was father of
:: Marcus Licinius Crassus Agestalus
::: Marcus Licinius Crassus, praetor 107 BC
:::
Publius Licinius Crassus (consul 97 BC)
Publius Licinius Crassus (died 87 BC) was a member of the respected and prominent Crassi branch of the plebeian '' gens Licinia'' as well as the father of the famous triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus. His father was Marcus Licinius Crassus Agelast ...
, censor 89 BC (killed/died 87 BC)
:::: Publius Licinius Crassus (killed ca. 90 BC in the
Social War)
:::: Lucius Licinius Crassus (killed 87 BC)
::::
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome." Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, I ...
, triumvir (ca. 115 BC - 53 BC, killed by Parthians)
::::
:::::
Publius Licinius Crassus (killed, or died by suicide 53 BC in war against Parthians) md 56/55 BC
Cornelia Metella
Cornelia Metella ( 73 BC – after 48 BC) was the daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica (who was a consul in 52 BC and originally from the gens Cornelia). She appears in numerous literary sources, including an official dedicato ...
(herself great-granddaughter of
Lucius Licinius Crassus
Lucius Licinius Crassus (140–91 BC) was a Roman orator and statesman. He was considered the greatest orator of his day, most notably by his pupil Cicero. Crassus is also famous as one of the main characters in Cicero's work '' De Oratore'', a d ...
), no issue.
::::: Marcus Licinius Crassus, ''
quaestor
A ( , , ; "investigator") was a public official in Ancient Rome. There were various types of quaestors, with the title used to describe greatly different offices at different times.
In the Roman Republic, quaestors were elected officials who ...
'' to
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...
; he married
Caecilia Metella Cretica, whose tomb is still visible on the
Appian Way
The Appian Way (Latin and Italian language, Italian: ''Via Appia'') is one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient Roman Republic, republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. Its importance is ...
. She was daughter of the consul
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus (c. 114 BC – late 50s BC) was a politically active member of the Roman upper class. He was praetor in 74 BC and pontifex from 73 BC until his death. He was consul in 69 BC along with Quintus Hortensius Hortalus ...
. They had at least one son
::::::
Marcus Licinius Crassus (consul 30 BC)
Marcus Licinius Crassus ( 1st century BC), grandson of the triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus, was a Roman consul in the year 30 BC as the colleague of Octavian (the future Roman Emperor Augustus). He was best known for his successful campaigns in ...
, the last Roman general outside the Imperial family to earn a
Roman triumph
The Roman triumph (') was a civil religion, civil ceremony and Religion in ancient Rome, religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the success of a military commander who had led Roman forces to victory in the servi ...
and the ''
spolia opima
The ''spolia opima'' ("rich spoils") were the armour, arms, and other effects that an ancient Roman general stripped from the body of an opposing commander slain in single combat. The ''spolia opima'' were regarded as the most honourable of the ...
''; it is unclear to what extent Augustus permitted these to be celebrated. He adopted a son from th
Calpurnius Piso family
:::::::(adoptive)
Marcus Licinius Crassus (consul 14 BC)
Marcus Licinius Crassus Frugi ( 1st century BC) was the adoptive son of consul Marcus Licinius Crassus and the adoptive great-grandson of triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus. Frugi's adoptive father was the last known direct descendant of the triumvir ...
, born a Calpurnius Frugi. For more on this adoptive descendant, and his own descendants, see th
Frugifamily.
Other famous Licinii such as
Lucius Licinius Crassus
Lucius Licinius Crassus (140–91 BC) was a Roman orator and statesman. He was considered the greatest orator of his day, most notably by his pupil Cicero. Crassus is also famous as one of the main characters in Cicero's work '' De Oratore'', a d ...
(consul 95 BC, censor, died 91 BC) and Licinia Crassa (wife successively of two consuls,
Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex
Quintus Mucius Scaevola "Pontifex" (140–82 BC) was a politician of the Roman Republic and an important early authority on Roman law. He is credited with founding the study of law as a systematic discipline. He was elected Pontifex Maximus ( ...
and
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos, and mother of
Mucia Tertia
Mucia Tertia (fl. 79–31 BC) was a Roman '' matrona'' who lived in the 1st century BC. She was the daughter of Quintus Mucius Scaevola, the '' pontifex maximus'' and consul in 95 BC.
Early life
Her mother was closely related to Cato the Younger ...
) may be descendants. Crassus left many descendants in the female line, surviving into the first century AD.
References
*Livy, ''Histories of Rome.''
*William Smith. "Pontifex" in ''William Smith's Dictionary.'' Available onlin
here as part of Lacius Curtius site discusses unusual election in 212 BC.
*William Smith. ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'' (1867) — three-volume, 3,700-page ocean of Greek and Roman historical, literary and mythological figures
{{DEFAULTSORT:Licinius Crassus Dives, Publius
3rd-century BC births
183 BC deaths
3rd-century BC clergy
3rd-century BC Roman consuls
2nd-century BC clergy
2nd-century BC Romans
Ancient Roman generals
Curule aediles
Dives, Publius
Magistri equitum (Roman Republic)
Pontifices maximi of the Roman Republic
Roman censors
Roman Republican praetors
Year of birth uncertain