Quintus Valerius Falto was a Roman politician in the 3rd century BC. Quintus was elected consul in 239 BC alongside

Gaius Mamilius Turrinus 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 P ...

. He was the brother of his successor, the consul

Publius Valerius Falto Publius Valerius Falto was a Roman politician of the 3rd century BC. Publius followed his brother, Quintus Valerius Falto, as consul, being elected to that office in 238 BC alongside Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. He led a consular army against the ...

who served in 238 BC. Falto was also the first

Praetor Peregrinus Praetor ( , ), also pretor, was the title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected '' magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to discharge vario ...

at Rome in 242 BC, the development of which was occasioned by the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

with

Carthage Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...

which required a second Praetor, but the consul of the year, Aulus Postumius Albinus, was not allowed to leave the city because he was also a priest of

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...

. After his superior,

Gaius Lutatius Catulus Gaius Lutatius Catulus ( 242–241 BC) was a Roman statesman and naval commander in the First Punic War. He was born a member of the plebeian gens Lutatius. His cognomen "Catulus" means "puppy". There are no historical records of his life prio ...

, was injured at the

Siege of Drepana The siege of Drepana took place from about 249 to 241 BC during the First Punic War. Background Drepana (today's Trapani) and Lilybaeum (today's Marsala) were two Carthaginian naval strongholds at the western end of Sicily that came under pr ...

, Falto took over command of the Roman forces. He conducted himself with such bearing that, on his return, he demanded to share in the

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 ...

to which Catulus was entitled. His claim was rejected on the grounds that he was an inferior officer. However, after arbitration under

Aulus Atilius Calatinus Aulus Atilius Caiatinus (or Calatinus; 258–241 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who achieved prominence for his military activities during the First Punic War against Carthage. As consul in 258 BC, he enjoyed several successes in Sicily, ...

which, again, ruled against him, the people insisted Falto deserved the honor, and so his triumph was held on 6 October 241 BC.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valerius Falto, Quintus Roman patricians 3rd-century BC Roman consuls Falto, Quintus