Lucius Cecilius Metell Diadem

Lucius Cecilius belonged to the influential plebeian family Ceciliev Metellov , descending, according to legend, from the son of the god Vulcan Tsekul , the founder of the city of Prenest ^[1] . Metelles became part of the senatorial estate at the beginning of the III century BC. e.: the first consul of this kind was elected in 285 BC. e. Lucius was the second of the four sons of Quintus Cecilius Metellus of Macedon ; his uncle was Lucius Cecilius Metell Calv , and cousins, respectively, Lucius Cecilius Metell of Dalmatia and Quintus Cecilius Metell of Numidia . Siblings were Guy Caecilius Metellus Caprarium , Marcus Caecilius Metellus and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearic ^[2] .

Lucius Cecilius received the nickname Diadematus , because he wore a headband for a long time because of an ulcer on his forehead ^[3] . It is first mentioned in sources in connection with the events of 129 BC. e. Then died Publius Cornelius Scipio Emilian , the main political opponent of Metellus of Macedon; the latter, despite the former enmity, ordered his sons to take part in the removal of the body ^{[4] [5]} . Perhaps one of the speeches of Guy Sempronius Gracchus delivered at the end of the 120s BC was directed against the Diademate. e. ^[6]

Given the requirements of the law of Willius , which established the minimum time intervals between magistrates , no later than 120 BC. e. Lucius was to hold the position of praetor ^[7] , and in 117 BC. e. he received a consul, joint with another plebeian, Quintus Mucius Stcevola Augur ^[8] . The province of Metella became Italy; possibly ^[6] , it was then that he built the Ceciliev road ^[9] . Sources speak of only one event of this consulate: Metella's cousin celebrated a triumph over the Dalmatians ^[10] . In 116 BC e. The diademate may have been the proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul ^{[6] [11]} .

In 115, a certain Lucius Cecilius (either Diadematus or his cousin Dalmatik) became a censor along with another plebeian, Gnei Domitius Agenobarb ^[12] . According to the results of the traditional verification of the Senate, these censors expelled thirty-two people from it, including consular Guy Licinius Getu ^[13] . In 100 BC e. The diademist was among the senators who opposed the stands, the popular Lucius Appuleius Saturninus : Mark Tullius Cicero calls him among the aristocrats who appeared on the eve of the decisive battle to the temple of Sank to take weapons from the public store ^[14] . In 99 BC e. Lucius Cecilius was among the aristocrats who sought the return from exile of Metellus of Numidia ^{[15] [6]} .

According to the hypothesis of William Druman , the son of the Tiara was Quintius Cecilius Metellus Celer , the folk tribune of 90 BC. e. ^[16] Lucius's daughter could be Cecilia Metella, wife of Appius Claudius Pulhra. ^[17]

Sources

1. Valery Maxim . Memorable deeds and sayings. - SPb. : Publishing House of St. Petersburg State University, 2007. - 308 p. - ISBN 978-5-288-04267-6 .
2. Eutropium . Breviary of Roman history. - SPb. : Aletheia, 2001 .-- 305 p. - ISBN 5-89329-345-2 .
3. Titus Livy . The history of Rome from the foundation of the city. - M .: Nauka, 1994 .-- T. 3 .-- 768 p. - ISBN 5-02-008995-8 .
4. Plutarch . Sayings of kings and commanders // Table talks. - L .: Nauka, 1990 .-- S. 340-388. - ISBN 5-02-027967-6 .
5. Plutarch . Comparative biographies. - SPb. , 1994. - T. 3. - 672 p. - ISBN 5-306-00240-4 .
6. Mark Tullius Cicero . Speech. - M .: Nauka, 1993 .-- ISBN 5-02-011169-4 .

Literature

1. Broughton R. Magistrates of the Roman Republic. - New York, 1951. - Vol. I. - P. 600.
2. Münzer F. Caecilius // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1897. - Bd. III, 1. - Kol. 1206.
3. Münzer F. Caecilius 93 // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1897. - Bd. III, 1.
4. Wiseman T. Legendary Genealogies in Late-Republican Rome // G&R. - 1974. - No. 2 . - S. 153-164 .

• Lucius Cecilius Metellus Diadematus . - in Smith 's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
• Lucius Cecilius Metell Diadem (rus.) . - biography on the site ancientrome.ru .