The nomen Publicius belongs to a class of
gentilicia derived from words ending in -icus.[3] The root, publicus, is a
Latin adjective meaning "of the people".[4] Although the Publicii are not mentioned at Rome prior to the third century BC, they claimed descent from a legendary figure from the time of the
kings. Ancus Publicius of
Cora was said to have been one of the generals of the
Latin League, together with Spurius Vecilius of
Lavinium, in a war against the Romans during the reign of
Tullus Hostilius, the third
King of Rome, who claimed dominion over the cities of
Latium following the destruction of
Alba Longa.[5]
Praenomina
Apart from Ancus, a name found only in antiquity, the
praenomina associated with the Publicii appearing in history are Lucius, Gaius, Marcus, Quintus, and Gnaeus, all of which were among the most common names throughout Roman history.
Branches and cognomina
There were two main branches, or stirpes, of the Publicii under the
Republic, distinguished by the
cognominaMalleolus and Bibulus.[2] The surname Malleolus is a diminutive of malleus, a hammer, which was used as an emblem on coins of this family.[6][7] The Publicii Malleoli flourished from the middle of the third century BC to the beginning of the first. Bibulus refers to a tippler, one known for drinking.[8] Members of this family are mentioned in the time of the
Second Punic War. Other surnames are found in
imperial times.[2] One family of the Publicii lived at
Adria in
Sabinum.[9]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Denarius of Gaius Publicius Malleolus, late 90s BC. The obverse depicts a head of
Mars and a hammer, alluding to the surname Malleolus. On the reverse is a naked warrior between a trophy and a ballot, with the inscription "C. Malleolus".
Lucius Publicius, the grandfather of Lucius and Marcus, aediles in 241 BC.[10]
Lucius Publicius L. f., father of the aediles Lucius and Marcus.[10]
Lucius Publicius L. f. L. n. Malleolus,
aedile with his brother, Marcus, in 241 BC. They used fines taken from those who had violated the
agrarian laws to fund a number of public works, including the Clivus Publicius, a road leading up the
Aventine Hill, and the temple of
Flora. They also instituted the celebration of the
Floralia.[11][12][13][14][15][10]
Publicius Malleolus, became the first Roman to be convicted of matricide in 101 BC. He was sentenced to be sewn into a sack, and thrown into the sea.[19][20][21]
Lucius Publicius Bibulus, a
military tribune with the second legion in 216 BC, early in the Second Punic War.[24][25]
Gaius Publicius Bibulus,
tribune of the plebs in 209 BC, an opponent of
Marcus Claudius Marcellus, whom he unsuccessfully attempted to deprive of his
imperium. He is probably the same Publicius who, as tribune of the plebs, passed the lex Publicia de cereis, relieving the poor of their ancient obligation to give wax candles to their
patrons during the
Saturnalia.[26][27][28]
Others
Denarius of Marcus Publicius, 46–45. The obverse depicts Roma, whilst the reverse shows
Hispania bestowing the palm-branch of victory to a soldier on a ship, alluding to the arrival of the Pompeians in Spain after their defeat at
Thapsus.
Gaius Publicius, remarked that a certain Publius Mummius was "a man for all occasions," a figure of speech recorded by
Cato the Elder, and subsequently mentioned by
Cicero in his
dialogue on oratory.
Glandorp suggests that he might the same person as Gaius Publicius Bibulus, tribune of the plebs in 209 BC.[29]
Lucius Publicius, a slave merchant, and a friend of Sextus Naevius, whom Cicero mentions in 81 BC.[30]
Marcus Publicius M. f. Scaeva, a senator in 73 BC.[31][32]
Quintus Publicius Q. f.,
praetorcirca 67 BC, presided over the trial of Decimus Matrinius, whom Cicero defended.[37][38]
Gaius Publicius Q. f., triumvir monetalis in 80 BC, probably the brother of Quintus Publicius, the praetor.[39]
Quintus Publicius Q. f. Q. n., a
senator buried at
Verona, had been legatus pro praetore in an uncertain province.[40]
Publicius Gellius, a jurist, who had been one of the pupils of
Servius Sulpicius Rufus. He might perhaps be the same person as Quintus Publicius, the praetor.[41][42]
Marcus Publicius, a legatus pro praetore serving under the younger
Pompeius in Spain from 46 to 45 BC, minted coins prior to the
Battle of Munda.[44]
Gnaeus Publicius Menander, a freedman, whom Cicero mentions in his oration, Pro Balbo.[45]
Gnaeus Publicius Regulus, one of the duumviri quinquennales at Corinth in from AD 50 to 51. He issued a series of bronze coins during his magistracy.[46]
[[[Publicius Certus]] [
ca], denounced Helvidius Priscus for disloyalty during the reign of
Domitian, resulting in Helvidius' death. He was made praefectus
aerarii, and promised the consulship, but was accused by
Pliny the Younger following the death of Domitian, and was deprived of his position, dying shortly thereafter.[47]
Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus (
Cassius Dio), Roman History.
Festus, Breviarum Rerum Gestarum Populi Romani (Summary of the History of the Roman People).
Aelius Lampridius, Aelius Spartianus, Flavius Vopiscus, Julius Capitolinus, Trebellius Pollio, and Vulcatius Gallicanus, Historia Augusta (Augustan History).
Paulus Orosius, Historiarum Adversum Paganos (History Against the Pagans).
The nomen Publicius belongs to a class of
gentilicia derived from words ending in -icus.[3] The root, publicus, is a
Latin adjective meaning "of the people".[4] Although the Publicii are not mentioned at Rome prior to the third century BC, they claimed descent from a legendary figure from the time of the
kings. Ancus Publicius of
Cora was said to have been one of the generals of the
Latin League, together with Spurius Vecilius of
Lavinium, in a war against the Romans during the reign of
Tullus Hostilius, the third
King of Rome, who claimed dominion over the cities of
Latium following the destruction of
Alba Longa.[5]
Praenomina
Apart from Ancus, a name found only in antiquity, the
praenomina associated with the Publicii appearing in history are Lucius, Gaius, Marcus, Quintus, and Gnaeus, all of which were among the most common names throughout Roman history.
Branches and cognomina
There were two main branches, or stirpes, of the Publicii under the
Republic, distinguished by the
cognominaMalleolus and Bibulus.[2] The surname Malleolus is a diminutive of malleus, a hammer, which was used as an emblem on coins of this family.[6][7] The Publicii Malleoli flourished from the middle of the third century BC to the beginning of the first. Bibulus refers to a tippler, one known for drinking.[8] Members of this family are mentioned in the time of the
Second Punic War. Other surnames are found in
imperial times.[2] One family of the Publicii lived at
Adria in
Sabinum.[9]
Members
This list includes abbreviated
praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see
filiation.
Denarius of Gaius Publicius Malleolus, late 90s BC. The obverse depicts a head of
Mars and a hammer, alluding to the surname Malleolus. On the reverse is a naked warrior between a trophy and a ballot, with the inscription "C. Malleolus".
Lucius Publicius, the grandfather of Lucius and Marcus, aediles in 241 BC.[10]
Lucius Publicius L. f., father of the aediles Lucius and Marcus.[10]
Lucius Publicius L. f. L. n. Malleolus,
aedile with his brother, Marcus, in 241 BC. They used fines taken from those who had violated the
agrarian laws to fund a number of public works, including the Clivus Publicius, a road leading up the
Aventine Hill, and the temple of
Flora. They also instituted the celebration of the
Floralia.[11][12][13][14][15][10]
Publicius Malleolus, became the first Roman to be convicted of matricide in 101 BC. He was sentenced to be sewn into a sack, and thrown into the sea.[19][20][21]
Lucius Publicius Bibulus, a
military tribune with the second legion in 216 BC, early in the Second Punic War.[24][25]
Gaius Publicius Bibulus,
tribune of the plebs in 209 BC, an opponent of
Marcus Claudius Marcellus, whom he unsuccessfully attempted to deprive of his
imperium. He is probably the same Publicius who, as tribune of the plebs, passed the lex Publicia de cereis, relieving the poor of their ancient obligation to give wax candles to their
patrons during the
Saturnalia.[26][27][28]
Others
Denarius of Marcus Publicius, 46–45. The obverse depicts Roma, whilst the reverse shows
Hispania bestowing the palm-branch of victory to a soldier on a ship, alluding to the arrival of the Pompeians in Spain after their defeat at
Thapsus.
Gaius Publicius, remarked that a certain Publius Mummius was "a man for all occasions," a figure of speech recorded by
Cato the Elder, and subsequently mentioned by
Cicero in his
dialogue on oratory.
Glandorp suggests that he might the same person as Gaius Publicius Bibulus, tribune of the plebs in 209 BC.[29]
Lucius Publicius, a slave merchant, and a friend of Sextus Naevius, whom Cicero mentions in 81 BC.[30]
Marcus Publicius M. f. Scaeva, a senator in 73 BC.[31][32]
Quintus Publicius Q. f.,
praetorcirca 67 BC, presided over the trial of Decimus Matrinius, whom Cicero defended.[37][38]
Gaius Publicius Q. f., triumvir monetalis in 80 BC, probably the brother of Quintus Publicius, the praetor.[39]
Quintus Publicius Q. f. Q. n., a
senator buried at
Verona, had been legatus pro praetore in an uncertain province.[40]
Publicius Gellius, a jurist, who had been one of the pupils of
Servius Sulpicius Rufus. He might perhaps be the same person as Quintus Publicius, the praetor.[41][42]
Marcus Publicius, a legatus pro praetore serving under the younger
Pompeius in Spain from 46 to 45 BC, minted coins prior to the
Battle of Munda.[44]
Gnaeus Publicius Menander, a freedman, whom Cicero mentions in his oration, Pro Balbo.[45]
Gnaeus Publicius Regulus, one of the duumviri quinquennales at Corinth in from AD 50 to 51. He issued a series of bronze coins during his magistracy.[46]
[[[Publicius Certus]] [
ca], denounced Helvidius Priscus for disloyalty during the reign of
Domitian, resulting in Helvidius' death. He was made praefectus
aerarii, and promised the consulship, but was accused by
Pliny the Younger following the death of Domitian, and was deprived of his position, dying shortly thereafter.[47]
Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus (
Cassius Dio), Roman History.
Festus, Breviarum Rerum Gestarum Populi Romani (Summary of the History of the Roman People).
Aelius Lampridius, Aelius Spartianus, Flavius Vopiscus, Julius Capitolinus, Trebellius Pollio, and Vulcatius Gallicanus, Historia Augusta (Augustan History).
Paulus Orosius, Historiarum Adversum Paganos (History Against the Pagans).