View source for Gaius Valerius Potitus Volusus

{{Short description|5th-century BC Roman consul and consular tribune}}
'''Gaius Valerius Potitus Volusus''' was a [[Roman consul|consul]] in 410 BC and [[Tribuni militum consulari potestate|consular tribune]] in 415, 407 and 404 BC of the [[Roman Republic]].<ref>[[Thomas Robert Shannon Broughton|Broughton]], ''Magistrates of the Roman Republic'', 1951, vol i, pp.74, 77, 79, 81</ref>
Valerius belonged to the [[Valeria gens]], one of the oldest and possibly the most influential and powerful [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] [[gens]] of the early Republic.. The family had, according to legend, been among the first families to hold the consulship with [[Publius Valerius Poplicola]] as the first suffect consul in 509 BC. His father was named Lucius and depending on sources his grandfather was either named Volusus or Publius. If his grandfather was named Publius than Valerius' contemporary, the consul, [[Lucius Valerius Potitus (consul 393 BC)|Lucius Valerius Potitus]], can be considered to be Valerius' brother. Whoever Valerius' father and grandfather were there is no record of them holding any offices. Gaius Valerius Potitus Volusus is thought to have been the father of Gaius Valerius Potitus, the consular tribune in 370 BC.<ref>Broughton, vol i</ref>
== Career ==
Valerius first held the ''[[imperium]]'' in 415 BC as one of four consular tribunes. His colleagues were [[Publius Cornelius Cossus (consular tribune 415 BC)|Publius Cornelius Cossus]], [[Numerius Fabius Vibulanus]] and [[Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus]]. With the exception of Fabius, all the consular tribunes were newcomers to the imperium. The actions of the consular tribunes are little known but there was a proposal by the [[tribune of the plebs]], Lucius Decius, to colonise [[Bolae]] which was [[veto]]ed by his colleagues.<ref name=":0">[[Chronograph of 354]] (Casso et Cincinnato)</ref><ref>[[Livy]], ''[[Ab Urbe Condita Libri|Ab Urbe Condita]]''',''''' iv. 49.1-49.6</ref><ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica]],'' xiii 34.1, 42.6</ref><ref>Broughton, vol i, pp.74</ref>
In 410 BC, Valerius was elected to as consul together with [[Manius Aemilius Mamercinus]]. There was a war against the [[Aequi]] and the [[Volsci]]. In response to this the consuls sought a levy which was vetoed by the plebeian tribune Marcus Menenius.  This and the resulting military losses by Rome, turned the populace and the other plebeian tribunes against Menenius resulting in his proposal of an [[agrarian law]] being denied. This drawback for the Romans was short-lived and the fortress of Arx Carventana was captured (or recaptured) by the Romans. One of the consuls, most likely Valerius, was granted an [[ovation]] for this victory.<ref>Chr.354 (Mamertino et Volusio)</ref><ref>Livy. iv. 53</ref><ref>Diodorus, xiii, 76.1</ref><ref>Broughton, vol i, pp.77</ref>
Valerius was again elected as consular tribune in 407 BC, this time with [[Lucius Furius Medullinus]], [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (consular tribune 408 BC)|Gaius Servilius Ahala]] and his former colleague from 415 BC, Fabius.  These consular tribunes had previous experience in these roles. Wars with the Aequi and Volsci continues. The fortress of Arx Carventana, which had been captured in 410 BC, was lost in 409 BC while in the same year the town of Verugo was captured. In 408 BC the Romans had been forced by events to elect a [[Roman dictator|dictator]]. Although the consular tribunes of 407 BC were highly experienced commanders they could not stop the successes of the Volscians, resulting in the loss of Verugo.<ref>Chr. 354. (Voluso II et Structo III)</ref><ref>Livy. iv, 57.12-58.5</ref><ref>Diodorus, xiv, 3.1, 11.5</ref><ref>Broughton, vol i, pp.79</ref>
Valerius held his third and final consular tribuneship in 404 BC. His colleagues were [[Manius Sergius Fidenas]], [[Publius Cornelius Maluginensis (consular tribune 404 BC)|Publius Cornelius Maluginensis]], Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus, [[Caeso Fabius Ambustus]] and [[Spurius Nautius Rutilus (consul 411 BC)|Spurius Nautius Rutilus]]. War continued with the Volsci and the [[Veii]], with [[Artena]] being captured from the Volsci and the [[Siege of Veii]], which had begun the previous year, continuing. There was also an expedition sent by the consular tribunes which founded a new colony, [[Velitrae]].<ref>Chr.354. (Maluginense et Cicurino III)</ref><ref>Livy. iv. 61.4-61.11</ref><ref>Diodorus, xiv, 19.1, 34.7</ref><ref>Broughton, vol i, pp.81</ref>
== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Valeria gens}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Aulus Sempronius Atratinus (consular tribune 425 BC)|A. Sempronius]]
| before2 = [[Marcus Papirius Mugillanus|M. Papirius]]
| before3 = [[Quintus Fabius Vibulanus (consul 423 BC)|Q. Fabius]]
| before4 = [[Spurius Nautius Rutilus (consul 411 BC)|Sp. Nautius]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[List of Roman Republican consuls|Roman consular tribune]]
| years = 415 BC
| with = [[Publius Cornelius Cossus (consular tribune 415 BC)|Publius Cornelius Cossus]]
| with2 = [[Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus]]
| with3 = [[Numerius Fabius Vibulanus]]
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus (consul 409 BC)|Gn. Cornelius]]
| after2 = [[Lucius Valerius Potitus (consul 392 BC)|L. Valerius]]
| after3 = [[Quintus Fabius Vibulanus (consul 423 BC)|Q. Fabius]]
| after4 = [[Publius Postumius Albus Regillensis|P. Postumius]]
}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Marcus Papirius Mugillanus|M. Papirius]]
| before2 = [[Spurius Nautius Rutilus (consul 411 BC)|Sp. Nautius]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[List of Roman Republican consuls|Roman consul]]
| years = 410 BC
| with = [[Manius Aemilius Mamercinus]]
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus (consul 409 BC)|Gn. Cornelius]]
| after2 = [[Lucius Furius Medullinus|L. Furius]]
}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Gaius Julius Iullus (censor)|G. Julius]]
| before2 = [[Publius Cornelius Cossus (consular tribune 408 BC)|P. Cornelius]]
| before3 = [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (consular tribune 408 BC)|G. Servilius]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[List of Roman Republican consuls|Roman consular tribune]] II
| years = 407 BC
| with = [[Lucius Furius Medullinus]]
| with2 = [[Numerius Fabius Vibulanus]]
| with3 = [[Gaius Servilius Ahala (consular tribune 408 BC)|Gaius Servilius Ahala]]
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Publius Cornelius Rutilus Cossus|P. Cornelius]]
| after2 = [[Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus (consular tribune 406 BC)|Gn. Cornelius]]
| after3 = [[Numerius Fabius Ambustus|N. Fabius]]
| after4 = [[Lucius Valerius Potitus (consul 392 BC)|L. Valerius]]
}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus (consul 421 BC)|T. Quinctius]]
| before2 = [[Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus|Q. Quinctius]] II
| before3 = [[Gaius Julius Iullus (censor)|G. Julius]] II
| before4 = [[Aulus Manlius Vulso Capitolinus|A. Manlius]]
| before5 = [[Lucius Furius Medullinus|L. Furius]] II
| before6 = [[Manius Aemilius Mamercinus|Mn. Aemilius]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[List of Roman Republican consuls|Roman consular tribune]] III
| years = 404 BC
| with = [[Manius Sergius Fidenas]]
| with2 = [[Publius Cornelius Maluginensis (consular tribune 404 BC)]]
| with3 = [[Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus (consular tribune 406 BC)|Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus]] II
| with4 = [[Caeso Fabius Ambustus]]
| with5 = [[Spurius Nautius Rutilus (consul 411 BC)|Spurius Nautius Rutilus]] III
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Manius Aemilius Mamercinus|Mn. Aemilius]] II
| after2 = [[Lucius Valerius Potitus (consul 392 BC)|L. Valerius]] III
| after3 = [[Appius Claudius Crassus (consular tribune 403 BC)|Ap. Claudius]]
| after4 = [[Marcus Quinctilius Varus|M. Quinctilius]]
| after5 = [[Lucius Julius Iulus (consular tribune 403 BC)|L. Julius]]
| after6 = [[Marcus Furius Fusus|M. Furius]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valerius Potitus Volusus, Gaius}}
[[Category:5th-century BC Roman consuls]]
[[Category:Roman consular tribunes]]
[[Category:Valerii|Volusus, Gaius, Potitus]]