A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

1. C.JuniusBubulcusBrutus, C. F. C. N., was consul B. C. 317 and again in 313, in the latter of which years Saticula was founded. (Liv. 9.20, 21, 28; Diod. 19.17, 77; Festus, s.v. Saticula.) He was magister equitum in 312 to the dictator C. Sulpicius Longus (Fast. Capit.) and not dictator, as he is erroneously called by Livy (9.29). He was consul a third time in 311, and carried on the war against the Samnites with great success. He retook Cluvia, which the Samnites had wrested from the Romans, and thence marched to Bovianum, which also fell into his hands. In his return from Bovianum, he was surprised in a narrow pass by the Samnites; but, after a hardfought battle, he gained a great victory over them, and slew 20,000 of the enemy. It must have been on this occasion that he vowed a temple to Safety, which he afterwards dedicated in his dictatorship. In consequence of this victory, he obtained the honour of a triumph. (Liv. 9.30, 31; Diod. 20.3; Fast. Capitol.) In 309 he was again magister equitum to the dictator L. Papirius Cursor (Liv. 9.38), and in 307 obtained the censorship with L. Valerius Maximus. During his censorship he contracted for the building of the temple of Safety which he had vowed in his consulship, and he and his colleague had roads made at the public expense. They also expelled L. Antonius from the senate. (Liv. 9.43; V. Max. 2.9.2.) Finally, in 302, he was appointed dictator when the Aequians renewed the war, as a general rising of the surrounding nations was feared. Bubulcus defeated the Aequians at the first encounter, and returned to Rome at the end of seven days; but he did not lay down his dictatorship till he had dedicated the temple of Safety which he had vowed in his consulship. The walls of this temple were adorned with paintings by C. Fabius Pictor, which probably represented the battle he had gained over the Samnites. (Liv. 10.1; V. Max. 8.14.6; Plin. Nat. 35.4. s. 7.) The festival to commemorate the dedication of this temple was celebrated, in Cicero's time, on the Nones of Sextilis. (Cic. Att. 4.1.)