A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

1. T.OtaciliusCrassus, one of the Roman generals, actively employed during the greater part of the second Punic war, was probably a son of T. Otaciliius Crassus, consul in B. C. 261. [CRASSUS, OTACILIUS, No. 2.] He is generally mentioned by Livy without a cognomen, but we learn from two passages (23.31, 26.33), that he had the surname of Crassus. He was prietor B. C. 217, in which year he vowed a temple to Mens, and is mentioned next year, B. C. 216, as pro-praetor, when he brought a letter to the senate from Ilieron in Sicily, imploring the assistance of the Romans against the Carthaginian fleet. In B. C. 215 Otacilius and Q. Fabius Maximus were created duumviri for dedicating the temples they had vowed; and after consecrating the temple of Mens. Otacilius was sent with the iriperium into Sicily to take the command of the fleet. From Lilybaeum he crossed over into Africa and after laying waste the Carthaginian coast fell in with the Punic fleet, as he was making for Sardinia, and captured a few of their ships. On his return to Rome Otacilius became a candidate for the consulship for the year B. C. 214, and would certainly have been elected but for Q. Fabius Maximus, the daughter of whose sister was the wife of Otacilius. The praerogativa centuria had already given their votes in favour of Otacilius, when Fabius dissuaded the people from nominating him to the consulship on the ground that He had not sufficient military abilities to cope with Hannibal. Fabius Maximus and Claudius Marcellus were accordingly appointed consuls ; but as some compensation to Otacilius, he was elected praetor for the second time, B. C. 214, and the command of the same fleet was entrusted to him which he had had in the previous year. His command was prolonged during the next three years; and in B. C. 212 he did good service by plundering the Carthaginian coast round Utica, and capturing several corn-vessels in the harbour of the latter city, by means of which he was able to send a supply of corn to the Roman forces, which had just taken Syracuse. In the election of the consuls for the year B. C. 210 Otacilius was again nominated to the consulship by the praerogativa centuria, and again lost his election, when it seemed certain, by the interference of T. Manlius Torquatus. Otacilius, however, never heard of this new affront; for just after the elections were over, word was brought that Otacilius had died in Sicily, B. C. 211. Otacilius was one of the pontifices. (Liv. 22.10, 56, 23.21, 31, 32, 41, 24.7_10, 25.31, 26.1, 22, 23.)