A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

propraetor and legatus of Scipio Africanus, was sent in B. C. 205, against the town of Locri, in southern Italy, which still continued to be in the possession of the Carthaginians. He succeeded in taking the town, of which he was left governor by Scipio; but he treated the inhabitants with the greatest cruelty, and not contented with robbing them of their private property, plundered even the temple of Proserpine. The Locrians accordingly sent an embassy to Rome to complain of his conduct; and the senate, upon hearing their complaints, commanded Pleminius to be brought back to Rome, where he was thrown into prison, B. C. 204, but died before his trial came on. According to another account preserved by Clodius Licinius, Pleminius endeavoured to set the city on fire, but being detected was put to death in prison by command of the senate. (Liv. 29.6-9, 16_22, 34.44; V. Max. 1.1.21; Dio Cass. Frag. 64, ed. Reimar.; Appian, Annib. 55.)