1. Dict. of Ant. s. v. Praetor.) The occasion for a second praetorship
was, that the war with Carthage required two commanders, and A. Postumius Albinus, one of the
consuls for the year CATULUS] against the Carthaginians in Sicily.
After Catulus had been disabled by a wound at the siege of Drepanum, the active duties of the
campaign devolved on Falto. His conduct at the battle of the Aegates so mulch contributed to
the victory of the Romans that, on the return of the fleet, Falto demanded to share the
triumph of Catulus. His claim was rejected, on the ground that an inferior officer had no
title to the recompense of the chief in command. The dispute was referred to arbitration; and
the arbiter, Atilius Calatinus, decided against Falto, alleging that, as in the field the
consul's orders took precedence of the praetor's, and as the praetor's auspices, in case of
dispute, were always held inferior to the consul's, so the triumph was exclusively a consular
distinction. The people, however, thought that Falto merited the honour, and lie accordingly
triumphed on the 6th of October, Epit. xix.; Fast. Capit.;