A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

L. F. C. N., one of the distinguished plebeians, who obtained the highest offices of the state soon after the enactment of the Licinian laws. He was consul for the first time in B. C. 357 with Cn. Manlius Capitolinus, and carried on the war against the inhabitants of Privernum. He took the town, and obtained a triumph in consequence. In the following year, B. C. 356, he was appointed dictator in order to carry on the war against the Etruscans. This was the first time that a plebeian had attained this lignity; and the patricians were so indignant it what they chose to regard as a desecration of the office, that, notwithstanding the public danger, they threw every obstacle in the way of the preparations for the war. The people, however, eagerly supplied Rutilus with every thing that was needed, and enabled him to take the field with a well appointed army. Their expectations of success were fully realised. The plebeian dictator defeated the Etruscans with great slaughter; but is the senate refused him a triumph, notwithstanding his brilliant victory, he celebrated one by comnand of the people. In B. C. 352 he obtained the consulship a second time with P. Valerius Publicola; and in the following year, B. C. 351, he was the first plebeian censor. He was consul for the third time in B. C. 344 with T. Manlius Torquatus, and for the fourth time in B. C. 342 with Q. Servilius Ahala. In the latter year, which was the second of the Samnite war, Rutilus was stationed in Campania, and there discovered a formidable conspiracy among the Roman troops, which he quelled before it broke out by his wise and prudent measures. (Liv. 7.16, 17, 21, 22, 28, 38, 39.) The son of this Rutilus took the surname of Censorinus, which in the next generation entirely supplanted that of Rutilus, and became the name of the family. [CENSORINUS.]