Aulus Atilius Calatinus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aulus Atilius Calatinus was the son of Aulus Atilius Calatinus, who had been accused of betraying the city of Sora in the Samnite Wars. Standing in disgrace of his imminent condemnation, he was saved by a few timely words from the great Fabius Maximus Rullianus (the first Maximus and at that time (306 BC) the thrice consul and acting praetor), his very father in law. It was Fabius' assertion that he would have never continued his relationship (as Patron) had he believed Atilius was guilty of such a crime. The Plebeian Atilii were therefore clients of the Fabii. Thus, our present Atilius was the grandson, on his mothers side, of Fabius Rullianus. The Atilius Catatinii were cousins of the other famous Atilii, the Atilii Regulii. Calatinus is clearly a congomen referring to Calatia, six miles southwest of Capua. This region had been conquered during the consulship of the first named Atilius, Marcus Atilius Regulus Calenus, in 335 BC. Since his colleague, the Patrician Valerius, actually conquered Cales, it is likely that Atilius actually came from there. Pottery from the region indicates the name K. and N. Atilius are from the region near Capua. Interestingly, the forenames Kaeso and Numercius, Atilii names, are unique of all Patrician clans to the Fabii. The Atilii were the leading family of Campania at the time of their gaining citizenship and the surname Regulus might refer to their regal position in that society. Fabii ownership of large land holding in Falernia probably resulted from the treaty of 340 in which Capuan lands north of the Volturnus were ceded to Rome. (Munzer)

Consul in 258 BC, celebrated a triumph as praetor in 257 BC, reelected consul in 254 BC, and censor in 247 BC. Both he and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina captured Panormus in 254 BC, but only Asina triumphed. In 249 BC, following the disastrous naval losses of Publius Claudius Pulcher and Iunius Pullus (Pulcher was fined 120,000 asses and his colleague committed suicide), with both consuls now unfit for command, he was elected dictator and led an army into Sicily, becoming the first dictator to lead a Roman army outside Italy. He dedicated temples to Spes (the personification of hope and safety of the young) in the Forum Holitorium and Fides (the personification of good faith whose symbol is a pair of covered hands symbolizing an agreement) on the Capitol.

Preceded by Lucius Cornelius Scipio and Caius Aquillius Florus	Consul of the Roman Republic with Gaius Sulpicius Paterculus 258 BC	Succeeded by Gaius Atilius Regulus and Gaius Sempronius Blaesus
Preceded by Marcus Aemilius Paullus and Servius Fulvius Paetinus Nobilior	Consul of the Roman Republic with Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina 254 BC	Succeeded by Gnaeus Servilius Caepio and Gaius Sempronius Blaesus