Gaius Fabricius Luscinus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gaius Fabricius Luscinus ("the one-eyed"), son of Gaius, was said to have been the first of the Fabricii to move to ancient Rome, his family originating from Aletrium (Livy ix. 43).

In 284 BC he was one of the ambassadors to Tarentum, successfully keeping the peace, and was elected consul in 282 BC, where he saved Thurii from the Sabellians. After the Romans were defeated by Pyrrhus at Heraclea, Fabricius negotiated the ransom and exchange of prisoners; Plutarch (Pyrrhus 18) reports that Pyrrhus was impressed by his inability to bribe Fabricius, and released the prisoners even without a ransom. Fabricius was consul a second time in 278 BC, and once again successful with Pyrrhus, inducing him to leave Italy for Sicily.

The tales of Fabricius are the standard ones of austerity and incorruptibility, similar to those told of Curius Dentatus, and Cicero often cites them together; it is difficult to make out a true personality behind the virtues.


Preceded by
Publius Cornelius Dolabella and Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus Maximus
Consul of the Roman Republic
with Quintus Aemilius Papus
282 BC
Succeeded by
Lucius Aemilius Barbula and Quintus Marcius Philippus
Preceded by
Publius Sulpicius Saverrio and Publius Decius Mus
Consul of the Roman Republic
with Quintus Aemilius Papus
277 BC
Succeeded by
Publius Cornelius Rufinus and Gaius Iunius Bubulcus Brutus