Quintus Minucius Thermus

Quintus Minucius Thermus (d. 188 BC) was a consul of the Roman Republic in 193 BC.[1]

In 202, Minucius Thermus may have been the military tribune named Thermus who served in Africa under Scipio Africanus.[2] As a tribune of the plebs in 201, Thermus and his fellow tribune Manius Acilius Glabrio opposed the desire of Cornelius Lentulus to have Africa as his consular province.[3] Thermus was also responsible for legislation confirming peace with Carthage after the Second Punic War.[4] His actions may reflect on the earlier connection with Scipio, whose imperium in Africa was extended into 201 so he could finalize the treaty, as a result of which he received the cognomen Africanus.

Minucius Thermus was curule aedile in 198. From 197, he served on the three-man commission (triumviri coloniis deducendis) in charge of establishing colonies located at the mouths of the Volturnus and the Liternus (in Campania), at Puteoli, Castrum Salerni, and Buxentum.[5]

As praetor in 196, he was assigned to Hispania Citerior ("Nearer Spain").[6] He was possibly acting as proconsul when his military success at Turda in Spain gained him the honor of a triumph.[7]

Thermus was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria as his province. From his base in Pisa, he waged war against the Ligurians with little success.[8] Among his officers was the prefect M. Cincius Alimentus. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa.[9] He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191–190, until he was instructed by the senate to transfer command to Scipio Nasica. He was denied a triumph upon return.[10]

In 189–188, Thermus took part in the ten-man commission (decemviri) who assisted the proconsul Manlius Vulso in concluding the treaty with Antiochus III and making a settlement in Asia.[11] Thermus went with Manlius to administer the oath that ratified the treaty.[12] He was killed while returning through Thrace with Manlius.[13]

Preceded by
P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus (II)
and Ti. Sempronius Longus		 Consul of the Roman Republic
with L. Cornelius Merula
193 BC		 Succeeded by
L. Quinctius Flamininus
and Gn. Domitius Ahenobarbus

References

  1. ^ Offices, dates, and ancient sources from T.R.S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic (American Philological Association, 1951, 1986), vol. 1, pp. 318, 320, 334, 335, 341, 346, 349, 351, 354, 357, 363, 364–365 (notes 6 and 7), 367; vol. 2 (1952), p. 592.
  2. ^ Appian, Lib. 36; Broughton points out that Münzer accepts the testimony of Appian, despite questions of reliability.
  3. ^ Livy 30.40.9–16.
  4. ^ Livy 30.43.2–3; Polybius 15.18–19; Cassius Dio frg. 57.82–83; Zonaras 9.14.
  5. ^ Livy 32.29.3–4 and 34.45.2; Velleius Paterculus 1.15.2.
  6. ^ Livy 33.24.2, 26.1–4 and 43.7–8.
  7. ^ Livy 33.44.4–5; 34.10.5–7.
  8. ^ Livy 34.55.6 and 56.3–7, 35.3.1–6 and 6.1–4 and 11.1–13; MRR1 p. 346.
  9. ^ Livy 35.20.6; 35.21.7–11.
  10. ^ Livy 36.38.1–4 and 40.2; 37.2.5; 37.46.1–2.
  11. ^ See also Q. Minucius Rufus: Diplomatic missions. Broughton notes that Appian (Syrian War 39) is mistaken in calling Thermus a chiliarch (χιλίαρχος) as a Greek equivalent of his Roman rank.
  12. ^ Polybius 21.43.1–2; Livy 38.39.1.
  13. ^ Livy 38.41.3, 46.7 and 49.8.