Postumius Tubertus, Dictator

It’s around 431 BCE and Rome is busy contending with her neighbours in pretty much every direction. Turns out that it’s not easy trying to establish yourself as an independent state! It might just be time for a dictator. Enter: Aulus Postumius Tubertus.

Episode 133 – Postumius Tubertus, Dictator

Rome is taking the need to put troops on the field seriously with a levy of the citizens held under the conditions of the lex sacrata, which is considered to be the most strict conditions requiring compliance in line with the gods. Who are they scared of? Only the most enduring thorns in their sides, their southern neighbours the Volsicians and the Aequians! It isn’t long before Rome is convinced that they need a dictator to sort out this mess.

Getting to the point of having a dictator in place though is quite another story. In this episode we explore some intriguing details relating to the consuls, the tribunes of the plebs, and the interference of a certain patrician. Beyond them is the actual battle itself, which takes on grand overtones with comparisons made to Homer’s Iliad. This year is also tinged with a sense of tragedy with a story involving the dictator Aulus Postumius Tubertus and his son.

Hold on to your hats, dear listener, this is going to be epic!

Things to tune in for:

• Familiar locations like Mount Algidus
• Some beef between the consuls!
• Intense levies
• Battle plans!
• The heroism of Vettius Messius

Our Book on the Roman Kings

We've gone back to where it all began (or so the Romans would say…)

We delve into the history, myth, and complexities of the ancient Roman kings. You can support our work and get a very cool ancient Roman history book in return by pre-ordering a copy of Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome from the Highlands Press. Due for release in late January 2023.

Highlands Press is an independent publisher supporting historians and we’re excited to be pairing up with an indie producer for our debut book together.

What did early Roman soldiers wear on the field? It's a good question, while we might assume leather was important protective gear, some elites likely had more sophisticated armour. Above is a bronze helmet of the Montefortino type. Considered to be the oldest type of metal Roman helmet. This example dates from the third century BCE and is now in the British Museum.

Our Players

Consuls

• Titus Quinctius L. f. L. n. Poenus Cincinnatus (Pat)
• Gaius/Gnaeus Iulius – f. – n. Mento (Pat)

Dictator

• Aulus Postumius – f. – n. Tubertus (Pat)

Master of the Horse

• Lucius Iulius (Vopisci f. C. ?n) Iullus (Pat)

Military Legates

• Marcus Fabius (Vibulanus) (Pat)
• Marcus? Geganius (Macerinus) (Pat)
• Spurius Postumius Albus (Regillensis) (Pat)
• Quintus Sulpicius (Camerinus Praetextatus) (Pat)

Other Patricians

• Quintus Servilius Priscus

Pontifex Maximus

• Aulus Cornelius Cossus

Volscians

• Vettius Messius

Our Sources

• Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.26-29.
• Dr G reads Diodorus Siculus 12.64-65.1; Ovid Fasti 6.723f; Valerius Maximus 2.7.6; Plutarch Cam. 2; Gellius 17.21.17
• Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association)
• Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis)
• Forsythe, G. 2006. A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War(University of California Press)
• Ogilvie, R. M. 1965. A Commentary on Livy, Books 1-5 (Clarendon Press)
• Wilson, M. 2021. The Evolution of the Roman Dictatorship (University of Michigan Press)

Sound Effects

Sounds effects in this episode are sourced from BBC, Pixabay, and Pond5. Thanks to the highly talented Bettina Joy de Guzman for our theme music.