27.6
On the
Dictator's arrival in Rome he sent C. Sempronius Blaesus, who had been his
second in command in Capua, to the army in Etruria, to relieve C.
Calpurnius, to whom he had sent written instructions to take over the
command of his own army at Capua. He fixed the earliest possible date for
the elections, but they could not be closed owing to a difference between the
tribunes and the Dictator. The junior century of the Galerian tribe had
obtained the first place in the order of voting, and they had declared for Q.
Fulvius and Q. Fabius. The other centuries, summoned in their order, would
have gone the same way, had not two of the tribunes of the plebs -Caius
Arrenius and his brother Lucius -intervened. They said that it was infringing
the rights of his fellow-citizens for a magistrate to extend his period of
office, and it was a still greater offence for the man who was conducting the
elections to allow himself to be elected. If, therefore, the Dictator accepted
votes for himself, they should place their veto on the proceedings, but if the
names of any others than himself were put up, they would not stop the
election. The Dictator defended the procedure by alleging the authority of
the senate and a resolution of the Assembly as precedents. "When Cneius
Servilius," he said, "was consul and the other consul had fallen in battle at
Lake Thrasymenus, this question was referred by authority of the senate to
the plebs, and they passed a resolution that as long as there was war in Italy
the people had the right to reappoint as consuls, any who had been consuls,
as often as they pleased. I have an old precedent for my action in this
instance in the case of L. Postumius Megellus, who was elected consul
together with C. Junius Bubulcus at the very election over which he was
presiding as interrex, and a recent one in the case of Q. Fabius Maximus,
who would certainly never have allowed himself to be re-elected if it had not
been in the interest of the State."
A long discussion followed, and at last an agreement was come to
between the Dictator and the tribunes that they would abide by the opinion
of the senate. In view of the critical position of the State, the senate saw that
the conduct of affairs ought to be in the hands of old and tried men of ability
and experience in war, and that there ought to be no delay in the elections.
The tribunes gave way and the elections were held. Q. Fabius Maximus was
returned as consul for the fifth time, and Q. Fulvius Flaccus for the fourth
time. The elections of praetors followed, the successful candidates being: L.
Veturius Philo, T. Quinctius Crispinus, C. Hostilius Tubulus and C.
Aurunculeius. As soon as the magistrates were appointed for the year, Q.
Fulvius laid down his office. At the close of this summer a Carthaginian fleet
of forty vessels under the command of Hamilcar sailed across to Sardinia and
laid waste the territory of Olbia. On the appearance of the praetor P. Manlius
Volso with his army, they sailed round to the other side of the island and
devastated the district of Caralita, after which they returned to Africa with
every description of plunder. Several Roman priests died this year and others
were appointed in their place. C. Servilius was made pontiff in place of T.
Otacilius Crassus. Tiberius Sempronius Longus, son of Tiberius, was
appointed augur in place of T. Otacilius Crassus, Tiberius Sempronius
Longus, son of Tiberius, was similarly appointed one of the Keepers of the
Sacred Books in place of Ti. Sempronius Longus, son of Tiberius. The
deaths took place also of M. Marcius, the Rex Sacrorum, and M. Aemilius
Papus, the Curio Maximus; these vacancies were not filled up during the
year. The censors appointed this year were L. Veturius Philo and P. Licinius
Crassus, the Pontifex Maximus. Licinius Crassus had not been either consul
or praetor before he was made censor, he went straight from the aedileship
to the censorship. These censors, however, did not revise the roll of
senators, nor did they transact any public business whatever; the death of L.
Veturius put an end to their censorship, for Licinius at once resigned office.
The curule aediles, L. Veturius and P. Licinius Varus, celebrated the Roman
Games for one day. The plebeian aediles, Q. Catius and L. Porcius Licinius,
devoted the money derived from fines to the casting of bronze statues for the
temple of Ceres; they also celebrated the Plebeian Games with great
splendour, considering the resources available at the time.
