Spurius Maelius (died 439 BC) was a wealthyRomanplebeian who was slain because he was suspected of intending to make himself king.[1]
During a severe famine, Spurius Maelius bought up a large amount ofwheat and sold it at a low price to the people of Rome. According toLivy, this caused Lucius Minucius Augurinus, thepatricianpraefectus annonae (president of the market), to accuse Spurius Maelius of collecting arms in his house, and that he was holding secret meetings at which plans were being undoubtedly formed to establish a monarchy. The accusation was widely believed. Maelius was summoned before the agedCincinnatus (specially appointeddictator), but he refused to appear, and was slain by theMaster of the Horse,Gaius Servilius Ahala. Afterward his house was razed to the ground, his wheat distributed amongst the people, and his property confiscated. The open space called the Equimaelium, on which his house had stood, preserved the memory of his death along theVicus Jugarius.Cicero calls Ahala's deed a glorious one, but, whether Maelius entertained any ambitious projects or not, hissummary execution was an act ofmurder, since by theLex Valeria Horatia de provocatione the dictator was bound to allow the right of appeal.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Maelius, Spurius".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 298. Endnotes:| International | |
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