Marcus Valerius Corvus (c. 370–270 BC), also sometimes known as Corvinus, was a military commander and politician who served in the early-to-middle period of theRoman Republic. During his career he was electedconsul six times, beginning at the age of twenty-three. He was appointeddictator twice and led the armies of the Republic in theFirst Samnite War. He occupied thecurule chair twenty-one times throughout his career. According to legend, he lived to the age of one hundred.[1]
A member of thepatriciangensValeria, Valerius first came to prominence in 349 BC when he served as amilitary tribune under the consulLucius Furius Camillus, who was on campaign against theGauls of northern Italy.[2] According to tradition, prior to one battle a huge Gallic warrior challenged any Roman to single combat. Valerius, who asked for and gained the consul's permission, accepted. As the two approached each other, a raven settled on Valerius's helmet and distracted the enemy by flying at his face, allowing Valerius to kill his enemy. The two armies then fought, resulting in a rout of the Gallic forces and a victory for the Romans.[3] As a reward for his courage, Valerius received a gift of ten oxen and a golden crown, as well as theagnomenCorvus (theLatin word for "raven").[4][1]
Regardless of the story's veracity, after this victory Corvus' popularity soared. He was electedconsulin absentia in 348 BC at the unusually young age of 22. During his tenure, a treaty was made between Rome andCarthage.[5] In the subsequent year Corvus was likely elected to the office ofpraetor,[6] followed by his second consulship in 346 BC. On campaign he defeated the Antiates and theVolsci, sacking and destroying the town ofSatricum apart from the temple ofMater Matuta.[7] For these victories, theSenate awarded Corvus his firsttriumph.[8]
Corvus served ascurule aedile in 345 BC before his military abilities saw his election to the consulship for the third time in 343 BC.[9] That year saw the outbreak of theFirst Samnite War, in which Corvus won victories at theBattle of Mount Gaurus and theBattle of Suessula. After the latter victory, Corvus had some 40,000 shields and 170 enemy standards piled before him on the battlefield.[10] Corvus then returned to Rome to celebrate his second triumph. He then returned to the southern war front in wintertime to protectCampania from Samnite incursions.[11]
The year 342 BC was one of crisis for the Roman state, with the Roman legions stationed aroundCapua, as well as the surrounding Campanian towns, rebelling and marching on Rome. In response, Corvus was appointeddictator to deal with the mutineers.[12] Meeting them at the head of an army some eight miles outside of Rome, he negotiated instead of fighting a battle. Using his past association with the army to gain their trust, he reached an agreement.[13] Corvus pushed through laws (thene cui militum fraudi secessio fuit)[14] which granted the mutinous soldiers immunity from prosecution, prevented the removal of a soldier's name from the roll of service without his consent, and prohibited any military tribune being demoted to the rank ofcenturion.[15] He however refused to agree to the lowering of the rate of pay for the cavalrymen, and to the immediate execution of thedecemviri.[16] It was also alleged that, during the troubles that brought about the passage of theleges genuciae, Corvus suggested that the Senate agree to the plebeian demands for the abolition of all debts; this was rejected out of hand.[17] Historians such as Gary Forsythe and S. P. Oakley consider the alleged events of the mutiny to be later literary inventions, although the laws passed in that year are accurate.[18]
Corvus was elected consul for a fourth time in 335 BC, once again in response to an escalating military situation in Italy. The Sidicini had formed an alliance with theAusones ofCales, and the Senate intended to send someone with a proven military record. In a break with tradition, the consuls did not cast lots for their provinces; the Senate instead assigned the area around Cales directly to Corvus. He successfully besieged and stormed the town; after its capture, the Romans established acolony of 2,500 men.[19] For this victory, Corvus was granted a third triumph, and the honor of carrying theagnomenCalenus.[20]
In 332 BC, Corvus was appointed asinterrex,[21] a function he again fulfilled in 320 BC.[22] He may also have served as legate under the dictatorLucius Papirius Cursor in 325 BC during theSecond Samnite War.[23] In 313 BC he was appointed as one of thetriumviri coloniae deducendae, who were given the authority to establish a Latin colony atSaticula.[24] In 312 BC he or his son served as consul withPublius Decius Mus as his colleague. Then in 310 BC he was again named a legate under Lucius Papirius Cursor, and fought in a major battle at Longulae against the Samnites.[25] In 308 BC he was elected praetor for the fourth time as a reward for his services at Longulae.[26][note 1]
Corvus was appointed dictator for the second time in 302 BC,[27] in response to the revolt of theMarsi atArretium andCarseoli. Corvus not only defeated the Marsi in battle, but also took the fortified towns of Milionia, Plestina and Fresilia.[28] The Marsi sued for peace, and for his victories over them Corvus was awarded his fourth triumph.[29] He was again appointed dictator in 301 BC, this time to engage in operations against theEtruscans.[30][31] While Corvus was in Rome taking theauspices, hismagister equitum (probablyMarcus Aemilius Paullus)[32] was ambushed by the enemy and forced to retreat to his camp, losing a portion of his army. Corvus, quickly coming to his rescue, engaged and defeated the Etruscans in battle, earning an additional triumph.[33][note 2]
300 BC saw Corvus elected consul for the fifth time. During his year in office he defeated some rebelAequians[34] and was involved in the passage of two laws. The first was theLex Ogulnia, which resulted in the opening of theCollege of Pontifices and theCollege of Augurs to theplebeians. The second, which he legislated himself, was the expansion of theprovocatio, or right of appeal to the people, which now made illegal the use of severe force (specifically killing or lashing by the higher magistrates) within the city of Rome.[35][36] Then in the following year (299 BC), after the Senate considered appointing him dictator for the fourth time,[37] Corvus was electedsuffect consul after the death ofTitus Manlius Torquatus, who was in command of the war with the Etruscans. With Corvus' arrival, the Etruscans refused to give battle, but remained within their fortified towns. Although Corvus set entire villages on fire to draw them out, the Etruscans refused to engage him.[38]
After his sixth consulship Corvus retired from public life. He died at the age of 100, around the year 270 BC.
A man with considerable military talents, Corvus also possessed a kind and amicable nature. Very popular with the soldiers he led into battle and with whom he shared camps, he reportedly competed with them in the athletic games which they played during their leisure time.[39] He was also an enthusiastic supporter of reform, siding with the plebeians during the ongoingConflict of the Orders. He held that the changing needs of an expanding state required a readjustment of the opportunities provided to plebeians, for the good of Rome.[40]
To later Roman writers, he served as a memorable example of the favors bestowed byFortuna. A statue of Corvus stood in theForum of Augustus alongside the statues of other Roman heroes. Nevertheless, annalistValerius Antias may have exaggerated his list of accomplishments.[41]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lucius Furius Camillus Appius Claudius Crassus Inregillensis | Roman consul 348 BC With:Marcus Popillius Laenas | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Roman consul II 346 BC With:Gaius Poetelius Libo Visolus | Succeeded by Marcus Fabius Dorsuo Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Rufus |
| Preceded by | Roman consul III 343 BC With:Aulus Cornelius Cossus Arvina | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Roman consul IV 335 BC With:Marcus Atilius Regulus Calenus | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Marcus Livius Denter Marcus Aemilius Paullus | Roman consul V 300 BC With:Quintus Appuleius Pansa | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Roman consul VI 299 BC (suffect) With:Marcus Fulvius Paetinus | Succeeded by |