Cornelius (gens)

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House of Cornelius Rufus, Pompei

Cornelius (fem. Cornelia, masc. plural Cornelii) was the nomen of the patrician gens Cornelia (or Cornelia gens), one of the most important gentes, or families, of Ancient Rome. The origins of the family, or clan, are unknown; however, the nomina of the clans, which are names of noble individuals of only one name, date to the Roman kingdom. The monarch, Servius Tullius, is said to have utilized the services of the priest of Diana, Cornelius, in acquiring and sacrificing to the Roman people a cow of prodigious horns (cornua), which long stood in the temple of the goddess.[1]

The first known consulship of any Cornelius was that of Servius Cornelius who served with Quintus Fabius in 485 BC, only twenty-five years after the founding of the republic.[2] If Livy's persistent use of only two names is an accurate representation of the society of the period, no branches of the clans cited, including the Cornelii, had yet been formally recognized. In that year the trial of the former consul, Spurius Cassius, for treason for his proposed land distribution laws during his consulship and subsequent execution of the man and pulling down of his house affirmed the expectations and limits for consuls.

The clan maintained its position as important contributor to the highest offices of the republic, and began to contest for consulships with the Fabii and the Valerii from the 3rd century BC. Over thirty percent of all consulships were held by men from this gens; several great commanders also came from this prominent family.

Possible Latin forms include, in the nominative:

  • Cornelius, male singular
  • Cornelia, female singular; also used as a woman's name today.
  • Cornelii, male plural
  • Cornelianus, male adoptive for a Cornelius adopted into another gens.

Contents

[edit] Notable branches

Tombstone of the brothers Gaius and Lucius Cornelius, sons of Gaius

The earliest known branch of the Cornelii are the Maluginensis (consuls 485 BC onwards) with the praenomens of Servius, Lucius, Marcus, and Publius (the last three being fairly typical Cornelian first names), with the last consuls from the branch in 379 BC. The next branch appearing are the Cossus (pl. Cossi) in 431 BC with the unusual praenomen of Aulus and more common (among Cornelii) of Gnaeus; the last consuls from this branch in 306 BC and 288 BC use the cognomen of Arvina rather than Cossus or Cossus Arvina. Both branches may have been closely related, since early consuls use both the cognomens of Maluginensis and Cossus.

The Scipiones, Dolabellae, Sullae, Lentuli and Cinnae were notable branches of the family; of these, the most prominent early branches in the Middle Republic were the Scipiones, the Cethegi, and the Lentulii.

The Scipiones first appear during the Gaulish wars, under the command of Marcus Furius Camillus, but the first consul from the family appears in 350 BC. It is possible that they could be descended from an older branch, e.g. Maluginensis or Cossus, but no records exist. the next consul appears only in 298 BC (possibly because of early deaths), and thereafter the Scipiones dominate the consulships among the Cornelii. The family declines, however, after the death of Scipio Aemilianus in 129 BC; few obtain the consulship thereafter. (The problem appears to be demographic, as much as loss of quality in succeeding generations - several Scipiones in the second century BC died childless, sonless, or relatively young which premature death may have held back their own young sons). The last republican consuls from this family are almost infamous - Metellus Scipio (technically adopted into another gens) and Scipio Salvito, chosen for his relationship to Augustus rather than his own merits.

Close to the Scipiones in age of the branch are the Sullae, Lentuli, and Cethegi. The Sulla (pl. Sullae) branch is descended from Publius Cornelius Rufinus, dictator in 333, the first dictator year; they are next prominent under a different cognomen ''Rufinus (for their characteristic red hair) in 290 BC and 277 BC, and briefly during the Second Punic War. After a long hiatus, they only climb again to the top rank under the dictator Sulla, whose descendants remain prominent, if not consuls, for several generations.

The Lentulus (pl. Lentuli) first appear in 327 BC, with consulships in 303 BC, 275 BC, 237 BC, 236 BC, and thereafter in (201 BC, 199 BC, in 162 BC (a suffect consulship), and 156 BC, and 146 BC, The most prominent member of this branch in the early to middle Republic is Lucius Cornelius L.f. Lentulus Caudinus, consul in 237 BC who died as Pontifex Maximus in 213 BC. The family remains prominent into the last years Late Republic (through one adoptive member from the Claudii, and others), and were staunch opponents of Caesar. However, the last republican consul from this family was a suffect, Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, in 38 BC, of whom little is known.

The Cethegus (pl. Cethegi), for their old-fashioned habit of wearing bare arms (i.e. no sleeves), first appear in 203 BC with Marcus Cornelius M.f. Cethegus, consul, censor, priest, and ally of his kinsman Scipio Africanus. Other consulships fall to the family in 197 BC, 181 BC, and in 160 BC. After that, the family disappears from the first rank, possibly becoming extinct.

The Dolabella' (pl. Dolabellae) first appear in 283 BC, with the next consulship only in 160 BC, then in 81 BC. They were not prominent, nor wealthy, in comparison with the three greater surviving branches. The most famous Dolabella, Publius Cornelius Dolabella, Cicero's son-in-law and Caesar's client, depended entirely on Julius Caesar for his rise to power.

A Lucius Cornelius L.f. Merula, consul 193 BC, founds a branch still extant in late republican Rome, with a flamen dialis dying in 87 BC. Some Vestal Virgins came from this branch of the family.

The Cinna branch first appears in 127 BC; the next consulship comes only in 87 BC, but after the death of Cinna, whose younger daughter Cornelia Cinna minor was then married to Julius Caesar, the family only received a consulship in 32 BC from Augustus.

Short-lived or obscure branches are those created by consuls Merenda (274 BC) and Blasio (consul in 270 BC and 257 BC).

Over 30% of all the consuls of the republican period of ancient Rome were Cornelians. The notable men and women of the Cornelii family are listed separately, below.

[edit] Famous male members of gens Cornelia

[edit] Early republic

These Cornelian names and their corresponding years in office have been drawn from the following source: Titus Livy, History of Rome (Project Gutenberg version); and from the following Wikipedia articles Tribuni militum consulari potestate and List of Republican Roman Consuls.

  • Servius Cornelius Maluginensis (Cossus), consul 485 BC
  • Lucius Cornelius Ser.f. Maluginensis Uritus (Cossus), or Lucius Cornelius Maluginensis Uritinus, consul 459 BC
  • Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, decemvir 450 BC; possibly the same as
  • Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, consul 436 BC
  • Servius Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune 434 BC
  • Aulus Cornelius Cossus, consul 428 BC and consular tribune 426 BC
  • Publius Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune 415 BC,408 BC and 395 BC
  • Gnaeus Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune 414 BC, 406 BC, 404 BC and 401 BC
  • Aulus Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune 413 BC
  • Gnaeus Cornelius A.f. Cossus, consul 409 BC (possibly same as above)
  • Publius Cornelius Rutilus Cossus, consular tribune 406 BC
  • Publius Cornelius Maluginensis, consular tribune 404 BC and 397 BC
  • Publius Cornelius Scipio, consular tribune 395 BC, first Scipio to be named in Livy.
  • Publius Cornelius, consular tribune 394 BC, 389 BC (or 388 BC)[3], and 385 BC.
  • Publius Cornelius Maluginensis, consul 393 BC[4]
  • Lucius Cornelius, consular tribune 387 BC
  • Gaius Cornelius, consular tribune 386 BC
  • Servius Cornelius Maluginensis, consular tribune for many years.[5]
  • Servius Cornelius, consular tribune in 374 BC; not listed elsewhere.
  • Aulus and Marcus Cornelius, consular tribunes in 373 BC; not listed elsewhere
  • Servius Cornelius, consular tribune in 372 BC; not listed elsewhere.
  • Aulus Cornelius Cossus, consular tribune in 369 BC and 367 BC
  • Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, also consular tribune in 369 BC and 367 BC
  • Lucius Cornelius P.f. Scipio, consul 350 BC, presumed ancestor of later Scipiones.
  • Aulus Cornelius P.f. Cossus Arvina, consul 343 BC, 332 BC
  • Publius Cornelius Rufinus, dictator 333 BC, ancestor of Sulla.
  • Publius Cornelius Scapula, consul 326 BC
  • Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, consul 327 BC
  • Publius Cornelius A.f. Arvina, consul 306 BC, 288 BC
  • Servius Cornelius Cn.f. Lentulus, consul 303 BC
  • Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, consul 298 BC, censor, flamen dialis.
  • Publius Cornelius Cn.f. Rufinus, consul 290 BC and 277 BC

[edit] Middle republic

[edit] Late republic

[edit] Early imperial Rome

  • Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus, consul 18 BC
  • Publius Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus, consul 18 BC
  • Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 16 BC
  • Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus the Augur, consul 14 BC
  • Lucius Cornelius Sulla, consul 5 BC
  • Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, consul 3 BC
  • Cossus Cornelius Lentulus, consul 1 BC
  • P. Cornelius Lentulus Scipio, suffect consul 2 AD
  • Gnaeus Cornelius Cinna Magnus, consul AD 5

[edit] Middle imperial Rome

  • Marcus Gavius Cornelius Cethegus, consul 170
  • Servius Cornelius Scipio Saluidienus Orfitus, consul 178
  • Salcus Cornelius Sulla Felix Faustullus Barbatullus Mactator, consul 241
  • Potitus Cornelius Sulla Felix Messalla, consul 312

[edit] Famous female members of gens Cornelia

In Ancient Rome, Cornelia was the name of the women born in all the branches of the Cornelii family. Women's names were their father's gens and cognomen declined in the female form. Famous Cornelias include:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Plutarch. "Question 4". Roman Questions.  and Livy. "Book I, Section 45". History of Rome. 
  2. ^ Livy. "Book II, Section 1". History of Rome. 
  3. ^ The first year (389 BC) for Publius Cornelius is from the list in the Wikipedia article Tribuni militum consulari potestate; the second year (388 BC) is from the Wikipedia list List of Republican Roman Consuls
  4. ^ His name, as given, is from the Wikipedia list List of Republican Roman Consuls.
  5. ^ His dates are somewhat confused, and depend on which source is used. The first tribuneship was in 386 BC or 385 BC, with the first year (386 BC) for Servius Cornelius Maluginensis from the list in the Wikipedia article Tribuni militum consulari potestate; the second year (385 BC) is from the Wikipedia list List of Republican Roman Consuls. A second term in 384 BC was obtained from the list in the Wikipedia article Tribuni militum consulari potestate; a third year 382 BC from the list in the Wikipedia article Tribuni militum consulari potestate. This may be Livy's fourth term (as mentioned in the Histories) for him in 381 BC. He is probably also the same man who was tribune in 380 BC or 379 BC. The last consular tribuneship for him were in 376 BC, 370 BC, and 368 BC. All dates, unless otherwise mentioned, are taken from the list in the Wikipedia article Tribuni militum consulari potestate. The years (based on Varronian chronology) seem off from Livy's interpretation by a year; the actual starting date of the year changed from March to 1 January in about 153 BC, and Varro might have used an earlier date than Livy.
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