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The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies

Camillus, Marcus Furius

Born: date and place unknown

Died: 365 bce; place unknown

Related civilization: Republican Rome

Major role/position: Military leader

Life: Marcus Furius Camillus (MAHR-kuhs FYOOR-ee-uhs kuh-MIHL-uhs) was the preeminent Roman general of his time. Though surviving accounts of his life were composed three centuries after his death and therefore contain many romanticized details, it is clear that Camillus was one of the more important agents of Roman expansion of his time. His first great achievement came as dictator in 396 bce, when he defeated Falerii and Capena and captured Veii. He celebrated his victories with a magnificent triumph but was exiled in 391 bce for either misappropriating the Veiian spoils or committing a sacrilege while celebrating his triumph.

While Camillus was in exile, the Gauls captured Rome in 390 bce Rome was about to be ransomed by the payment of a large sum of gold, when Camillus arrived with a new army as the gold was being counted out, defeated the Gauls in battle, and recovered the ransom. He became known as the second founder of Rome because he convinced the Romans to rebuild the city rather than move to Veii. In the following years, Camillus continued to serve Rome with victories over many of its neighbors, as Rome quickly resumed its expansionist policy. He was appointed dictator multiple times but eventually renounced the position each time, as was expected of dictators during the early Republic.

Influence: The role of Camillus as a military leader responsible for Roman expansion in the late fifth and early fourth century bce is secure. However, many of the details of his life and his purported statesmanship as the second founder of Rome reflect the political turmoil and propaganda of the late Republic.

See also: Gauls; Rome, Republican.

—Robert Rousselle

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
"Camillus, Marcus Furius." The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies, edited by Shally-Jensen Michael, Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CWEP_0544.
APA 7th
Camillus, Marcus Furius. The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies, In S. Michael (Ed.), Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CWEP_0544.
CMOS 17th
"Camillus, Marcus Furius." The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies, Edited by Shally-Jensen Michael. Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CWEP_0544.