Marcus Furius Camillus
Marcus Furius Camillus was a prominent Roman general and statesman active during the late fifth and early fourth centuries B.C.E. His military career began to shine when he served as dictator in 396 B.C.E., where he notably defeated the cities of Falerii and Capena and captured Veii, leading to a grand triumph. However, his success was marred by controversy, resulting in his exile in 391 B.C.E., stemming from accusations of sacrilege or misappropriation of spoils. During his exile, Rome fell to the Gauls in 390 B.C.E., but Camillus returned just in time to thwart the payment of a ransom and reclaim the city, earning him the title of the "second founder of Rome." Following this episode, he played a crucial role in further military victories that supported Rome's aggressive expansionist strategies. Although some aspects of his life are romanticized and influenced by later political dynamics, his legacy as a key figure in the growth of Rome is well established. Camillus remains an emblematic figure in Roman history, representing both military prowess and the complex interplay of politics and warfare during the Republic's formative years.
On this Page
Marcus Furius Camillus
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 the 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 b.c.e., when he defeated Falerii and Capena and captured Veii. He celebrated his victories with a magnificent triumph but was exiled in 391 b.c.e. 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 b.c.e. 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.
Influence
The role of Camillus as a military leader responsible for Roman expansion in the late fifth and early fourth century b.c.e. 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.
Bibliography
Livy. The Early History of Rome. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1971.
Plutarch. Plutarch’s Lives: The Dryden Translation, Edited With Notes by Arthur Hugh Clough. New York: Modern Library, 2001.