Fulvius at Herdonea ; difficulty carried off the field
severely
wounded.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
24, 25, 30–
had the glory of having put a termination to the 32; Plut. Marc. 12. ) His principal exploit that
Gallic war.
Great part of the credit of the cam- we find recorded during this year was the relief of
paign, according to Polybius, would seem to have Nola, which he a second time successfully defended
helonged to Scipio, but Marcellus alone was ho- against Hannibal; and though the Carthaginian
noured with a triumph, which was rendered con- general had been lately joined by Hanno with a
spicuous by the spoils of Viridomarus, carried as a powerful reinforcement, Marcellus not only repulsed
trophy by the victor, and afterwards dedicated by him from the walls, but (if we may believe the
him as spolia opima in the temple of Jupiter accounts transmitted to us) defeated him with
Feretrius. This was the third and last instance considerable slaughter; and this success was im-
in Roman history in which such an offering was mediately followed by the desertion to the Romans
nade. (Polyb. ii. 34, 35; Plut. Marc. 6—8 ; of a large body of Numidian and Spanish horse.
Zonar. viii. 20, p. 404; Val. Max. iii. 2. § 5; (Liv. xxiii. 39, 41-46 ; Plut. Marc. 12. )
Entrop. iii. 6 ; Flor. ii. 3 ; Aur. Vict. de Vir. I. At the election of the consuls for the ensuing
45 ; Oros. iv. 13; Fast. Capit. ap. Gruter, p. year (214) Marcellus was appointed for the third
297. )
time, with Fabius Maximus for his colleague.
From this time we hear no more of Marcellus Such a pair of consuls (says Livy) had not been
until the alarming progress of Hannibal in Italy, seen for many years. Yet their operations during
and especially his victory at the lake of Thrasy- the ensuing campaign were not marked by any
mene, compelled the Romans to look out for tried decisive results : Marcellus returned to his old
and able soldiers, to whom they could confide the camp near Nola, and a third time repulsed an
conduct of the war, and Marcellus was appointed attempt of Hannibal upon that city ; whereupon
one of the praetors for the year 216. He was at first the Carthaginian general marched away to Taren-
destined to take the command in Sicily, but while tum, and the two consuls took advantage of his
he was still occupied at Ostia with the preparation absence to lay siege to the small but important
of a fleet for this purpose, he was suddenly recalled town of Casilinum. The Campanian garrison of
to Rome, in consequence of the disastrous defeat of this fortress, after an obstinate defence, were ad-
the two consuls at Cannae. By the orders of the mitted to a capitulation by Fabius, but Marcellus
senate he threw a body of 1500 men, which he had broke in upon them as they were quitting the city,
raised for the expedition to Sicily, into Rome itself, and put them all to the sword, except about fifty,
while he hastened with one legion to Canusium, who escaped under the protection of Fabius. (Liv.
and after collecting there the shattered remains of | xxiv. 9, 13, 19. ) After this Marcellus returned
the consular army, drew them off into Campania, to Nola, from whence he was ordered by the senate
where he encamped near Suessula. Meanwhile, to proceed to Sicily, apparently before the close of
the important city of Capua had opened its gates to the summer of B. C. 214. (16. 20, 21. ) On his
Hannibal, and Nola would have followed its ex- arrival in that island he found affairs in a very
ample, had not Marcellus received timely notice of unsettled state. The death of Ilieronymus, which
the danger from the aristocratic party in that city, had at first appeared favourable to the Roman
who were favourably disposed towards Rome. He cause, had eventually led to a contrary result; and
accordingly hastened thither with the forces under Hippocrates and Epicydes, two Carthaginians by
his command, threw himself into the town, and on birth, had obtained the chief direction of affairs at
the approach of Hannibal made a sudden sally, by Syracuse. [Epicydes. ] Marcellus, however, at
which he repulsed the Carthaginians with some first determined to try the effect of negotiation:
loss. The success thus obtained (though evidently his ambassadors obtained a favourable hearing, and
greatly magnified by the Roman annalists), was even induced the Syracusans to pass sentence of
important from its moral effect, as the first check, banishment against Hippocrates and Epicydes.
however slight, that Hannibal had yet received. These two leaders were at the time at Leontini, at
Marcellus now secured Nola to the Roinan interest, I the head of a considerable force, but they were
Marcelos was
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VOL. U.
## p. 929 (#945) ############################################
MARCELLUS.
929
MARCELLUS.
unable to defend the town against Marcellus, who ever, made himself master of the fort of Euryalys,
took it by storm, and though he spared the in- and now closely beset Acbradina, when the Car-
habitants, executed in cold blood 2000 Roman thaginian army under Himilco and Hippocrates
deserters whom he found among the troops that advanced to the relief of the city. Their efforts
had formed the garrison. This sanguinary act at were, however, in vain : all their attacks on the
once alienated the minds of the Sicilians, and camp of Marcellus were repulsed, and they were
alarmed the mercenary troops in the service of unable to effect a junction with Epicydes and the
Syracuse. The latter immediately joined Hippo- Syracusan garrison. The unhealthiness of the
crates and Epicydes, who had made their escape to country soon gave rise to a pestilence, which
Ilerbessus ; the gates of Syracuse were opened to committed frightful ravages in both armies, but
them by their partisans within the walls, and the especially in that of the Carthaginians, where it
party hostile to Rome thus established in the un- carried off both their generals, and led to the entire
disputed command of that city. (Liv. xxiv. 27-break-up of the army. Thus freed from all appre-
32 ; Plut. Marc. 13, 14; Appian, Sic. 3. ) hensions from without, Marcellus renewed his
Marcellus, whose severities had given rise to attacks upon those quarters of the city which still
this revolution, now appeared before Syracuse at held out; but though the officers on whom the
the head of his army, and after a fruitless summons command devolved after the departure of Epicydes
to the inhabitants, proceeded to lay siege to the made several attempts at negotiation, nothing was
city both by sea and land. His attacks were effected. At length the treachery of Mericus, a
vigorous and unremitting, and were directed espe- leader of Spanish mercenaries in the Syracusan
cially against the quarter of Achradina from the service, opened to Marcellus the gates of Achradina,
side of the sea ; but though he brought many pow. and in the general attack that ensued he made
erful military engines against the walls, these were himself master of the island of Ortygia also. The
rendered wholly unavailing by the superior skill city was given up to plunder, and though the lives
and science of Archimedes, who directed those of of the free inhabitants were spared, they were
the besieged. All the efforts of the assailants were reduced to such distress, that many of them were
baffled, and the Roman soldiers inspired with so compelled to sell themselves as slaves, in order to
great a dread of Archimedes and his engines, that obtain the means of existence. (Diod. Erc. Vat.
Marcellus was compelled to give up all hopes of p. 60. ) Yet the clemency and liberality of Mar-
carrying the city by open force, and to turn the cellus have been extolled by almost all the writers
siege into a blockade. (Liv. xxiv. 33, 34 ; Plut. of antiquity. The booty found in the captured
Marc. 14–17; Polyb. vii. 3, 5—9; Zonar. ix. city was immense : besides the money in the royal
4 ; Tzetz. Chil. ii. 35. ) During the continuance treasury, which was set apart for the coffers of ihe
of this, he himself with a part of his army carried state, Marcellus carried off many of the works of
on operations in the other parts of the island, art with which the city had been adorned, to grace
leaving App. Claudius to keep watch before Sy his own triumph and the temples at Rome. This
In this manner he took Helorus and was the first instance of a practice which afterwards
Herbessus, and utterly destroyed Megara ; and became so general ; and it gave great offence not
though he failed in preventing the Carthaginian only to the Greeks of Sicily, but to a large party
general Himilco from making himself master of at Rome itself, who drew unfavourable comparisons
Agrigentum, he defeated Hippocrates near Acrae. between the conduct of Marcellus in this instance
The advance of Himilco compelled Marcellus to and that of Fabius at Tarentum. (Liv. xxv. 23
retreat to his camp before Syracuse ; but here the —31, 40; Plut. Marc. 18, 19, 21 ; Polyb. vüi.
Carthaginian general was unable to molest him, 37, ix. 10; Zonar. ix. 5. ).
and the war was again reduced to a series of de- But though Syracuse had fallen, the war in
sultory and irregular operations in different parts Sicily was not yet at an end. A considerable
of the island. These were by no means all favour-Carthaginian force still occupied Agrigentum under
able to the Romans: Murgantia, an important Epicydes and Hanno; and Mutines, with a body
town, where they had established large magazines, of Numidian cavalry, carried his incursions far into
surrendered to the Carthaginians, and the strong the interior. Marcellus now turned his arms
fortress of Enna was only prevented from following against these remaining enemies, attacked Epicydes
its example by the barbarous massacre of its in- and Hanno in the absence of Mutines, and totally
habitants by order of the Roman governor, L. Pi- defeated them, after which he returned to Syracuse.
narius [PINARIUS), an act of cruelty which had (Liv. xxv. 40, 41. ) The early part of the follow-
the effect of alienating the minds of all the other ing year (211) seems to have been devoted to the
Sicilians. (Liv. xxiv. 35—39 ; Plut. Marc. 18. ) settlement of affairs in Sicily; but it is strange
Meanwhile, the blockade of Syracuse had been that Marcellus does not seem to have made any
prolonged far on into the summer of 212, nor did efforts to put an end altogether to the war in that
there appear any prospect of its termination, as the island before he returned to Rome, and when
communications of the besieged by sea were almost towards the close of the summer he resigned the
entirely open. In this state of things Marcellus command of the province to the praetor M. Cor.
fortunately discovered a part of the walls more nelius, Mutines was still in arms, and Agrigentum
accessible than the rest, and having prepared still in the possession of the Carthaginians. On
scaling ladders, effected an entrance at this point this account the senate refused him the honours of
during the night which followed a great festival, a triumph, notwithstanding his great successes, and
and thus made himself master of the Epipolae. he was obliged to content himself with the inferior
The two quarters called Tyche and Neapolis were distinction of an ovation. Previous to this, how-
now at his mercy, and were given up to plunder ; ever, he celebrated with great magnificence a tri-
but Epicydes still held the island citadel, and the umphal procession to the temple of Jupiter on the
important quarter of Achradina, which formed two Alban Mount, and even his ovation was rendered
separate and strong fortresses. Marcellus, how- more conspicuous than most triumphs by the nun-
30
racuse.
VOL. II.
## p. 930 (#946) ############################################
930
MARCELLUS.
MARCELLUS.
erects
be cio no
The bea
betzer is
Tervbe
paced of
Een by
as Ls
21
gracef!
Sapro a:
Thel
(strica
rzesti
her and magnificence of the spoils brought from drawn battle, in the second the Romans were de
Syracuse. (Liv. xxvi. 21 ; Plut. Marc. 20, 22. ) feated with heavy loss, and in the third they are
Shortly after his triumph he was elected for the said to have gained a complete victory ; notwith-
fourth time consul, together with M. Valerius standing which, Hannibal drew off his army un-
Laevinus. But scarcely had he entered on his molested towards Bruttium, while Marcellus was
office (B. C. 210) when he had to encounter a storm unable to follow him, on account of the number of
of indignation, raised against him by his proceed- his wounded. So severe indeed had been bis
ings in Sicily. Notwithstanding the praises be- losses, that he shut himself up within the walls of
stowed by the Roman writers, and still more by Venusia, and remained there in perfect inactivity
Plutarch (Marc. 20; and see Cic. in Verr. ii. 2, during the remainder of the scason, while Han-
iv. 52, 54), upon his moderation and clemency, it nibal moved up and down throughout the south of
is evident that his conduct was considered by Italy without opposition. Such conduct could not
many, even of his own countrymen, as having been fail to give much dissatisfaction at Rome ; and it
unnecessarily harsh. Deputies from the Sicilian was even proposed by one of the tribunes that
cities now appeared at Rome, to lay their complaints Marcellus should be deprived of his command.
before the senate, where they met with powerful | But on hearing of this motion he immediately
support ; and though the governing body was hastened to Rome, and defended himself so suc-
unwilling to cast a slur upon Marcellus, and de cessfully, that he was not only absolved from all
termined to ratify his past acts, yet the entreaties blame, but elected consul for the ensuing year,
of the Sicilians 80 far prevailed, that the two together with T. Quintius Crispinus. (Liv. xxvii.
consuls exchanged provinces, and it was arranged 7, 12–14, 20, 21 ; Plut. Marc. 25–27. )
that Marcellus, to whose lot Sicily had previously Before he entered on this, his fifth consulship,
fallen, should take the command in Italy against he was sent into Etruria to appease a threatened
Hannibal. (Liv. xxvi. 22, 26, 29-32 ; Plut revolt of the Arretians, and succeeded in quieting
Murc. 23; Zonar. ix. 6. ) From this time the their discontent for a time. After he returned to
Sicilians appear to have changed their policy, and Rome, and was preparing to resume operations in
being freed from all immediate apprehensions from the field (8. c. 208), he was detained for some time
Marcellus, they endeavoured to conciliate his by unfavourable omens and the religious ceremonies
favour by every kind of honour and flattery: the deemed necessary, in order to avert the evils thus
Syracusans placed their city under the patronage threatened. At length he once more took the
of himself and his descendants, erected statues to command of the army at Venusia, and being joined
him, and instituted an annual festival, called the by his colleague Crispinus from Bruttium, they
Marcellea, which continued to be celebrated down encamped with their combined forces between Ve
to the time of Verres. (Liv. xxvi. 32 ; Plut. Marc. nusia and Bantia. Hannibal's camp was at a short
23; Cic. in Verr. ij. 21, 63. )
distance from them ; between the two armies lay
Marcellus now joined the army in Apulia, where a wooded hill, which the two consuls imprudently
he was soon after enabled to strike an important proceeded to reconnoitre, escorted only by a small
blow, by the conquest of Salapia, which was be body of horse, and in so doing fell into an ambus-
trayed into his hands by Blasius, one of the prin- cade of Numidians. A sharp skirmish ensued, but
cipal citizens of the place (Blasius), and this the Romans being far inferior in number, were
success was followed by the capture of two cities in quickly dispersed or put to the sword : Marcellus
Samnium, which had been occupied by Carthaginian himself was run through the body with a spear,
garrisons. Meanwhile, Hannibal had surprised and and killed on the spot: his colleague was with
destroyed the army of Cn.
Fulvius at Herdonea ; difficulty carried off the field severely wounded.
whereupon Marcellus hastened to oppose him, and Hannibal displayed a generous sympathy for the
check his victorious career. The two armies met fate of his fallen foe, and caused all due honours to
near Numistro in Lucania, and a battle ensued, be paid to his lifeless remains. (Liv. xxvii. 21-
apparently without any decisive result, though the 23, 25—28 ; Plut. Marc. 28–30; Polyb. x. 32;
Romans claimed a victory ; and the remainder of Appian, Annib. 50 ; Zonar. ix. 9 ; Val. Max. i. 6.
the campaign was occupied with unimportant $ 9. )
movements, Marcellus continuing to follow the There are few characters in Roman history of
steps of his wary antagonist, but carefully avoiding which the picture transmitted to us has been more
an engagement. So important, however, did he disfigured by partiality than that of Marcellus.
deem it not to lose sight for a moment of the Car- Almost the whole account of his military operations
thaginian general, that he declined to repair to against Hannibal has been so perverted, that it is
Rome even in order to hold the comitia, and in difficult now to arrive at the truth ; but it is start-
consequence, by direction of the senate, named ling to find, after reading in Livy or Plutarch the
Q. Fulvius dictator for that purpose. (Liv. xxvi. details of his numerous victories over the Car-
38, xxvii. 1-5; Plut. Marc. 24, 25 ; Appian, thaginian general, that Polybius expressly denied
Annib. 45–47 ; Zonar. ix. 7; Val. Max. iii. 8. he had ever defeated Hannibal at all. (Plut. Comp.
ext. § 1. )
Pelop. c. Marc. 1 ; and see Polyb. xv. 11. ) The
During the following year (209) he retained the ambiguous character of many of his alleged victories
command of his army with the rank of proconsul, has been indeed already adverted to, and is suf-
in order that he might co-operate with the two ficiently apparent even from the accounts of the
consuls of the year, Fabius Maximus and Fulvius Romans themselves. It seems probable that many
Flaccus, against Hannibal. At the opening of the of these exaggerations have found their way into
campaign he was the first to oppose the Carthaginian history from the funeral oration of Marcellus by
general, whom he found near Canusium ; and in the his son, which we know to have been used as an
neighbourhood of that city, according to the Romanſ authority by some of the earlier annalists. (Lir.
historians, there ensued three successive actions xxvii. 27. ) Still more unfounded is the reputation
between the two arinies. Of these the first was a he seems to have obtained for clemency and hu-
5. M
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## p. 931 (#947) ############################################
MARCELLUS.
MARCELLUS.
931
.
1113
AQUINO
MARCELLVS
COIN OF MARCELLUS.
manity. According to Livy's own account, he | Paetus : they rendered their magistracy, conspi-
alienated the minds of the Sicilians by his cruel cuous by the quantity of corn that they imported
executions at Leontini; and he approved of, though at a cheap rate from Africa, as well as by the
he did not order, the barbarous massacre at Enna. magnificence with which they celebrated the Ro-
The feelings with which he inspired the whole of man games. (Liv. xxxi. 50. ) In B. c. 198 he
the Sicilian Greeks may be gathered from their was elected one of the praetors, and obtained Sicily
expression reported by Livy, that it would be as his province, with a force of 4000 foot and 300
better for the island to be sunk in the sea, or horse, but his services were confined to the send-
overwhelmed by the flames of Aetna, than to be ing supplies to the Roman armies in Greece. (Id.
placed once more at the mercy of Marcellus. (Liv. xxxii. 8, 27. ) After the customary interval of two
Xxvi. 29; comp. Appian, Sic. 4, 5. ) It is admitted years he obtained the consulship, with L. Furius
even by Plutarch (his most unqualified panegyrist) Purpurco, B. c. 196. (Id. xxxiii. 24 ; Fast. Capit. )
that he was illiterate and imperfectly educated ; His great object was to obtain the renewal or con-
and his character may be summed up as that of a tinuation of the Macedonian war, to which an end
rude, stern soldier, brave and daring to excess, but had just been put by Flamininus ; but this was
harsh and unyielding, and wanting alike the more frustrated by the people, who ratified the pence
graceful qualities which adorned the character of which the latter had concluded with Philip ; and
Scipio and the prudence necessary to constitute a Marcellus was compelled to content himself with
truly great general.
the conduct of the war in Cisalpine Gaul. Here
The head on the obverse of the annexed coin he at first met with a defeat from the Boians, but
(struck by P. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus) is this was soon compensated by a brilliant victory
unquestionably that of the conqueror of Syracuse : over the Insubrians, and the conquest of the im-
the reverse represents him carrying the spolia portant town of Comum. Besides this, in conjunc-
opima to the temple of Jupiter Feretrius.
tion with his colleague, Purpureo, he obtained
some advantages over the Boians and Liguriang :
and on his return to Rome was, by unanimous con-
sent, honoured with a triumph. (Liv. xxxiii. 25,
36, 37 ; Polyb. xviii. 25. ) In the same year he
was appointed pontifex, in the room of C. Sempro-
nius Tuditanus. (Liv. xxxiii. 42. ) In B. c. 193
he again served in Cisalpine Gaul as one of the
lieutenants of the consul L. Cornelius Merula, and
took part in the great victory he obtained over the
Boians. (Id. xxxv. 5, 8. ) In B. C. 189 he ob
tained the censorship in conjunction with T. Fla-
5. M. CLAUDIUS M. F. M. N. MARCELLUS, son mininus, an honour which was enhanced in this
of the preceding, was remarkable as a youth for his instance by the number of distinguished competitors
personal beauty, as well as for his modest and over whom they obtained the preference. Their
engaging demeanour. The insult offered him by census was marked by the first admission of the
Scantilius, and the punishment inflicted on the people of Formiae, Fundi, and Arpinum, to the full
latter by the elder Marcellus, have been already ad- rights Roman citizens. (Liv. xxxvii. 58, xxxviii.
verted to (p. 297, b). In B. c. 208 he accompanied 28, 36. ) From this time we hear no more of him
his father as military tribune, and was one of till his death, in B. c. 177. (Id. xli. 13. )
those present with him at the time of his death. 6. M. CLAUDIUS M. f. M. N. MARCELLUS,
He was himself badly wounded in the skirmish in probably a brother of the preceding, though bearing
which the elder Marcellus fell, notwithstanding the same praenomen, was consul in B. c. 183, with
which, we find him shortly after entrusted by the Q. Fabius Labeo. (Liv. xxxix. 44; Fast. Capit. )
consul Crispinus with the charge of conducting the It seems probable that he is the same person who
troops of his father's army into safe quarters at | is mentioned (Liv. xxxix. 23) as one of the praetors
Venusia. (Liv. xxvii. 27, 29 ; Polyb. x. 32; Plut. two years before (B. C. 185), though his name is
Marc. 28-30. ) On his return to Rome, he there written in many of the editions and MSS. of
received from Hannibal the ashes of his father, Livy Marcellinus. Liguria was assigned to both
over which he pronounced his funeral oration, a the consuls as their province; but the arms of Mar-
composition which Caelius Antipater already re- cellus were in fact directed against a body of Gauls
garded as unworthy of credit in an historical point who had lately crossed the Alps, and settled theni-
of view (Liv. xxvii. 27), though it may well be selves in the territory of Aquileia. They, however,
suspected to be the source from whence have submitted on the approach of the consul, were dis-
emanated many of the misrepresentations and ex. armed, and compelled to return across the moun-
aggerations which have disfigured the history of tains. After this he carried his arms into Istria,
the elder Marcellus.
but apparently effected little, and was soon obliged
In B. c. 205 he dedicated the temple of Virtus, to return to Rome to hold the comitia. (Liv.
near the Porta Capena, which had been vowed by xxxix. 45, 54–56. ) He held the sacerdotal office
his father, but was still unfinished at the time of of decemvir sacrorum, and died in B. c. 169. (Liv.
his death (Liv. xxix. 11); and the following year xliv. 18. )
(204) he held the office of tribune of the people. 7. M. CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS, praetor in B. C.
In this capacity he was one of those appointed to 188, in which office he ordered two Romans of
accompany the praetor, M. Pomponius Matho, to noble birth, who had been guilty of an outrage
inquire into the charge of sacrilege brought by the towards the Carthaginian ambassadors, to be given
Locrians against Scipio, as well as his lieutenant, up to that people. (Liv. xxxviii. 35, 42. ) Some
Pleminius. (Liv. xxix. 20. ) Four years later writers consider that it is this Marcellus, and not
(B. C. 200) he was curule aedile with Sex. Aelius the praetor of 185, who became consul-in 183.
3 0 2
## p.
had the glory of having put a termination to the 32; Plut. Marc. 12. ) His principal exploit that
Gallic war.
Great part of the credit of the cam- we find recorded during this year was the relief of
paign, according to Polybius, would seem to have Nola, which he a second time successfully defended
helonged to Scipio, but Marcellus alone was ho- against Hannibal; and though the Carthaginian
noured with a triumph, which was rendered con- general had been lately joined by Hanno with a
spicuous by the spoils of Viridomarus, carried as a powerful reinforcement, Marcellus not only repulsed
trophy by the victor, and afterwards dedicated by him from the walls, but (if we may believe the
him as spolia opima in the temple of Jupiter accounts transmitted to us) defeated him with
Feretrius. This was the third and last instance considerable slaughter; and this success was im-
in Roman history in which such an offering was mediately followed by the desertion to the Romans
nade. (Polyb. ii. 34, 35; Plut. Marc. 6—8 ; of a large body of Numidian and Spanish horse.
Zonar. viii. 20, p. 404; Val. Max. iii. 2. § 5; (Liv. xxiii. 39, 41-46 ; Plut. Marc. 12. )
Entrop. iii. 6 ; Flor. ii. 3 ; Aur. Vict. de Vir. I. At the election of the consuls for the ensuing
45 ; Oros. iv. 13; Fast. Capit. ap. Gruter, p. year (214) Marcellus was appointed for the third
297. )
time, with Fabius Maximus for his colleague.
From this time we hear no more of Marcellus Such a pair of consuls (says Livy) had not been
until the alarming progress of Hannibal in Italy, seen for many years. Yet their operations during
and especially his victory at the lake of Thrasy- the ensuing campaign were not marked by any
mene, compelled the Romans to look out for tried decisive results : Marcellus returned to his old
and able soldiers, to whom they could confide the camp near Nola, and a third time repulsed an
conduct of the war, and Marcellus was appointed attempt of Hannibal upon that city ; whereupon
one of the praetors for the year 216. He was at first the Carthaginian general marched away to Taren-
destined to take the command in Sicily, but while tum, and the two consuls took advantage of his
he was still occupied at Ostia with the preparation absence to lay siege to the small but important
of a fleet for this purpose, he was suddenly recalled town of Casilinum. The Campanian garrison of
to Rome, in consequence of the disastrous defeat of this fortress, after an obstinate defence, were ad-
the two consuls at Cannae. By the orders of the mitted to a capitulation by Fabius, but Marcellus
senate he threw a body of 1500 men, which he had broke in upon them as they were quitting the city,
raised for the expedition to Sicily, into Rome itself, and put them all to the sword, except about fifty,
while he hastened with one legion to Canusium, who escaped under the protection of Fabius. (Liv.
and after collecting there the shattered remains of | xxiv. 9, 13, 19. ) After this Marcellus returned
the consular army, drew them off into Campania, to Nola, from whence he was ordered by the senate
where he encamped near Suessula. Meanwhile, to proceed to Sicily, apparently before the close of
the important city of Capua had opened its gates to the summer of B. C. 214. (16. 20, 21. ) On his
Hannibal, and Nola would have followed its ex- arrival in that island he found affairs in a very
ample, had not Marcellus received timely notice of unsettled state. The death of Ilieronymus, which
the danger from the aristocratic party in that city, had at first appeared favourable to the Roman
who were favourably disposed towards Rome. He cause, had eventually led to a contrary result; and
accordingly hastened thither with the forces under Hippocrates and Epicydes, two Carthaginians by
his command, threw himself into the town, and on birth, had obtained the chief direction of affairs at
the approach of Hannibal made a sudden sally, by Syracuse. [Epicydes. ] Marcellus, however, at
which he repulsed the Carthaginians with some first determined to try the effect of negotiation:
loss. The success thus obtained (though evidently his ambassadors obtained a favourable hearing, and
greatly magnified by the Roman annalists), was even induced the Syracusans to pass sentence of
important from its moral effect, as the first check, banishment against Hippocrates and Epicydes.
however slight, that Hannibal had yet received. These two leaders were at the time at Leontini, at
Marcellus now secured Nola to the Roinan interest, I the head of a considerable force, but they were
Marcelos was
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VOL. U.
## p. 929 (#945) ############################################
MARCELLUS.
929
MARCELLUS.
unable to defend the town against Marcellus, who ever, made himself master of the fort of Euryalys,
took it by storm, and though he spared the in- and now closely beset Acbradina, when the Car-
habitants, executed in cold blood 2000 Roman thaginian army under Himilco and Hippocrates
deserters whom he found among the troops that advanced to the relief of the city. Their efforts
had formed the garrison. This sanguinary act at were, however, in vain : all their attacks on the
once alienated the minds of the Sicilians, and camp of Marcellus were repulsed, and they were
alarmed the mercenary troops in the service of unable to effect a junction with Epicydes and the
Syracuse. The latter immediately joined Hippo- Syracusan garrison. The unhealthiness of the
crates and Epicydes, who had made their escape to country soon gave rise to a pestilence, which
Ilerbessus ; the gates of Syracuse were opened to committed frightful ravages in both armies, but
them by their partisans within the walls, and the especially in that of the Carthaginians, where it
party hostile to Rome thus established in the un- carried off both their generals, and led to the entire
disputed command of that city. (Liv. xxiv. 27-break-up of the army. Thus freed from all appre-
32 ; Plut. Marc. 13, 14; Appian, Sic. 3. ) hensions from without, Marcellus renewed his
Marcellus, whose severities had given rise to attacks upon those quarters of the city which still
this revolution, now appeared before Syracuse at held out; but though the officers on whom the
the head of his army, and after a fruitless summons command devolved after the departure of Epicydes
to the inhabitants, proceeded to lay siege to the made several attempts at negotiation, nothing was
city both by sea and land. His attacks were effected. At length the treachery of Mericus, a
vigorous and unremitting, and were directed espe- leader of Spanish mercenaries in the Syracusan
cially against the quarter of Achradina from the service, opened to Marcellus the gates of Achradina,
side of the sea ; but though he brought many pow. and in the general attack that ensued he made
erful military engines against the walls, these were himself master of the island of Ortygia also. The
rendered wholly unavailing by the superior skill city was given up to plunder, and though the lives
and science of Archimedes, who directed those of of the free inhabitants were spared, they were
the besieged. All the efforts of the assailants were reduced to such distress, that many of them were
baffled, and the Roman soldiers inspired with so compelled to sell themselves as slaves, in order to
great a dread of Archimedes and his engines, that obtain the means of existence. (Diod. Erc. Vat.
Marcellus was compelled to give up all hopes of p. 60. ) Yet the clemency and liberality of Mar-
carrying the city by open force, and to turn the cellus have been extolled by almost all the writers
siege into a blockade. (Liv. xxiv. 33, 34 ; Plut. of antiquity. The booty found in the captured
Marc. 14–17; Polyb. vii. 3, 5—9; Zonar. ix. city was immense : besides the money in the royal
4 ; Tzetz. Chil. ii. 35. ) During the continuance treasury, which was set apart for the coffers of ihe
of this, he himself with a part of his army carried state, Marcellus carried off many of the works of
on operations in the other parts of the island, art with which the city had been adorned, to grace
leaving App. Claudius to keep watch before Sy his own triumph and the temples at Rome. This
In this manner he took Helorus and was the first instance of a practice which afterwards
Herbessus, and utterly destroyed Megara ; and became so general ; and it gave great offence not
though he failed in preventing the Carthaginian only to the Greeks of Sicily, but to a large party
general Himilco from making himself master of at Rome itself, who drew unfavourable comparisons
Agrigentum, he defeated Hippocrates near Acrae. between the conduct of Marcellus in this instance
The advance of Himilco compelled Marcellus to and that of Fabius at Tarentum. (Liv. xxv. 23
retreat to his camp before Syracuse ; but here the —31, 40; Plut. Marc. 18, 19, 21 ; Polyb. vüi.
Carthaginian general was unable to molest him, 37, ix. 10; Zonar. ix. 5. ).
and the war was again reduced to a series of de- But though Syracuse had fallen, the war in
sultory and irregular operations in different parts Sicily was not yet at an end. A considerable
of the island. These were by no means all favour-Carthaginian force still occupied Agrigentum under
able to the Romans: Murgantia, an important Epicydes and Hanno; and Mutines, with a body
town, where they had established large magazines, of Numidian cavalry, carried his incursions far into
surrendered to the Carthaginians, and the strong the interior. Marcellus now turned his arms
fortress of Enna was only prevented from following against these remaining enemies, attacked Epicydes
its example by the barbarous massacre of its in- and Hanno in the absence of Mutines, and totally
habitants by order of the Roman governor, L. Pi- defeated them, after which he returned to Syracuse.
narius [PINARIUS), an act of cruelty which had (Liv. xxv. 40, 41. ) The early part of the follow-
the effect of alienating the minds of all the other ing year (211) seems to have been devoted to the
Sicilians. (Liv. xxiv. 35—39 ; Plut. Marc. 18. ) settlement of affairs in Sicily; but it is strange
Meanwhile, the blockade of Syracuse had been that Marcellus does not seem to have made any
prolonged far on into the summer of 212, nor did efforts to put an end altogether to the war in that
there appear any prospect of its termination, as the island before he returned to Rome, and when
communications of the besieged by sea were almost towards the close of the summer he resigned the
entirely open. In this state of things Marcellus command of the province to the praetor M. Cor.
fortunately discovered a part of the walls more nelius, Mutines was still in arms, and Agrigentum
accessible than the rest, and having prepared still in the possession of the Carthaginians. On
scaling ladders, effected an entrance at this point this account the senate refused him the honours of
during the night which followed a great festival, a triumph, notwithstanding his great successes, and
and thus made himself master of the Epipolae. he was obliged to content himself with the inferior
The two quarters called Tyche and Neapolis were distinction of an ovation. Previous to this, how-
now at his mercy, and were given up to plunder ; ever, he celebrated with great magnificence a tri-
but Epicydes still held the island citadel, and the umphal procession to the temple of Jupiter on the
important quarter of Achradina, which formed two Alban Mount, and even his ovation was rendered
separate and strong fortresses. Marcellus, how- more conspicuous than most triumphs by the nun-
30
racuse.
VOL. II.
## p. 930 (#946) ############################################
930
MARCELLUS.
MARCELLUS.
erects
be cio no
The bea
betzer is
Tervbe
paced of
Een by
as Ls
21
gracef!
Sapro a:
Thel
(strica
rzesti
her and magnificence of the spoils brought from drawn battle, in the second the Romans were de
Syracuse. (Liv. xxvi. 21 ; Plut. Marc. 20, 22. ) feated with heavy loss, and in the third they are
Shortly after his triumph he was elected for the said to have gained a complete victory ; notwith-
fourth time consul, together with M. Valerius standing which, Hannibal drew off his army un-
Laevinus. But scarcely had he entered on his molested towards Bruttium, while Marcellus was
office (B. C. 210) when he had to encounter a storm unable to follow him, on account of the number of
of indignation, raised against him by his proceed- his wounded. So severe indeed had been bis
ings in Sicily. Notwithstanding the praises be- losses, that he shut himself up within the walls of
stowed by the Roman writers, and still more by Venusia, and remained there in perfect inactivity
Plutarch (Marc. 20; and see Cic. in Verr. ii. 2, during the remainder of the scason, while Han-
iv. 52, 54), upon his moderation and clemency, it nibal moved up and down throughout the south of
is evident that his conduct was considered by Italy without opposition. Such conduct could not
many, even of his own countrymen, as having been fail to give much dissatisfaction at Rome ; and it
unnecessarily harsh. Deputies from the Sicilian was even proposed by one of the tribunes that
cities now appeared at Rome, to lay their complaints Marcellus should be deprived of his command.
before the senate, where they met with powerful | But on hearing of this motion he immediately
support ; and though the governing body was hastened to Rome, and defended himself so suc-
unwilling to cast a slur upon Marcellus, and de cessfully, that he was not only absolved from all
termined to ratify his past acts, yet the entreaties blame, but elected consul for the ensuing year,
of the Sicilians 80 far prevailed, that the two together with T. Quintius Crispinus. (Liv. xxvii.
consuls exchanged provinces, and it was arranged 7, 12–14, 20, 21 ; Plut. Marc. 25–27. )
that Marcellus, to whose lot Sicily had previously Before he entered on this, his fifth consulship,
fallen, should take the command in Italy against he was sent into Etruria to appease a threatened
Hannibal. (Liv. xxvi. 22, 26, 29-32 ; Plut revolt of the Arretians, and succeeded in quieting
Murc. 23; Zonar. ix. 6. ) From this time the their discontent for a time. After he returned to
Sicilians appear to have changed their policy, and Rome, and was preparing to resume operations in
being freed from all immediate apprehensions from the field (8. c. 208), he was detained for some time
Marcellus, they endeavoured to conciliate his by unfavourable omens and the religious ceremonies
favour by every kind of honour and flattery: the deemed necessary, in order to avert the evils thus
Syracusans placed their city under the patronage threatened. At length he once more took the
of himself and his descendants, erected statues to command of the army at Venusia, and being joined
him, and instituted an annual festival, called the by his colleague Crispinus from Bruttium, they
Marcellea, which continued to be celebrated down encamped with their combined forces between Ve
to the time of Verres. (Liv. xxvi. 32 ; Plut. Marc. nusia and Bantia. Hannibal's camp was at a short
23; Cic. in Verr. ij. 21, 63. )
distance from them ; between the two armies lay
Marcellus now joined the army in Apulia, where a wooded hill, which the two consuls imprudently
he was soon after enabled to strike an important proceeded to reconnoitre, escorted only by a small
blow, by the conquest of Salapia, which was be body of horse, and in so doing fell into an ambus-
trayed into his hands by Blasius, one of the prin- cade of Numidians. A sharp skirmish ensued, but
cipal citizens of the place (Blasius), and this the Romans being far inferior in number, were
success was followed by the capture of two cities in quickly dispersed or put to the sword : Marcellus
Samnium, which had been occupied by Carthaginian himself was run through the body with a spear,
garrisons. Meanwhile, Hannibal had surprised and and killed on the spot: his colleague was with
destroyed the army of Cn.
Fulvius at Herdonea ; difficulty carried off the field severely wounded.
whereupon Marcellus hastened to oppose him, and Hannibal displayed a generous sympathy for the
check his victorious career. The two armies met fate of his fallen foe, and caused all due honours to
near Numistro in Lucania, and a battle ensued, be paid to his lifeless remains. (Liv. xxvii. 21-
apparently without any decisive result, though the 23, 25—28 ; Plut. Marc. 28–30; Polyb. x. 32;
Romans claimed a victory ; and the remainder of Appian, Annib. 50 ; Zonar. ix. 9 ; Val. Max. i. 6.
the campaign was occupied with unimportant $ 9. )
movements, Marcellus continuing to follow the There are few characters in Roman history of
steps of his wary antagonist, but carefully avoiding which the picture transmitted to us has been more
an engagement. So important, however, did he disfigured by partiality than that of Marcellus.
deem it not to lose sight for a moment of the Car- Almost the whole account of his military operations
thaginian general, that he declined to repair to against Hannibal has been so perverted, that it is
Rome even in order to hold the comitia, and in difficult now to arrive at the truth ; but it is start-
consequence, by direction of the senate, named ling to find, after reading in Livy or Plutarch the
Q. Fulvius dictator for that purpose. (Liv. xxvi. details of his numerous victories over the Car-
38, xxvii. 1-5; Plut. Marc. 24, 25 ; Appian, thaginian general, that Polybius expressly denied
Annib. 45–47 ; Zonar. ix. 7; Val. Max. iii. 8. he had ever defeated Hannibal at all. (Plut. Comp.
ext. § 1. )
Pelop. c. Marc. 1 ; and see Polyb. xv. 11. ) The
During the following year (209) he retained the ambiguous character of many of his alleged victories
command of his army with the rank of proconsul, has been indeed already adverted to, and is suf-
in order that he might co-operate with the two ficiently apparent even from the accounts of the
consuls of the year, Fabius Maximus and Fulvius Romans themselves. It seems probable that many
Flaccus, against Hannibal. At the opening of the of these exaggerations have found their way into
campaign he was the first to oppose the Carthaginian history from the funeral oration of Marcellus by
general, whom he found near Canusium ; and in the his son, which we know to have been used as an
neighbourhood of that city, according to the Romanſ authority by some of the earlier annalists. (Lir.
historians, there ensued three successive actions xxvii. 27. ) Still more unfounded is the reputation
between the two arinies. Of these the first was a he seems to have obtained for clemency and hu-
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## p. 931 (#947) ############################################
MARCELLUS.
MARCELLUS.
931
.
1113
AQUINO
MARCELLVS
COIN OF MARCELLUS.
manity. According to Livy's own account, he | Paetus : they rendered their magistracy, conspi-
alienated the minds of the Sicilians by his cruel cuous by the quantity of corn that they imported
executions at Leontini; and he approved of, though at a cheap rate from Africa, as well as by the
he did not order, the barbarous massacre at Enna. magnificence with which they celebrated the Ro-
The feelings with which he inspired the whole of man games. (Liv. xxxi. 50. ) In B. c. 198 he
the Sicilian Greeks may be gathered from their was elected one of the praetors, and obtained Sicily
expression reported by Livy, that it would be as his province, with a force of 4000 foot and 300
better for the island to be sunk in the sea, or horse, but his services were confined to the send-
overwhelmed by the flames of Aetna, than to be ing supplies to the Roman armies in Greece. (Id.
placed once more at the mercy of Marcellus. (Liv. xxxii. 8, 27. ) After the customary interval of two
Xxvi. 29; comp. Appian, Sic. 4, 5. ) It is admitted years he obtained the consulship, with L. Furius
even by Plutarch (his most unqualified panegyrist) Purpurco, B. c. 196. (Id. xxxiii. 24 ; Fast. Capit. )
that he was illiterate and imperfectly educated ; His great object was to obtain the renewal or con-
and his character may be summed up as that of a tinuation of the Macedonian war, to which an end
rude, stern soldier, brave and daring to excess, but had just been put by Flamininus ; but this was
harsh and unyielding, and wanting alike the more frustrated by the people, who ratified the pence
graceful qualities which adorned the character of which the latter had concluded with Philip ; and
Scipio and the prudence necessary to constitute a Marcellus was compelled to content himself with
truly great general.
the conduct of the war in Cisalpine Gaul. Here
The head on the obverse of the annexed coin he at first met with a defeat from the Boians, but
(struck by P. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus) is this was soon compensated by a brilliant victory
unquestionably that of the conqueror of Syracuse : over the Insubrians, and the conquest of the im-
the reverse represents him carrying the spolia portant town of Comum. Besides this, in conjunc-
opima to the temple of Jupiter Feretrius.
tion with his colleague, Purpureo, he obtained
some advantages over the Boians and Liguriang :
and on his return to Rome was, by unanimous con-
sent, honoured with a triumph. (Liv. xxxiii. 25,
36, 37 ; Polyb. xviii. 25. ) In the same year he
was appointed pontifex, in the room of C. Sempro-
nius Tuditanus. (Liv. xxxiii. 42. ) In B. c. 193
he again served in Cisalpine Gaul as one of the
lieutenants of the consul L. Cornelius Merula, and
took part in the great victory he obtained over the
Boians. (Id. xxxv. 5, 8. ) In B. C. 189 he ob
tained the censorship in conjunction with T. Fla-
5. M. CLAUDIUS M. F. M. N. MARCELLUS, son mininus, an honour which was enhanced in this
of the preceding, was remarkable as a youth for his instance by the number of distinguished competitors
personal beauty, as well as for his modest and over whom they obtained the preference. Their
engaging demeanour. The insult offered him by census was marked by the first admission of the
Scantilius, and the punishment inflicted on the people of Formiae, Fundi, and Arpinum, to the full
latter by the elder Marcellus, have been already ad- rights Roman citizens. (Liv. xxxvii. 58, xxxviii.
verted to (p. 297, b). In B. c. 208 he accompanied 28, 36. ) From this time we hear no more of him
his father as military tribune, and was one of till his death, in B. c. 177. (Id. xli. 13. )
those present with him at the time of his death. 6. M. CLAUDIUS M. f. M. N. MARCELLUS,
He was himself badly wounded in the skirmish in probably a brother of the preceding, though bearing
which the elder Marcellus fell, notwithstanding the same praenomen, was consul in B. c. 183, with
which, we find him shortly after entrusted by the Q. Fabius Labeo. (Liv. xxxix. 44; Fast. Capit. )
consul Crispinus with the charge of conducting the It seems probable that he is the same person who
troops of his father's army into safe quarters at | is mentioned (Liv. xxxix. 23) as one of the praetors
Venusia. (Liv. xxvii. 27, 29 ; Polyb. x. 32; Plut. two years before (B. C. 185), though his name is
Marc. 28-30. ) On his return to Rome, he there written in many of the editions and MSS. of
received from Hannibal the ashes of his father, Livy Marcellinus. Liguria was assigned to both
over which he pronounced his funeral oration, a the consuls as their province; but the arms of Mar-
composition which Caelius Antipater already re- cellus were in fact directed against a body of Gauls
garded as unworthy of credit in an historical point who had lately crossed the Alps, and settled theni-
of view (Liv. xxvii. 27), though it may well be selves in the territory of Aquileia. They, however,
suspected to be the source from whence have submitted on the approach of the consul, were dis-
emanated many of the misrepresentations and ex. armed, and compelled to return across the moun-
aggerations which have disfigured the history of tains. After this he carried his arms into Istria,
the elder Marcellus.
but apparently effected little, and was soon obliged
In B. c. 205 he dedicated the temple of Virtus, to return to Rome to hold the comitia. (Liv.
near the Porta Capena, which had been vowed by xxxix. 45, 54–56. ) He held the sacerdotal office
his father, but was still unfinished at the time of of decemvir sacrorum, and died in B. c. 169. (Liv.
his death (Liv. xxix. 11); and the following year xliv. 18. )
(204) he held the office of tribune of the people. 7. M. CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS, praetor in B. C.
In this capacity he was one of those appointed to 188, in which office he ordered two Romans of
accompany the praetor, M. Pomponius Matho, to noble birth, who had been guilty of an outrage
inquire into the charge of sacrilege brought by the towards the Carthaginian ambassadors, to be given
Locrians against Scipio, as well as his lieutenant, up to that people. (Liv. xxxviii. 35, 42. ) Some
Pleminius. (Liv. xxix. 20. ) Four years later writers consider that it is this Marcellus, and not
(B. C. 200) he was curule aedile with Sex. Aelius the praetor of 185, who became consul-in 183.
3 0 2
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