Lucius Valerius Potitus (consul 483 BC)

Lucius Valerius Potitus was a Roman politician and general in the beginning of the Roman republic. He was the son of Marcus Valerius Volusus, who was consul in 505 BC.[1] He held the office of quaestor parricidii in 485 BC in connection with the trial and execution of Spurius Cassius Vecellinus.[2] His role in the trial of Cassius made Valerius unpopular with the plebs, and yet the Roman Senate succeeded in having Valerius elected consul in 483 BC and again in 470 BC.[3]

According to Livy, during Valerius' first consulship in 483 BC the tribunes continued their attempts to increase their powers, but were at that time successfully resisted by the Roman Senate.[2] In his second consulship in 470 BC Valerius led Roman troops against the Aequi. He unsuccessfully attempted to lead an assault on the Aequian army camp, and instead ravaged the Aequian territory.[4]

In 464 BC there were hostilities with the Aequi again and as both consuls were absent from Rome conducting the war, a justitium was declared. Valerius was appointed praefectus urbi and was left in charge of defending the city.[5][6]

  1. ^ William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
  2. ^ a b Livy, Ab urbe condita, 2.41
  3. ^ Livy, 2.42
  4. ^ Livy, 2.62
  5. ^ Livy, 3.4-5
  6. ^ Broughton, vol i, pp.34