Aulus Postumius Albinus Luscus

Aulus Postumius Albinus luscus came from a Roman noble family of Postumier and was consul 180 BC.

Family relationships and epithets

According to the Fasti Capitolini the father and grandfather of Postumius led the same praenomen Aulus. He was probably the grandson of Aulus Postumius Albinus, the consul of 242 BC Spurius Postumius Albinus Paullulus and Lucius Postumius Albinus, the 174 and 173 BC clothed the consulate, his younger brothers were.

Postumius received as other Postumier his time next to the hereditary cognomen Albinus another individual surnamed namely luscus. This marked the loss of an eye - not innate, but an acquired physical blemish. The not exactly glorious epithet was not included in the fasting, but is only known by the historian Livy, who leads him only two places of his work.

Early Career

It is believed that Postumius first by Livy at the beginning of his report on the war of the Romans against the Seleucid Antiochus III. and the Aetolians is mentioned. There a Aulus Postumius appears as an official appointed by Aulus Atilius Serranus commander in Kefalonia, Gnaeus Octavius ​​supported the troops and some ships. Probably took Postumius from 192 BC to the Roman victory as a legacy in the struggle against Antiochus III. part and allowed for 187 BC exercise together with Publius Cornelius Cethegus the office of curule Ädils. His tenure came under the consulate of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and the connection of the men remained even later. Postumius ' cousin Spurius Postumius Albinus held 186 BC as consul the elections for the next year from; Among other Postumius and his former colleague as aedile, Cornelius Cethegus, and his gens Lucius Postumius Tempsanus were determined to praetors of the year 185 BC. About the official leadership of the Postumius as Praetor is not known.

Consulate

One year after Cornelius Cethegus was also Postumius consul, namely 180 BC At the same time his brother Lucius was chosen praetor. During the consulship of Aemilius Lepidus Postumius was granted the dignity of Pontifex Maximus; just as he was elected censor for 179 BC. Like the consuls of the previous year received 180 BC transferred the fight against the Ligurians Postumius and his colleague Gaius Calpurnius Piso; To this end, they should first dig strong contingents of troops. Since Calpurnius Piso but still died during the preparations, Postumius had to wait for the election of Quintus Fulvius Flaccus to Suffektkonsul in Rome. Meanwhile, the pro-consuls defeated the tribe of the Ligurian Apuan; so that the military actions were done essentially before the arrival of the Postumius and his new counterpart. So Postumius led a successful campaign against mountain tribes and sailed to deter the coastal tribes with his fleet until after Albintimelium (now Ventimiglia ). He made the mighty Fulvii enemies, as he punished a military tribune belonging to this generation for its high-handed approach.

Duumvirat

The Dardanians complained to 176 BC in Rome on the Bastarni that had been stirred up by the Macedon king Perseus. These allegations should investigate on the northern Balkan Peninsula in place a Senate commission led by Postumius. The other members of the Commission were all younger age. They laid her report before the beginning of 175 BC and certified that the fears were correct.

Because of the discovery of two Roman votive inscriptions, it is believed that Postumius 175 BC served as duumvir AEDI dedicandae. One of these inscriptions was found in 1876 on an altar in the Servian Wall. 1933 was followed by the discovery of the second inscription on an altar of Largo Argentina. These certificates shall be interpreted to mean that Postumius 175 BC, the dedications undertook in the capacity of Duumvirs to the little-known God Verminus to avert a rampant sale of cattle disease. This led to a devastating reduction in the cattle population. It also coincided with a severe plague raged.

Censorship

Also 175 BC Postumius was promoted at the time by the most powerful man in Rome, and for the second time in office as consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus conducted elections to the censor. At the same time Postumius ' younger brother Spurius received in these elections, the consulate for 174 BC The third brother, Lucius, was the very next year consul, so that all three brothers in the years 174-173 BC, the highest state offices occupied. Also in the priests quorum of Decemviri sacris faciundis Postumius was added 173 BC.

Aemilius Lepidus and Postumius supported each other so in obtaining the highest offices. But Postumius apparently sought reconciliation with the Fulvii and entered therefore 174 BC censorship in common with the leader of this family, Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, to. The Fulvius had by 179 BC occupied most of the highest state offices to 175 and were replaced in this priority in the next two years by the Postumiern. The change of power was initiated by the common censorship 174 BC This was the Ancient Historian Friedrich Muenzer 's view the result of a contract between the two families. Aemilius Lepidus could have mediated between them; in any case approved the censors that he remained princeps senatus. Although the official leadership of the Postumius and his colleagues appeared to go quite peaceful to the outside, it was not as conflict-free. It succeeded Postumius mostly to play the major role. So he could reach the exclusion of already 180 BC punished by him in his brother's Fulvius Flaccus Consulate of the Senate and make the Lustrum. After all, Fulvius Flaccus was allowed to expand the scale of his family colonies Potentia and Pisaurum without interference Postumius. Together, the censors revolutionized construction in Rome and its surroundings. However, Fulvius Flaccus committed by the faith of the Romans not a serious crime remained unpunished because he had trespassed, under their own construction work at an old shrine. Accordingly, it was judged negative in comparison with Postumius.

Subsequent activities abroad

In a similar mission as his brothers at the same time the sent Postumius was sent to 171 BC as the head of a three- envoy delegation to Crete, which should bring from there archers for the struggle of the Romans against the Macedonians King Perseus. Last known of Postumius that he 167 BC after the final defeat of Perseus those tens Commission initiated, inter alia, undertook a new order in the defeated kingdom together with the Macedonians slayer Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus. This the victorious general advisory commission was ever occupied high-level, was not only the Aemilius Lepidus after undoubtedly appreciates most Romans, Postumius, its director, but also the very significant Censorier Gaius Claudius Pulcher second highest Commissioner. According to Friedrich Munzer this policy presented to the Senate, " the most perfect statesmanlike wisdom and dignity " of.