Marcus Manlius

Marcus Manlius Capitolinus († 384 BC ) was a Roman patrician of the gens Manlia. He was consul in the year 392 BC

With his colleague Lucius Valerius Potitus he is said to have led a successful war against the Aequians, for which he received a Ovatio and Valerius Potitus a triumph.

According to tradition, he saved the Capitol against a night attack by the Gauls. After the Romans BC suffered a crushing defeat at the Allia against the Gauls in 387, the Gauls invaded under the leadership of Brennus to Rome and burned large parts of the city. Many residents fled from the marauding invaders. Some of them fled together with Manlius to the Capitol, the castle hill of Rome. According to legend, cackling geese betrayed the attacker who crept up the mountain. In the year 385 BC Manlius was accused to strive for the title of king, and therefore executed a year later.

Antoine de La Fosse wrote a tragedy entitled Manlius Capitolinus.