Editing Marcus Claudius Marcellus (section)

== Early life: distinguished soldier and politician ==
Little is known of Marcus Claudius Marcellus' early years, since ancient historians and biographers were more concerned with the military exploits which came at the apex of his career. The fullest extant account is [[Plutarch]]'s "Life of Marcellus", which focuses on warfare and political attainments and largely skips over events before 225 BC,<ref name=Plutarch>Plutarch "Life of Marcellus", ''The Parallel Lives'', 30 Apr. 2008, 26 Nov. 2008.</ref> beyond some general information about Marcellus' youth.  Marcellus' exact birth date is unknown, yet scholars are certain he was born prior to 268&nbsp;BC because he had to be over 42 when elected consul in 222 BC and he was elected to a fifth (and final) consulship for 208&nbsp;BC, after he was&nbsp;60. He was said by [[Poseidonius]] to have been the first in his family to take on the [[cognomen]] of Marcellus, yet there are genealogical records of his family line tracing the cognomen back to 331 BC.<ref name=Smith>Smith, William, Sir, ed. "M. Claudius M. f. M. n. Marcellus", ''A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'' (Boston: Little, 1867) 927; Plutarch "The Life of Marcellus", ''The Parallel Lives'', 30 Apr. 2008, 26 Nov. 2008</ref> According to Plutarch, Marcellus was a skilled fighter in his youth and was raised with the purpose of entering military service.<ref name=Plutarch/> In his youth, Marcellus quickly distinguished himself as an ambitious warrior, known for his skill in hand-to-hand combat. He is noted for having saved the life of his brother, Otacilius, when the two were surrounded by enemy soldiers in [[Italy]].<ref name=Plutarch/>

During his time as a Roman soldier, which included service in the [[First Punic War]], Marcellus was praised by his superiors for his skill and valor. As a result of his fine reputation, in 226&nbsp;BC he was elected to the position of [[curule aedile]]. Aediles were overseers of public buildings and festivals and enforcers of public order, and the office generally served as the first step in a Roman nobleman's political career. Around the same time that he became an aedile, Marcellus was also awarded the position of [[augur]], which Plutarch describes as being an interpreter of omens.<ref name=Plutarch/> By about the age of&nbsp;40, Marcellus had already become an acclaimed soldier and public official. His early career came to a close in 222&nbsp;BC with his election as consul, the highest political and military office in the Roman Republic.