Editing Spurius Cassius Vecellinus

{{Short description|Roman consul, magister equitum and legislator (died 485 BC)}}
[[File:Domenico Beccafumi 009.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|''The Execution of Spurius Vecellinus'', by [[Domenico Beccafumi]], fresco in the [[Palazzo Pubblico]].]]
'''Spurius Cassius Vecellinus''' or '''Vicellinus''' (died 485 BC) was one of the most distinguished men of the early [[Roman Republic]]. He was three times [[Roman consul|consul]], and celebrated two [[Roman triumph|triumphs]]. He was the first ''[[magister equitum]]'', and the author of the first [[agrarian law]]. The year following his last consulship, he was accused of aiming at regal power, and was put to death by the [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patricians]].

==Background==
His surname variously appears as Vecellinus, Vicellinus, and Viscellinus. The latter has been shown to be incorrect, and Vecellinus is usually preferred. The otherwise unattested name may be a reference to a Mount Vecilius mentioned by Livy.<ref>M. Hertz (1871), "Das Cognomen des Sp. Cassius", ''Hermes'' vol. 5 no. 3, pp. 474–475</ref><ref>Münzer, [[s:de:RE:Cassius 91|Cassius 91]], ''RE'' 3.2, col. 1749</ref><ref>Ogilvie, ''Livy 1–5'' (Oxford), pp. 277–278</ref><ref>''Oxford Classical Dictionary'', "[https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.1426 Cassius Vecellinus, Spurius]"</ref>

According to one tradition, Cassius' father was still living and hale at the time of his death. If this were the case, it would be difficult to place Cassius' birth much earlier than 540 or 535 BC. Cassius also left behind him three sons, whose names have not been preserved.  It is believed that the original Cassii were patricians, although the later members of the [[gens]] occurring in history were all [[plebeian]]. The historian [[Barthold Georg Niebuhr|Niebuhr]] suggests that Cassius' sons may have been expelled by the patricians from their order, or that they or their descendants may have voluntarily passed over to the plebeians, because the patricians had shed the blood of their father.<ref>''Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft''.</ref><ref>''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]'', [[William Smith (lexicographer)|William Smith]], Editor.</ref><ref name=Niebuhr-2.166>[[Barthold Georg Niebuhr]], ''History of Rome'', vol. ii, pp.&nbsp;166ff; ''Lectures on the History of Rome'', pp.&nbsp;89ff, ed. Schmitz (1848).</ref>

==Magistracies==
Cassius' first consulship was in 502 BC, the eighth year of the Republic. His colleague was [[Opiter Verginius Tricostus (consul 502 BC)|Opiter Verginius Tricostus]]. [[Dionysius of Halicarnassus|Dionysius]] reports that Cassius carried on war against the [[Sabines]], whom he defeated (with great loss to the Sabines) near [[Cures, Sabinum|Cures]]. The Sabines sued for peace, and surrendered a large portion of their land. On his return to Rome, Cassius celebrated his first triumph, which is confirmed by the [[Fasti Triumphales]]. [[Livy]], however, states that the two consuls [[Roman-Latin wars#The Pometian revolt|carried on war]] against the [[Aurunci]], and took the town of [[Suessa Pometia]]. The same events he reports under 495 BC, which is in agreement with Dionysius. Thus, Dionysius probably preserves the correct account.<ref>[[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]], ''Romaike Archaiologia'', v. 49, vi. 29.</ref><ref>''[[Fasti Capitolini]]''.</ref><ref>[[Livy]], ''[[Ab Urbe Condita (book)|Ab Urbe Condita]]'', ii. 17, 22, 25, 26.</ref>

In the following year, [[Titus Larcius]] was appointed the first [[Roman dictator|dictator]], and as his [[magister equitum]] he nominated Cassius. The reason for the institution of these offices was the fear of impending war with both the Sabines and the [[Latins (Italic tribe)|Latins]]. After a failed round of negotiations, war was declared against the Sabines, but as both sides were reluctant to come to blows, no hostilities ensued. War with the Latins came in 498 BC, with the [[Battle of Lake Regillus]]. Following the Roman victory, Cassius is said to have urged the [[Roman senate|senate]] to destroy the Latin towns.<ref>Livy, ''Ab Urbe Condita'', ii. 18.</ref><ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Romaike Archaiologia'', v. 75, vi. 20.</ref>

Cassius was consul for the second time in 493 BC, with [[Postumus Cominius Auruncus]]. The consuls entered upon their office during the [[First secessio plebis in 494 BC|secession of the plebs]] to the [[Monte Sacro|Mons Sacer]]. The strife between the patricians and plebeians was a recurring theme throughout the early history of the Republic, and in time cost Cassius his life. In contrast with his former position, Cassius ratified a treaty with the Latins on Rome's behalf, thereby removing one source of danger to the fledgling Republic.<ref name=Livy-2.33>Livy, ''Ab urbe condita'', ii. 33.</ref> The treaty became known as the [[Foedus Cassianum]], bearing the consul's name. [[Cicero]] related that a copy of the treaty was still extant in his day, and its terms are summarized by Dionysius. Later the same year, Cassius consecrated the temple of [[Ceres (Roman mythology)|Ceres]], [[Dionysus|Bacchus]], and [[Proserpina]].<ref name=Livy-2.33/><ref>[[Cicero|Marcus Tullius Cicero]], ''[[De re publica|De Republica]]'', ii. 33, ''Pro Balbo'', 23.</ref><ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Romaike Archaiologia'', vi. 49, 94, 95.</ref><ref>Barthold Georg Niebuhr, ''History of Rome'', vol. ii, pp.&nbsp;38ff.</ref>

In 486 BC, Cassius was consul for the third time, with [[Proculus Verginius Tricostus Rutilus]]. Cassius marched against the [[Volsci]] and [[Hernici]], but they sued for peace, and once again showing his talent for diplomacy, Cassius formed a [[Roman conquest of the Hernici#The foedus Cassianum - 5th century BC|league with the Hernici]]. Livius states that the Hernici agreed to surrender two thirds of their land, but a more likely explanation is that the Romans, Latins, and Hernici agreed to share their acquired land evenly, with each receiving one third of the lands conquered by their mutual arms. This treaty, resembling one formerly in force under the [[King of Rome|kings]],{{cn|date=October 2023}} held for over a hundred years. On his return, Cassius celebrated his second triumph.<ref name=Livy-2.41>Livy, ''Ab Urbe Condita'', ii. 41.</ref><ref>''[[Oxford Classical Dictionary]]'', 2nd Ed. (1970).</ref><ref>[[Fasti Triumphales]]</ref>

==Trial and execution==
{{main|Agrarian law#Proposed land distribution in 486 BC}}
After concluding the treaty with the Hernici, Cassius proposed the first agrarian law at Rome, arguing for the land to be distributed amongst the plebs and the Latin allies.  Cassius' colleague, Verginius, and the patricians strongly opposed the law.  Debate and discord ensued, and the plebs turned against Cassius, suspecting him of aiming at regal power.<ref name=Livy-2.41/>

In 485 BC once Cassius had left office he was condemned and executed.  Livy says that the method of his trial is uncertain.  Livy's preferred version is that a public trial on the charge of [[perduellio|high treason]] was held on the orders of the [[Quaestor#Quaestores parricidii|quaestores parricidii]] [[Caeso Fabius Vibulanus (consul)|Caeso Fabius]] and [[Lucius Valerius Potitus (consul in 483 and 470 BC)|Lucius Valerius]], at which Cassius was condemned by the [[Century Assembly|people]], and subsequently by public decree his house was demolished (being near the [[Terra (mythology)#Temple|temple of Tellus]]).  The alternative version is that Cassius' own father conducted a private trial (presumably exercising authority as [[pater familias]]) and put his son to death, and subsequently dedicated his son's assets to the goddess [[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]], including by dedicating a statue to her with the inscription "given from the Cassian family".<ref name=Livy-2.41/><ref>Cicero, ''[[De re publica|De Republica]]'', ii. 27, 35, ''[[Philippicae]]'', ii. 44, ''[[Laelius de Amicitia]]'', 8, 11, ''Pro Domo Sua'', 38.</ref><ref>[[Valerius Maximus]], ''Factorum ac Dictorum Memorabilium libri IX'', vi. 3. § 1.</ref><ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Gaius Plinius Secundus]], ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Historia Naturalis]]'', xxxiv. 6. s. 14.</ref>

Dionysius states that he was hurled from the [[Tarpeian Rock]].<ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Romaike Archaiologia'', viii. 68-80.</ref>

Niebuhr argues that it was impossible that a man who had been thrice consul and twice triumphed should still be in his father's power.<ref name=Niebuhr-2.166/>

[[Cassius Dio]] expressed his belief in the consul's innocence.<ref>[[Cassius Dio]], ''Exc. de. Sentent.'', 19, p. 150.</ref>

In 159 BC the statue of Cassius erected on the spot of his house was melted down by the [[Roman censor|censors]]. Some seem to have called for the execution of Cassius' sons also, but according to Dionysius, they were spared by the senate.<ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Romaike Archaiologia'', viii. 80.</ref><ref>''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', William Smith, Editor.</ref>

==Chronological uncertainty==
E.J. Bickerman has suggested that Cassius' third consulship occurred in 480 BC, the same year as the [[Battle of Salamis]]. However, this assertion rests on the accuracy of [[Diodorus Siculus]], who stated that his consulship coincided with the archonship of Calliades in [[Athens]]. Calliades was [[Archons of Athens|archon]] in 480 BC. [[Herodotus]] confirms the possibility that the battles of [[Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]] and [[Battle of Salamis|Salamis]] were fought shortly after the [[Olympic Games]] of that year, and only a few months after these events: "On approach of spring, the sun suddenly quit his seat in the heavens, and disappeared" when [[Xerxes I|Xerxes]] left [[Sardis]], a few weeks or months before crossing over to Greece. This [[solar eclipse|eclipse]] occurred on February 17, 478 BC, providing a valuable chronological reference.<ref>Bickerman, E. J. ''Chronology of the ancient world''. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York (1980), p.&nbsp;138.</ref><ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], ''[[Bibliotheca historica|Bibliotheca Historica]]'', xi. 1. § 2.</ref><ref>[[Herodotus]], vii. 37, 166, 206, viii. 51.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Cassia gens]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{SmithDGRBM|title=Viscellinus, Sp. Cassius|volume=3|pages=1271-72}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassius Vecellinus, Spurius}}
[[Category:6th-century BC births]]
[[Category:485 BC deaths]]
[[Category:6th-century BC Roman consuls]]
[[Category:5th-century BC Roman consuls]]
[[Category:Cassii|Vecellinus, Spurius]]
[[Category:Magistri equitum (Roman Republic)]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman triumphators]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]