Lucius Alienus
Encyclopedia
Lucius Alienus was a citizen of ancient Rome who served as plebeian
aedile
in 454 BC
. According to the Roman historian Livy
, he accused Gaius Veturius Cicurinus, the consul
of the previous year, of illegally selling the plunder which had been gained in war (instead of distributing it among the soldiery), and placing the amount in the Aerarium
. The prosecution was successful and Veturius was fined 15,000 asses.
Some writers have called into question the historical accuracy of this anecdote, as aedile
s are not generally thought to have had prosecutorial power as early as 454 BC.
Plebs
The plebs was the general body of free land-owning Roman citizens in Ancient Rome. They were distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian...
aedile
Aedile
Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public order. There were two pairs of aediles. Two aediles were from the ranks of plebeians and the other...
in 454 BC
454 BC
Year 454 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Capitolinus and Varus...
. According to the Roman historian Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
, he accused Gaius Veturius Cicurinus, the consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
of the previous year, of illegally selling the plunder which had been gained in war (instead of distributing it among the soldiery), and placing the amount in the Aerarium
Aerarium
Aerarium was the name given in Ancient Rome to the public treasury, and in a secondary sense to the public finances....
. The prosecution was successful and Veturius was fined 15,000 asses.
Some writers have called into question the historical accuracy of this anecdote, as aedile
Aedile
Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public order. There were two pairs of aediles. Two aediles were from the ranks of plebeians and the other...
s are not generally thought to have had prosecutorial power as early as 454 BC.