Quintus Minucius Thermus (consul 193 BC)
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Quintus Minucius Thermus (d. 188 BC) was a consul
of the Roman Republic
in 193 BC.
In 202, Minucius Thermus may have been the military tribune
named Thermus who served in Africa under Scipio Africanus
. As a tribune of the plebs
in 201, Thermus and his fellow tribune Manius Acilius Glabrio
opposed the desire of Cornelius Lentulus to have Africa as his consular province
. Thermus was also responsible for legislation confirming peace with Carthage
after the Second Punic War
. His actions may reflect on the earlier connection with Scipio, whose imperium
in Africa was extended into 201 so he could finalize the treaty, as a result of which he received the cognomen
Africanus.
Minucius Thermus was curule aedile in 198. From 197, he served on the three-man commission (triumviri coloniis deducendis) in charge of establishing colonies located at the mouths of the Volturnus
and the Liternus (in Campania
), at Puteoli, Castrum Salerni, and Buxentum.
As praetor
in 196, he was assigned to Hispania Citerior
("Nearer Spain"). He was possibly acting as proconsul when his military success at Turda in Spain gained him the honor of a triumph
.
Thermus was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria
as his province
. From his base in Pisa
, he waged war against the Ligurians
with little success. Among his officers was the prefect M. Cincius Alimentus. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa. He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191–190, until he was instructed by the senate to transfer command to Scipio Nasica
. He was denied a triumph upon return.
In 189–188, Thermus took part in the ten-man commission (decemviri
) who assisted the proconsul Manlius Vulso
in concluding the treaty with Antiochus III
and making a settlement in Asia. Thermus went with Manlius to administer the oath that ratified the treaty. He was killed while returning through Thrace
with Manlius.
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 Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
in 193 BC.
In 202, Minucius Thermus may have been the military tribune
Military tribune
A military tribune was an officer of the Roman army who ranked below the legate and above the centurion...
named Thermus who served in Africa under Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
. As a tribune of the plebs
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
in 201, Thermus and his fellow tribune Manius Acilius Glabrio
Manius Acilius Glabrio (consul 191 BC)
Manius Acilius Glabrio was a consul of the Roman Republic in 191 BC. He came from an illustrious plebeian family whose members held magistracies throughout the Republic and into the Imperial era....
opposed the desire of Cornelius Lentulus to have Africa as his consular province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
. Thermus was also responsible for legislation confirming peace with Carthage
Carthaginian Republic
Ancient Carthage was a civilization centered on the Phoenician city-state of Carthage, located in North Africa on the Gulf of Tunis, outside what is now Tunis, Tunisia. It was founded in 814 BC...
after the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
. His actions may reflect on the earlier connection with Scipio, whose imperium
Imperium
Imperium is a Latin word which, in a broad sense, translates roughly as 'power to command'. In ancient Rome, different kinds of power or authority were distinguished by different terms. Imperium, referred to the sovereignty of the state over the individual...
in Africa was extended into 201 so he could finalize the treaty, as a result of which he received the cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
Africanus.
Minucius Thermus was curule aedile in 198. From 197, he served on the three-man commission (triumviri coloniis deducendis) in charge of establishing colonies located at the mouths of the Volturnus
Volturno
The Volturno is a river in south-central Italy.-Geography:It rises in the Abruzzese central Apennines of Samnium near Rocchetta a Volturno and flows southeast as far as its junction with the Calore River near Caiazzo and runs south as far as Venafro, and then turns southwest, past Capua, to...
and the Liternus (in Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
), at Puteoli, Castrum Salerni, and Buxentum.
As praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
in 196, he was assigned to Hispania Citerior
Hispania Citerior
During the Roman Republic, Hispania Citerior was a region of Hispania roughly occupying the northeastern coast and the Ebro Valley of what is now Spain. Hispania Ulterior was located west of Hispania Citerior—that is, farther away from Rome.-External links:*...
("Nearer Spain"). He was possibly acting as proconsul when his military success at Turda in Spain gained him the honor of a triumph
Roman triumph
The Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war. In Republican...
.
Thermus was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
as his province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
. From his base in Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
, he waged war against the Ligurians
Ligures
The Ligures were an ancient people who gave their name to Liguria, a region of north-western Italy.-Classical sources:...
with little success. Among his officers was the prefect M. Cincius Alimentus. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa. He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191–190, until he was instructed by the senate to transfer command to Scipio Nasica
Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica
Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica was a consul of ancient Rome in 191 BC. He was a son of Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus...
. He was denied a triumph upon return.
In 189–188, Thermus took part in the ten-man commission (decemviri
Decemviri
Decemviri is a Latin term meaning "Ten Men" which designates any such commission in the Roman Republic...
) who assisted the proconsul Manlius Vulso
Gnaeus Manlius Vulso
Gnaeus Manlius Vulso was a Roman consul for the year 189 BC, together with Marcus Fulvius Nobilior. He led a victorius campaign against the Galatian Gauls of Asia Minor in 189 BC during the Galatian War. He may have been awarded a triumph in 187BCE...
in concluding the treaty with Antiochus III
Antiochus III the Great
Antiochus III the Great Seleucid Greek king who became the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire as a youth of about eighteen in 223 BC. Antiochus was an ambitious ruler who ruled over Greater Syria and western Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC...
and making a settlement in Asia. Thermus went with Manlius to administer the oath that ratified the treaty. He was killed while returning through Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
with Manlius.