Lucius Furius Philus facts for kids

Lucius Furius Philus was an important Roman leader who lived a long time ago, in the 2nd century BC. He became a consul of ancient Rome in 136 BC. A consul was like a top leader or president in the Roman Republic.

Lucius Furius Philus was part of a special group called the Scipionic Circle. This was a group of smart and influential people, including writers, philosophers, and politicians, who were friends with a very famous Roman general named Scipio Aemilianus. Lucius Furius Philus was especially close to Scipio Aemilianus.

Lucius Furius Philus as a Roman Leader

Lucius Furius Philus held a very important job in ancient Rome. When he was a consul, he was one of the two highest-ranking elected officials. These consuls led the Roman army and government.

His Time in Spain

After being a consul, Lucius Furius Philus became a proconsul. This meant he was sent to govern a Roman province, much like a governor today. His assigned province was Spain.

Before he arrived, the consul from the year before, Gaius Hostilius Mancinus, had a very bad experience. His army was defeated by a brave group of people called the Numantines. Mancinus was forced to sign a peace treaty, which was called the foedus Mancinum. This was a very embarrassing moment for Rome.

As the new leader in Spain, Lucius Furius Philus had a difficult task. The Roman Senate (a powerful group of leaders) decided to cancel the treaty Mancinus had made. To show the Numantines that Rome was serious, Lucius Furius Philus had to hand Mancinus over to them. This was a symbolic act to show that Rome did not accept the treaty.

A Unique Choice of Assistants

Lucius Furius Philus was known for making an interesting decision when he went to Spain. He deliberately chose two people he didn't get along with, named 'Q. Metellus' and 'Q. Pompeius', to be his assistants. These assistants were called lieutenants.

Why would he do this? People remembered him for it in two ways:

• Some thought it showed great self-confidence. They believed he wanted his achievements to be praised even by those who didn't like him.
• Others thought it was a bit reckless or rash.

This choice showed a lot about his personality and how he approached leadership.

His Writings and Speeches

Lucius Furius Philus was not just a politician; he was also a writer. A writer named Macrobius mentioned that Lucius Furius Philus wrote about special prayers or sayings. These were used by Romans when they were trying to capture a city that was surrounded by their army.

The famous Roman speaker Cicero also admired Lucius Furius Philus. In his own book, de Republica, Cicero praised the way Lucius Furius Philus spoke. This means he was likely a very good public speaker, which was important for Roman leaders.

See also

In Spanish: Lucio Furio Filo para niños