Aulus Sempronius Atratinus was a Roman Republican politician of the gens Sempronia during the beginning of the 5th century BC. He served as Consul of Rome in 497 BC and again in 491 BC. He was of the patrician branch of his gens although the Sempronia gens also included certain plebian families.
Aulus Sempronius Atratinus served as a Roman consul in 497 BC and 491 BC. In both of those terms, he served together with Marcus Minucius Augurinus. Titus Livius cites Sempronius Atratinus as without a cognomen (simply as A. Sempronius), but the consular records show only his cognomen. Dionysius of Halicarnassus refers to him with his full name.
During his first consular appointment, he consecrated the newly built Temple of Saturn in the Roman forum. The aforementioned writers relate the foundation with the festivals of Saturnalia.[1]
During his second tenure as consul, he was burdened with the necessity to import a large quantity of grain due to a lack of surplus stock and risk of famine. Senator Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus, who wanted to charge the plebs for the shipment, was condemned to exile by order of the consul.[2]
Dionysius of Halicarnassus further states that Sempronius Atratinus was a prefect of Rome during the Battle of Lake Regillus (498 BC or 496 BC). The same historian writes that Sempronius Atratinus was involved in the wars against the Hernici and the Volsci in 487 BC. He was again made a prefect of Rome and was appointed Interrex of the people in 482 BC, an appointment which seems somewhat unlikely.
See also[]
- List of Roman Republican consuls
- Roman Republic
- Sempronia (gens)
References[]
The original article can be found at Aulus Sempronius Atratinus and the edit history here.