LUCIUS SICCIUS DENTATUS

The greatest soldier of Rome was a plebeian, one Lucius Siccius Dentatus (ca. 514-450 BC). According to Pliny the Elder (Natural History 7.28.101–102), during his military career, Dentatus fought in 120 battles, received 45 wounds, and earned fourteen civic crowns. Aulus Gellius called him “the Roman Achilles” and added that he had not one scar on his back (Attic Nights 2.11.1–2).

Valentine Belfiglio

Dentatus joined the army at seventeen in 497 and it is likely he fought at the battles of Lake Regillus (496), Aricia (495), Corioli (493), and he went on to become Tribune of the Plebs in 454. He lived to the eve of the creation of the Twelve Tables in 451–450 (see Ancient History 6). Of his remarkable military career, Gellius adds (2.11.2) that he was awarded the golden crown eight times, the siege crown once, the mural crown three times, and the civic crown fourteen times. The golden crown was usually awarded to a centurion who had killed an enemy in single combat or stayed at their post; in which case Dentatus may have been involved in up to eight single combats throughout his career. And indeed, Pliny the…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVII.6

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