Pulvillus
1. M.
Horatius Pulvillus, M. F., according to Dionysius, played a distinguished part in the expulsion of the Tarquins, and according to all authorities was one of the consuls elected in the first year of the republic, B. C. 509. Most ancient writers state that Horatius was appointed consul in the place of Sp. Lucretius Tricipitinus, who succeeded L. Junius Brutus, but who died a few days after his appointment. (
Liv. 2.8;
Dionys. A. R. 5.19;
Plut. Publ. 12.) Some of the annalists, however, stated that Horatius was the immediate successor of Brutus (
Liv. 2.8), while Polybius (
3.22) mentions Brutus and Horatius together as the first consuls.
There is a difference between Dionysius and Livy respecting another point. Dionysius (
5.21) makes Horatius consul a second time with P. Valerius Publicola, in the third year of the republic, B. C. 507, but Livy (
2.15) speaks of P. Lucretius as the colleague of Publicola in that year, and makes no mention of a second consulship of Horatius.
The account of Dionysius is supported by Tacitus (
Tac. Hist. 3.72), who speaks of the second consulship of Horatius.
The name of Horatius Pulvillus is chiefly celebrated by his dedication of the temple in the Capitol, which was consecrated by him in his second consulship, according to Dionysius and Tacitus.
The story runs, that it had been decided by lot that Horatius should have this honour, and that as he was on the point of pronouncing the solemn words of dedication, M. Valerius, the brother of his colleague, came to him with the false news that his son was dead, hoping that Horatius would utter some sound of lamentation, which would have interrupted the ceremony, and thus secured the dedication for Publicola. But Horatius did not allow himself to be disturbed by the dreadful tidings, and only replying "Carry out the dead," calmly proceeded to finish the dedication. (
Liv. 2.8,
7.3;
Plut. Publ. 14;
Dionys. A. R. 5.35; Cic.
pro Dom. 54;
Tac. Hist. 3.72.)
