Marcus Claudius Glicia

Glicia was the son of a freedman of the gens Claudia, a patrician family that had held the highest offices in the Roman state since the early 5th century BC and would go on to form an important part of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. His father was named Gaius, and following his manumission, took the nomen of his patron, one of the Claudii.[2] The Epitome of Livy mentions that he was of man of "the lowest kind" (a descendant of a slave) and thus not considered worthy of high office.[3]

It was customary at Rome for freedmen to remain in the clientele of their former master. Glicia therefore served as the consul Publius Claudius Pulcher's viator,[4] a low-ranking officer who was tasked with summoning persons before the senior magistrate. The Fasti Consulares record that Glicia was a "scribe", a unique occurrence in the list.[5]

In 249 BC, Pulcher was given command of the Roman navy for operations around Sicily during the First Punic War. Before the Battle of Drepana, when the sacred chickens refused to eat, he ordered them to be cast into the sea. His impious actions were blamed for the subsequent defeat. Upon hearing of the result of the battle, the Senate recalled him to Rome and ordered him to appoint a dictator to resume operations in his place.[3]

Making a mockery of the request, Pulcher nominated Glicia, whose position would demean the office of dictator.[3] Glicia's tenure was short-lived. He was never able to appoint a magister equitum and was forced to resign by the Senate. The more suitable Aulus Atilius Calatinus was appointed in his stead and became the first dictator to lead a Roman army outside of Italy.[3]

After laying down the office, Glicia furthered the controversy by attending the Roman games wearing a purple-bordered toga, a symbol of the dictatorship and thus something to which he was not considered to be entitled.[3] His appointment and actions after it were picked up by Suetonius and used to show the dishonourable side of the Claudian family history, down to the emperor Tiberius.[4][6]