Tiberius Aemilius Mamercus

Mamercus was a member of the Aemilii Mamerci, a branch of the gens Aemilia. He was the son of Lucius Aemilius Mamercus, consul in 484, 478, and 473, and the grandson of a Mamercus Aemilius.[2]

In 470, Mamercus was elected consul with Lucius Valerius Potitus Publicola as colleague. The political situation in Rome was strained, the tribunes of the plebs continued to demand that land be distributed equally to the people. Livy states that Mamercus argued in favour of land distributions to the plebs. Tribunes Marcus Duillius and Gnaeus Siccius prosecuted Appius Claudius Sabinus, who was bitterly opposed to their legislation that distributed land to the people, however he died before the proceedings ended.[3][4]

The Aequi and the Sabines, taking advantage of the internal conflict at Rome, made raids into Roman territory. Potitus was sent to fight the Aequi, while Mamercus fought a campaign against the Sabines. The Sabines confined themselves to their camp and would not engage the Roman army. Mamercus laid waste the Sabine countryside, and also the villages, prompting the Sabines to come forth to stop him. An uncertain battle was fought, and both sides retreated, however the war continued in following years.[5][6][7]

Mamercus was elected consul a second time in 467, with Quintus Fabius Vibulanus as his colleague. Mamercus again supported the agrarian law of the plebeian tribunes in favor of a distribution of land to the people and was confronted by the conservative senators. With his colleague Vibulanus, he successfully bought an end to the conflict by passing a law that the lands of the Volsci at the new Roman colony of Antium be distributed. Three commissioners were named for the purpose of dividing the lands.[8][9][10]

Mamercus launched another military expedition against the Sabines along with his colleague who fought the Aequi. He did not provoke a long battle, despite extensive pillaging of Sabine territory.[11][12]