Caeso Quinctius

Who is Caeso Quinctius?

Caeso Quinctius was the son of the Roman patrician Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus.

Caeso was renowned for his eloquence in the forum. Just as his father, he opposed the plebeians' push for greater legal recognition and often drove the tribunes of the plebes from the forum, preventing them from reaching a formal decision. In 461 BC, his boldness finally resulted in legal charges, including a false accusation for murder by the tribune Aulus Virginius. Caeso was at first dismissive of the proceedings, while his family and the former consuls Titus Quintius Capitolinus and Lucius Lucretius tried to clear him. Caeso was released on bail and used this opportunity to escape to the Etruscans. He was condemned to death in absentia and his father had to pay an immense fine, forcing him to sell most of his lands and retire to a small farm.

Cincinnatus would nonetheless go on to serve Rome as consul and twice as Roman dictator.