Publius Postumius Tubertus

Who is Publius Postumius Tubertus?

Publius Postumius Tubertus, the son of Quintus, was the first of the patrician gens Postumia to obtain the consulship, which he held in 505 BC, the fifth year of the Roman Republic. Together with his colleague, Marcus Valerius Volusus, he fought against the Sabines, whom they defeated decisively near Tibur, obtaining a triumph.

Postumius was consul for the second time in 503 BC. Livius records that he fought and defeated the Aurunci and the town of Pometia, obtaining a second triumph. Other authorities state that he fought against the Sabines again, at first with little success, but that he was eventually victorious, and was awarded an Ovation, or lesser triumph, which he celebrated on 3 April, 503 BC. This was the first occasion that this honor was bestowed upon a magistrate of the Roman Republic.

In 494 BC, Postumius was one of ten ambassadors sent by the Senate to treat with the plebs gathered on the Mons Sacer during the first secession. The envoys successfully negotiated to forgive some of the debt owed by the plebs, and established the office of the Tribuni Plebis, or "Tribunes of the People", who received the power to veto acts of the Magistrates and the Senate.