Decius

Deciī, ōrum, m.: several illustrious Romans of the Decian gens, especially the father and son Decius Mus, one killed in the battle of Vesuvius, B.C. 340, the other in the battle of Sentinum, B.C. 295, 6.824.

Dĕcĭus, a.

• An ancient Italian praenomen: Decius Magius, Liv. 23, 7, 10; Vell. 2, 16, 2 al.—
• II The name of an eminent plebeian gens at Rome. Its bestknown members were the two Decii (P. Decius Mus, father and son), who, as consuls, voluntarily devoted themselves to death to save their country (the former, in the Latin war, at Veseris, B.C. 340, the latter, in the Samnite war, at Sentinum, B.C. 295), Liv. 8, 9; 10, 27 sq.; Val. Max. 1, 7, 3; 5, 6, 5 sq.; Flor. 1, 14, 3; 1, 17, 7; Cic. Off. 2, 4, 16; id. Div. 1, 24, 51; id. Fin. 2, 19, 61; id. de Sen. 13, 43; Prop. 3, 11, 62 (4, 10, 62 M.). —Genit.: Deci, id. 4 (5), 1, 45. Cicero also mentions the grandson, who devoted himself at Asculum in the war against Pyrrhus, B.C. 279, Cic. Tusc. 1, 37, 89; id. Fin. 2, 19, 61 fin.—Hence,
• • • 1 Dĕcius, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Decius, lex, of P. Decius Mus, Liv. 9, 30.—
    • 2 Dĕcĭānus, a, um, of or belonging to Decius: exercitus (i. e. of the second Decius), Liv. 10, 31.—
• III An artist at Rome, B.C. 56, Plin. 34, 7, 18, § 44.

Decius, a, um, Name einer röm. gens, aus der am berühmtesten die beiden Decii (P. Decius Mus, Vater u. Sohn), die sich als Konsuln zur Rettung des Vaterlandes (der Vater im Latinerkriege, i. J. 340 v. Chr., der Sohn im Samniterkriege, i. J. 295 v. Chr.) freiwillig dem Tode weihten, Liv. 8, 9, 1 sqq.; 10, 28, 6 sqq. Cic. Tusc. 1, 89: devotio P. Decii consulis, Liv. 9, 10, 3: Deciorum devotio, Min. Fel. 7, 3: Deciorum devotiones, Cic. de nat. deor. 3, 16: u. so Plur. Decii außerdem bei Cic. Sest. 143. Verg. georg. 2, 169. Sen. contr. 9, 25, 9. Claud. Probr. et Olybr. cons. 147. Augustin. de civ. dei 5, 14. – Dav. Deciānus, a, um, decisch, exercitus, des Decius (des Sohnes), Liv. 10, 31, 3.

Dĕcĭus, (9) ĭī, m. et Dĕcĭī, ĭōrum, m. , Décius, les Décius [nom de trois illustres Romains qui se dévouèrent pour la patrie] : Cic. Off. 3, 16 ; Liv. 8, 9, 1 ; 10, 28, 12 || Décius Magius, citoyen de Capoue : Liv. 23, 10, 3 || Dèce, empereur romain || -cĭus, a, um, de P. Décius Mus : Liv. 9, 30.

Decius

(1) Publius Decius Mus, a celebrated Roman consul, who, after many glorious exploits, devoted himself to the Manes for the safety of his country in a battle against the Latins, B.C. 337. His son, Decius, imitated his example, and devoted himself in like manner in his fourth consulship, when fighting against the Gauls and the Samnites at Sentinum, B.C. 296. His grandson is said to have done the same in the war against Pyrrhus and the Tarentines, B.C. 280 (Liv.vii. 21 foll.; id. viii. 10; Val. Max. v. 6).

(2) Gaius Messius Quintus Traiānus. A native of Pannonia, sent by the emperor Philip to put down a sedition in Moesia. Instead of obeying his master's command, he assumed the imperial purple. His disaffected troops, it is said, forced him to this step. The emperor immediately marched against him, and a battle was fought near Verona, which terminated successfully for Decins, and Philip was either slain in the conflict or put to death after he fell into the conqueror's power. This took place A.D. 249, and from this period is dated the commencement of the reign of Decius. It was one of short duration, about two years. During this time, however, he proved a very cruel persecutor of the Christians. He greatly signalized himself against the Persians, but was slain in an action with the Goths, who had invaded his dominions. In advancing upon them he was, with the greater part of his troops, entangled in a morass, where, being surrounded by the enemy, he perished under a shower of darts, A.D. 251, aged fifty years. See Victor, De Caes. 29; Eutrop. ix. 4; Euseb. Hist. Eccles. vi. 39, etc.; Zonar.xii. 19, 20.