Tubertus

• a Roman cognomen in the gens Postumius, Cic. Leg. 2, 23, 58; Ov. F. 6, 723; Liv. 4, 29.

the name of an ancient family of the patrician Postumia gens.

1. P. Postumius Tubertus, Q. F., consul B. C. 505 with M. Valerius Volusus in the fifth year of the republic. Both consuls fought against the Sabines, over whom they gained a decisive victory in the neighbourhood of Tibur, and obtained in consequence the honour of a triumph. (Liv. 2.16 ; Zonar. 5.37_39; Plut. Publ. 20; Zonar. 7.13.) Tubertus was consul again in B. C. 503 with Agrippa Menenius Lanatus. According to Livy he defeated the Aurunci, and on his return triumphed over them; but other authorities relate that he again fought against the Sabines, and at first with bad success, but that he afterwards gained a victory over them, and on his return celebrated the lesser triumph or ovation, which was on this occasion first introduced at Rome. (Dionys. A. R. 5.44-47; Zonar. 7.13; Plin. Nat. 15.29 ; Fasti Cap.) In B. C. 493 he was one of the ten ambassadors sent by the senate to the people on the Sacred Mountain. (Dionys. A. R. 6.69.) This Tubertus was buried in the city on account of his virtues, a privilege which his posterity retained. (Cic. de Leg. 2.23.)

2. A. Postumius Tubertus, was magister equitum to the dictator Main. Aemilius Mamercinus in B. C. 433, and was himself dictator in B. C. 431. The latter year was memorable in the Roman annals by the great victory which the dictator gained on Mount Algidus over the united forces of the Aequians and Volscians. This victory, which is related to have been fought on the 18th of June, decided the contest with the Aequians, who from this time forward appear as the subjects of Rome. According to universal tradition the dictator put his son to death in this campaign, because he quitted the post in which his father had placed him, through his desire of fighting with the enemy. This story is rejected by Livy. but on insufficient grounds, as Niebuhr has shown. Tubertus celebrated a triumph on his return to Rome. (Liv. 4.23, 26_29; Diod. 12.64; Ov. Fast. 6.721, foll.; Plut. Camill. 2; V. Max. 2.7.6; Gel. 17.21; Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. ii. p. 452, foll.)