Consulship and The Latin War
Hailing from a plebeian family, Maenius was elected consul in 338 BC alongside Lucius Furius Camillus during the final stages of the Latin War. He commanded the Roman naval forces which defeated the combined Latin armies of Antium, Lanuvium, Aricia and Velitrae. at the Battle of Antium on the river Astura, thereby completing the conquest of Latium. After this victory, he took the six rostra (rams) from the prows of the enemy warships, and placed them in what became known as the Rostra, decorating the stage in the Roman Forum from which the orators would address the people. After this victory, both Maenius and his colleague were awarded triumphs, and in a rare show of appreciation, both had equestrian statues erected to them in the Roman Forum. His statue was placed upon a column, called the Columna Maenia, which stood near the end of the Forum, on the Capitoline. In addition, it is also possible that he took the cognomen Antiaticus in remembrance of this victory.
Read more about this topic: Gaius Maenius
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