Decius Mus

Decius Mus
Decius Mus in a painting by Jacob Matthias Schmutzer (1733-1811)
See also: Publius Decius Mus (consul 340 BC)

Publius Decius Mus is the name of three Romans who (according to legend) sacrificed themselves in battle, in the belief that the infernal gods would then destroy their enemies.

Having been forewarned in a dream that his troops would falter and retreat, he threw himself into the heart of the battle, sacrificing his own life in an effort to spur his men. The soldiers took courage from him, regrouped and won the day.

The father (a consul) did this when fighting in the Latin War in 339 BC at the Battle of Vesuvius. His son, also a consul, did this while fighting a combined force of Samnites, Gauls and Etruscans in 295 BC. Finally, the grandson followed in their footsteps, dying at Asculum in 279 BC, as recorded by Cicero.

Sir Peter Paul Rubens recorded his conception of the father in a 1617 oil painting.

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  • Decius Mus — Decius war der Gentilname eines römischen Plebejergeschlechtes (gens). Bekannt ist es durch drei Angehörige (Vater, Sohn und Enkel) namens Publius Decius Mus, die sich, um das römische Heer zu retten, geopfert haben sollen; der Erste in der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • DECIUS Mus — vide Publius …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Decius Mus — Decii Principales gentes romaines Gens Aemilia Gens Claudia Gens Cornelia Gens Fabia Gens Iulia Gens Iunia …   Wikipédia en Français

  • DECIUS Mus (P.) — I. P. DECIUS Mus consul bellô Latinô cum Tito Manlio Torquato, cum oraculô responsum esset, eam partem superiorem futuram, cuiux dux se ultro diis manibus devovisset, ita cum collega pactus est, ut, cuius ex duobus cornu prius pedem retulisset,… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Publius Decius Mus — Decius war der Gentilname eines römischen Plebejergeschlechtes (gens). Bekannt ist es durch drei Angehörige (Vater, Sohn und Enkel) namens Publius Decius Mus, die sich, um das römische Heer zu retten, geopfert haben sollen; der Erste in der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • DECIUS MUS —    the name of three Romans, father, son, and grandson, who on separate critical emergencies (340, 295, 279 B.C.) devoted themselves in sacrifice to the infernal gods in order to secure victory to the Roman arms; the name is mostly employed… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Publius decius mus (consul en -312) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Publius Decius Mus. Publius Decius Mus était un homme politique romain. C est le fils de Publius Decius Mus l ancien (consul en 340 av. J. C.). et le père de Publius Decius Mus (consul en 279 av. J. C.). En 312… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Publius Decius Mus (consul en -312) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Publius Decius Mus. Publius Decius Mus était un homme politique romain. C est le fils de Publius Decius Mus l ancien (consul en 340 av. J. C.). et le père de Publius Decius Mus (consul en 279 av. J. C.).… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Publius decius mus (consul en -340) — La mort de Publius Decius Mus vue par Rubens (1617). Pour les articles homonymes, voir …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Publius Decius Mus (312 BC) — Publius Decius Mus, (d. 295 BC) of the plebeian Decia, was a Roman consul in the years 312 BC, 308 BC, 297 BC and 295 BC. He was a member of a family that was renowned for sacrificing themselves on the battlefield for Rome.First and second… …   Wikipedia

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