Lucius Papirius Cursor

Lucius Papirius Cursor, Roman general, five times consul and twice dictator.

In 325 BC he was appointed dictator to carry on the second Samnite War. His quarrel with Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus, his "magister equitum", is well known. The latter had engaged the enemy against the orders of Cursor, by whom he was condemned to death, and only the intercession of his father, the senate and the people, saved his life.

His cognomen, "Cursor", means "The Runner", as he was able to walk over 50 miles a day in full marching order and demanded the same from his soldiers. Legend says that when cavalry veterans came to him asking for some priviliges, he gave them but one privilege: "That you may not say I never excuse you anything, I excuse you from rubbing your horses' backs when you dismount" [Livy, [http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy09.html#livy.hist.9.16 9.16] ] . Such harshness to his soldiers allowed them to be defeated. But later he had regained their good-will by more lenient treatment and lavish promises of booty, they fought with enthusiasm and gained a complete victory.

After the disaster of the Caudine Forks, Cursor to some extent wiped out the disgrace by compelling Luceria (which had revolted) to surrender. He delivered the Roman hostages who were held in captivity in the town, recovered the standards lost at Caudium, and made 7000 of the enemy pass under the yoke.

In 309, when the Samnites again rose, Cursor was appointed dictator for the second time, and gained a decisive victory at Longula, in honour of which he celebrated a magnificent triumph. Cursor's strictness was proverbial; he was a man of immense bodily strength, while his bravery was beyond dispute. He was surnamed Cursor from his swiftness of foot.

His son of the same name, also a distinguished general, completed the subjection of Samnium (272). He set up a sundial, the first of its kind in Rome, in the temple of Quirinus.

In games

In the game Rise of Nations, Cursor is portrayed in the Alexander the Great campaign as the leader of the Roman Republic.

References

See Livy x. 39-47; Pliny, "Nat. Hist.", vii. 60.

See Livy viii., ix.; Aurelius Victor, "De viris illustribus", 3; Eutropius ii. 8. 9.----