Marcus Manlius

(Marcus Manlius Capitolinus)

d. 384 BC

THE GEESE OF THE CAPITOL.

Marcus Manlius was the captain of the guards of the citadel on Capitoline Hill when the Gauls overran Rome. He heard the geese squawking and slew the Gauls that were climbing up the rock on the side of the Capitol. He was wealthy, and after the war used his money to help the poor people of Rome. For this he was called "Father of the Commons". The patricians became alarmed at his influence, had him tried for treason, and threw him off Tarpeian Rock.

Key events during the life of Marcus Manlius:

Year	Event
392 BC	Elected consul.
390 BC	Took refuge in Capitol when Rome was taken, and fought off Gauls.
384 BC	Tried for treason by jealous patricians, and thrown off Tarpeian Rock.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Rome and the Gauls continued  in	Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Great Disaster  in	Stories from Ancient Rome  by  Alfred J. Church
Sacred Geese  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Sacred Geese  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Gauls at Rome  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris

Image Links
Just in time to hurl down the foremost of the attacking party  in Stories from Ancient Rome	The geese of the Capitol, Motte  in Famous Men of Rome	The Geese Save Rome  in Greatest Nations - Germany

Contemporary	Short Biography
Brennus	Leader of the Gauls who sacked Rome in 390 B.C.
Camillus	Great military leader; conquered Veii, saved Rome from Gauls, organized legions.
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