Notes for Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus DE ROME


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This article is about the Pontifex Maximus who was an ally of Tiberius
Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus. For other men with this name, see Publius
Licinius Crassus (disambiguation).
Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus (c. 180 BC - 130 BC)[1] was the
natural son of Publius Mucius Scaevola and Licinia, and brother of Publius
Mucius Scaevola. He was adopted at an unknown date by Publius Licinius Crassus
(consul 171 BC), his mother's brother, or (although improbable) by a son of
the consul of 205 BC, Publius Licinus Crassus Dives.[2]

Contents
1	Career
2	Family
3	See also
4	References
Career
Mucianus became Pontifex Maximus in 132 BC after the death of the exiled
Pontifex Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio. In 131 BC he was elected
consul along with Lucius Valerius Flaccus, the Flamen Martialis. Mucianus
forbade his colleague to fight against Aristonicus and fined him for
neglecting his sacred duties. The people remitted the fine but wished Flaccus
to submit to his religious superior.[3] Mucianus, nevertheless, went to fight
Aristonicus, who had occupied the kingdom of Pergamum, after it had been left
to Rome in the will of Attalus III. He was the first Pontifex Maximus to leave
Italy voluntarily (whereas Scipio Nasica Serapio had been sent out of Italy by
the Senate). Crassus Mucianus met with defeat against Aristonicus, and while
retreating, he was overtaken by the enemy and stabbed to death. According to
one source,[4] he deliberately refused to reveal his identity to avoid the
humiliation of being captured alive.

According to ancient historians, he was a wealthy, cultivated man who spoke
several varieties of Greek fluently.[5] He and his brother supported political
and economic reforms, and as such, were staunch supporters of Tiberius
Sempronius Gracchus (killed 133 BC), who was married to his wife's niece,
another Claudia. Crassus Mucianus later arranged the marriage of his younger
daughter to Tiberius's younger brother Gaius.

Family
Publius Licinius Crassus Mucianus was the son of Publius Mucius Scaevola and
Licinia, the sister of Publius Licinius Crassus, consul in 171 BC. His
paternal uncle, Quintus Mucius Scaevola, had been consul in 174 BC. His elder
brother, Publius Mucius Scaevola, became consul in 133 BC. Thus, Crassus
Mucianus was related to several consuls. His paternal grandfather, Quintus
Mucius Scaevola, had been praetor in 215 BC, but had fallen ill and died
before he could stand for election to the consulship.

Crassus Mucianus was probably born around 180 BC. The date of his adoption is
unknown. He married Clodia, (possibly the sister of Appius Claudius Pulcher
consul in 143 BC as well as censor and Princeps Senatus in 136 BC). He had
several children with her, of whom at least one son and two daughters outlived
him. His younger daughter, Licinia, was wife of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus, the
would-be reformer who died in 121 BC.

A cousin was Quintus Mucius Scaevola Augur, consul in 117 BC, and friend,
patron and tutor of Cicero. Crassus Mucianus's nephew was the rhetorician and
jurist Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex, son of Publius Mucius Scaevola. Both
relatives died or were killed during the Social War.

The family Mucii gained several consulships between 175 BC and 95 BC,
including no less than three consuls who became Pontifex Maximus (including
Crassus Mucianus who was adopted out).
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