User:Appietas/Publius Licinius Crassus (consul 171 BC)

P. Licinius Crassus (cos.171) c.216-c.150s BC

Filiation: C.f.P.n. (fasti Capitolini ad an.582 = 171) Filiation and career together show that he was a second son but the eldest who survived to manhood.

praetor 176, when he successfully refused his allotted command of Nearer Spain consul 171 first commander of Macedonia province 171-170, beginning the war against the Antigonid King Perseus

Xvir legatus to Aemilius Paullus 167 for the settlement of Macedonia (his name has dropped out of the Livian text listing the Xviri)

Early 176(R) as praetor P.Crassus was allotted the command of Citerior Spain, but excused after taking an oath before an Assembly that religious duties prevented him from going; sacrifices that had to be performed at a fixed place and on fixed days, and which could not be performed in his absence (Liv.xli.14, xlii.32) - the first known case of a high noble evading service in Spain, but the first in a long line which within three decades began to permeate all classes of Roman society. Owing to Crassus' refusal the current governor, Marcus Titinius, was given another year, and so commanded for a triennium in all (178-175 BC). With such a record it is no surprise that Crassus' consulate was delayed, but it is surprising that he was permitted to take command of the war against Perseus according to the lot. His failure this time to cite religious duties holding him back in Italy shows that his earlier disclaimer was fraudulent - it was the danger and discomfort of Spanish service that deterred him while he expected glory and booty from the Macedonian war, which were certainly there for the taking had he had any ability. His colleague C.Cassius, eager for the Macedonian command himself, took Crassus bitterly to task for his volte-face, declaring that Crassus could not cast lots with him without perjuring himself for the oath he had taken as praetor (Liv.xlii.32). But the Senate refused to accept this argument (apparently because the provincial commands had already been determined and Crassus was required to make up the numbers of the commanders), ordered a drawing of lots, and Crassus obtained Macedonia and the war while Cassius had to be content with Italy-Gallia (although in the event he refused to be so content, undertaking his extraordinary march beyond Aquileia).

In the opening operations of the war with Perseus P. Crassus performed barely adequately and was replaced the following year.

Apparently Xvir legatus to Aemilius Paullus 167 for the settlement of Macedonia, his duties included a mission with the Attalid prince Attalos to Galatia to mediate in the war between Galatia and Pergamon - Liv.xlv.34, Polyb.xxx.3.7-9 (his name has dropped out of the Livian text on the Xviri)