Lutatia gens

Temple to Juturna, built by Gaius Lutatius Catulus to celebrate his victory at Aegades islands, in Largo di Torre Argentina, Rome.

Lutatius was the name of an ancient Roman family (gens). They rose into prominence during the First Punic War and produced several consuls during the subsequent generations, but were not one of the gentes maiores. The Lutati were plebeians.

Due to the ancient Roman custom of naming children after their famous ancestors, several important Lutati had the same name. The common cognomen in the family is Catulus, meaning "puppy". This is not to be confused with Catullus.

Gaius Lutatius Catulus (consul of 242 BC)

Main article: Gaius Lutatius Catulus

Gaius Lutatius Catulus was the first consul of the family (a novus homo), elected in 242 BC. He was the hero of the Battle of Aegates Islands that ended the First Punic War by defeating Hanno the Great of Carthage. He was later turned into the god Mars Gradivus (the god of war who leads Rome to victory).

Quintus Lutatius Catulus Cerco

Catulus Cerco was elected as a consul of 241 BC, only a year after his brother Gaius Lutatius Catulus. He was also a censor in 236 BC.

Gaius Lutatius Catulus (consul of 220 BC)

Gaius Lutatius Catulus was the son of the father with the same name. He was a consul of 220 BC with Lucius Veturius Philo.

Quintus Lutatius Catulus Caesar

Main article: Quintus Lutatius Catulus

The original name of Quintus Lutatius Catulus was Sextus Julius Caesar and he was the first cousin of the father of Julius Caesar. He is known as a great orator, poet and prose writer. He was a consul of 102 BC together with Gaius Marius and fought with him against the Cimbri and the Teutones. Later they became bitter enemies, eventually leading Catulus Caesar to commit suicide.

Quintus Lutatius Catulus

Main article: Quintus Lutatius Catulus (Capitolinus)

Quintus Catulus was the son of Catulus Caesar, a consul of 78 BC with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and censor in 65 BC. He was one of the very few consulares who survived the civil wars and the purges of Sulla. Therefore he became a very influential person in the Senate.

(Ascon 61; Cic.Cat.3.24, Rab.Perd.21, Att.II.24, Balb.34.5, Verr.III.210, Sest.101, imp. Cn. Pomp.59,51,63,66; Cassius XXXVI.30-36, Plut. Pomp. 26,25, Sulla 34, Caesar 6, Cato. Min. 26; Val. Max.VI.9, VIII.15; Vell. Pat. XLIII, XLVIII)

References

• Gruen, Erich S., The Last Generation of the Roman Republic, University of California Press, 1995