Maenia (gens)


The gens Maenia, occasionally written Mainia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned soon after the establishment of the Republic, and occur in history down to the second century BC. Several of them held the position of tribune of the plebs, from which they strenuously advocated on behalf of their order. The most illustrious of the family was Gaius Maenius, consul in 338 BC, and dictator in both 320 and 314. In some manuscripts, the nomen Maenius appears to have been erroneously substituted for Menenius or Manlius; there are also instances of confusion with Manilius, Maelius, and Maevius.

Praenomina

The Maenii of the Republic definitely used the praenomina Gaius, Publius, Titus, and Quintus, all of which were very common names throughout Roman history. Individuals named Marcus and Lucius probably belonged to other gentes, whose nomina have been confused with Maenius.

Branches and cognomina

No surnames of the Maenii occur in ancient historians, but from the coins of the gens, we know that some of them bore the cognomen Antiaticus, in honour of the victory of the consul Gaius Maenius over the Latins in 338 BC, leading to the capture of Antium.

Members