Publius Valerius Poplicola (consul 475 BC)


Publius Valerius Poplicola was consul of the Roman Republic in 475 BC and 460 BC, and interrex in 462 BC.
Prior to his consulship he was one of the two patricians sent by the senate to Sicily to retrieve grain to save Rome during a famine in 492 BC, returning a year later having succeeded.
In his first consulship Valerius was assigned responsibility for the war against Veii and the Sabines. The Roman army was reinforced by auxiliaries from the Latin allies and the Hernici.
The Sabine army was camped outside the walls of Veii. Valerius attacked the Sabine defences. The Sabines sallied forth from their camp, but the Romans had the better of the fighting, and took the gate of the Sabine camp. The forces of Veii then attacked from the city, but in some disorder, and a Roman cavalry charged routed the Veientes, giving Rome the overall victory.
Valerius was awarded a triumph for the victory, which he celebrated on 1 May.
In the aftermath of the pestilence that ravaged Rome in 463 BC Valerius was appointed interrex to hold the elections of 462 BC.
In his second consulship he was killed recovering the capitol from .
He is said to be the son of Publius Valerius Publicola, the consul of 509 BC, but according to another tradition, that son fell in battle at Lake Regillus in c. 496 BC; perhaps the consul of 475 BC was his grandson.