Name Publius Pulcher Children Appius Claudius Pulcher Parents Appius Claudius Caecus | Died 240 BC Role Politician | |
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Grandchildren Gaius Claudius Pulcher, Publius Claudius Pulcher, Appius Claudius Pulcher Great grandchildren Appius Claudius Pulcher, Cayo Claudio Pulcro People also search for Appius Claudius Pulcher, Appius Claudius Caecus, Gaius Claudius Centho, Apio Claudio Craso | ||
Publius Claudius Pulcher (d 249 BC/246 BC) (of the Claudii family) was a Roman politician.
Contents
Family
Son of Gaius Claudius Centho and brother of the famous politician Appius Claudius Caudex (consul in 264 BC), Publius was the first of the Claudii to be given the cognomen "Pulcher" ("handsome"). He was also the father of Appius Claudius Pulcher, consul in 212 BC.
Career
Curule aedile in 253 BC, as consul in 249 he was given command of the Roman fleet during the First Punic War. He lost the Battle of Drepana against the Carthaginians after ignoring a bad omen. According to Valerius Maximus, Suetonius[1] and Cicero, when the sacred chickens refused to eat, Claudius threw them into the sea, saying "Since they do not wish to eat, let them drink!" (Latin "Bibant, quando esse nollent"). He was recalled to Rome and ordered to appoint a dictator; his nomination of his subordinate Marcus Claudius Glicia was overruled. He was tried for incompetence and impiety and was fined, and died soon afterwards, possibly by suicide.