CAECILIVS Information by Tanaquil Sergius and Senex Caecilius The Caecilii were one of the most important and wealthiest families in the Roman Republic. Although plebeians (meaning not of patrician stock — the Caecilii Metelli were nobles) the Caecilii Metellii remained a political power within the state, from 3rd century BC to the end of the Republic, holding every office in the cursus honorum as well as several important military commands. The name "Caecilius" has been handed down to have been derived from the Latin word "caecus" which means "blind" (like in the cognomen of a Claudian branch after Appius Claudius Caecus). Some believe that the name Caecilius shows traces of Etruscan origin (Ceicli/Ceucle). Family tree of the Caecilii Metelli Roman ancient history has known many Caecilii who have been of importance to the state. Here are a few listed: Lucius Caecilius Metellus (died in 221 BCE) Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus: eldest son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus, consul in 206 BC. He was a brilliant general that fought in the Third Macedonic War, securing, in 146 BC the annexation of Macedonia as a Roman province, hence the cognomen Macedonicus. He was elected consul in 143 BC and censor in 131 BC. During his censorship, Macedonicus legislated to make marriage compulsory for Romans, a law that was never put into practice. He died in 115 BC. Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus: second son of Calvus, he was the leader of the conservative faction of the senate and a bitter enemy of Gaius Marius. Elected consul in 109 BC, he was sent to Numidia to wage war against king Jugurtha. After winning the battle of the Muthul, he returned to Rome to celebrate a triumph and acquired the cognomen Numidicus. Numidicus was elected censor 102 BC in partnership with his cousin Caprarius. During the censorship, he tried to expel Lucius Appuleius Saturninus from the senate, without success. Afterwards, Saturninus had his revenge and forced him to swear the acceptance of the agrarian law that entitled Marius' veterans to farmlands. Numidicus refused and was sent into exile. He died in 91 BC. Q. Caecilius Metellus Creticus: pontifex in 57-54 BCE. Q. Caecilius Metellus Scipio: pontifex in 46 BCE. This is the same man as Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, general under Caesar in Africa (47-46 BCE). C.Plinius Secundus Minor Caecilianus: also known as C.Plinius Caecilius Secundus Minor, a plotician and writer during the reign of emperor Traianus. Mostly referred to as "Pliny the Younger". Lucius Caecilius Iucundus: a banker in Pompeii, the star of the first series of the Cambridge Latin Course. Further Links: Mensa Ponderaria Pompeiorum (in French) Caecilius est pater, the first lesson of the Cambridge Latin Course (Online) From the left to the right: Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, L. Caecilius Iucundus, C.Plinius Secundus Minor Caecilianus