The Carvilii were a modest family of equestrian rank, which rose to prominence due to the military exploits of Spurius Carvilius Maximus. The nomenCarviliusbelongs to a large class of gentilicia ending in -ilus or -illus, typically derived from diminutive surnames originally ending in -ulus. The root of the name is uncertain; perhaps related to the surname Carbo, a coal, or coal-black.
Praenomina
The only praenomina used by the Carvilii were Spurius, Gaius, and Lucius.
Branches and cognomina
The Carvilii of the Republic were not divided into separate families, and the only cognomen that was handed down among them was Maximus, "very great" or "greatest", which was probably applied first to Spurius Carvilius, the consul of 293 and 272 BC, in recognition of his military victories and splendid character. Two of this family bore the additional surname Ruga, a furrow or wrinkle.
Gaius Carvilius, the grandfather of Spurius Carvilius Maximus, the consul of 293 and 272 BC.
Gaius Carvilius C. f., the father of Spurius Carvilius Maximus.
Spurius Carvilius C. f. C. n. Maximus, consul in 293 BC, he defeated the Samnites and Faliscans, taking several towns and receiving a magnificent triumph. He was probably censor about 289. Consul for the second time in 272, he and his colleague triumphed over the Samnites, Lucanians, Bruttians, and Tarentines.
Spurius Carvilius S. f. C. n. Maximus Ruga, consul in 234 BC, he fought against the Corsicans, and then the Sardinians, for which he received a triumph. He was consul for the second time in 228, with Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus as his colleague. After the Battle of Cannae, he proposed filling the ranks of the senate with the leading men of Rome's Latin allies, but his advice was soundly rejected. He gained a certain notoriety for divorcing his wife, on grounds of barrenness.
Spurius Carvilius, tribune of the plebs in 212 BC, together with his colleague, Lucius Carvilius, indicted Marcus Postumius Pyrgensis for defrauding the Roman state. Pyrgensis, a publican, had deliberately sunk old ships with worthless cargo, in order to claim substantial losses and enriching himself.
Lucius Carvilius, tribune of the plebs in 212 BC, joined his colleague Spurius Carvilius in indicting Marcus Postumius Pyrgensis.
Spurius Carvilius, legate of the propraetor Gnaeus Sicinius in 171 BC, was appointed by the senate to watch the ambassadors of Perseus, and ensure that they departed Italy.
Gaius Carvilius, a native of Spoletium, negotiated the surrender of the Roman garrison at Uscana to Perseus in 169 BC.
