The nomenPublicius belongs to a class of gentilicia derived from words ending in -icus. The root, publicus, is a Latin adjective meaning "of the people". Although the Publicii are not mentioned at Rome prior to the third century BC, they claimed descent from a legendary figure from the time of the kings. Ancus Publicius of Cora was said to have been one of the generals of the Latin League, together with Spurius Vecilius of Lavinium, in a war against the Romans during the reign of Tullus Hostilius, the third King of Rome, who claimed dominion over the cities of Latium following the destruction of Alba Longa.
Praenomina
Apart from Ancus, a name found only in antiquity, the praenomina associated with the Publicii appearing in history are Lucius, Gaius, Marcus, Quintus, and Gnaeus, all of which were among the most common names throughout Roman history.
There were two main branches, or stirpes, of the Publicii under the Republic, distinguished by the cognomina Malleolus and Bibulus. The surname Malleolus is a diminutive of malleus, a hammer, which was used as an emblem on coins of this family. The Publicii Malleoli flourished from the middle of the third century BC to the beginning of the first. Bibulus refers to a tippler, one known for drinking. Members of this family are mentioned in the time of the Second Punic War. Other surnames are found in imperial times. One family of the Publicii lived at Adria in Sabinum.
Members
Early Publicii
Ancus Publicius of Cora, one of the Latin generals in the war between Tullus Hostilius and the Latin League.
Publicii Malleoli
Lucius Publicius, the grandfather of Lucius and Marcus, aediles in 241 BC.
Lucius Publicius L. f., father of the aediles Lucius and Marcus.
Lucius Publicius L. f. L. n. Malleolus, aedile with his brother, Marcus, in 241 BC. They used fines taken from those who had violated the agrarian laws to fund a number of public works, including the Clivus Publicius, a road leading up the Aventine Hill, and the temple of Flora. They also instituted the celebration of the Floralia.
Marcus Publicius L. f. L. n. Malleolus, aedile with his brother, Lucius, in 241 BC, and consul in 232, when he was sent against the Sardinians.
Gaius Publicius Gaius C. f. Malleolus, special moneyer for the foundation of Narbo Martius in 118 BC.
Publicius Malleolus, became the first Roman to be convicted of matricide in 101 BC. He was sentenced to be sewn into a sack, and thrown into the sea.
Gaius Publicius C. f. C. n. Malleolus, triumvir monetalis in the late 90s BC, and quaestor in 80 under Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella, the proconsul of Cilicia. Having enriched himself at the expense of the natives, Malleolus died in office, and was succeeded by Verres. Cicero's assertion that Verres killed his predecessor in order to take his place is probably just a rhetorical flourish.
Gaius Publicius Bibulus, tribune of the plebs in 209 BC, an opponent of Marcus Claudius Marcellus, whom he unsuccessfully attempted to deprive of his imperium. He is probably the same Publicius who, as tribune of the plebs, passed the lex Publicia de cereis, relieving the poor of their ancient obligation to give wax candles to their patrons during the Saturnalia.
Others
Gaius Publicius, remarked that a certain Publius Mummius was "a man for all occasions," a figure of speech recorded by Cato the Elder, and subsequently mentioned by Cicero in his dialogue on oratory. Glandorp suggests that he might the same person as Gaius Publicius Bibulus, tribune of the plebs in 209 BC.
Lucius Publicius, a slave merchant, and a friend of Sextus Naevius, whom Cicero mentions in 81 BC.
Marcus Publicius M. f. Scaeva, a senator in 73 BC.
Publicius, a seer mentioned by Cicero.
Publicius, an eques who gained notoriety for ambitus, or electoral bribery, about 70 BC.
Quintus Publicius Q. f., praetorcirca67 BC, presided over the trial of Decimus Matrinius, whom Cicero defended.
Gaius Publicius Q. f., triumvir monetalis in 80 BC, probably the brother of Quintus Publicius, the praetor.
Quintus Publicius Q. f. Q. n., a senator buried at Verona, had been legatus pro praetore in an uncertain province.
Publicius Gellius, a jurist, who had been one of the pupils of Servius Sulpicius Rufus. He might perhaps be the same person as Quintus Publicius, the praetor.
Marcus Publicius, a legatus pro praetore serving under the younger Pompeius in Spain from 46 to 45 BC, minted coins prior to the Battle of Munda.
Gnaeus Publicius Menander, a freedman, whom Cicero mentions in his oration, Pro Balbo.
Gnaeus Publicius Regulus, one of the duumviri quinquennales at Corinth in from AD 50 to 51. He issued a series of bronze coins during his magistracy.
Publicius Certus, denounced Helvidius Priscus for disloyalty during the reign of Domitian, resulting in Helvidius' death. He was made praefectus aerarii, and promised the consulship, but was accused by Pliny the Younger following the death of Domitian, and was deprived of his position, dying shortly thereafter.
Lucius Publicius Celsus, consul in AD 113, and subsequently put to death by Hadrian, is apparently a mistake for Lucius Publilius Celsus.
