Marcus Postumius Pyrgensis
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Marcus Postumius, surnamed Pyrgensis, is described by Livius
as a "farmer of the taxes" during the Second Punic War
, whose character for avarice and fraud were equaled only by Titus Pomponius Veientanus.
During this period, when Rome
and her allies had many troops in the field, and it was necessary to transport goods to them by sea, the state assumed all risks on behalf of private suppliers, such as Postumius and Pomponius, insuring them against all losses to their ships caused by storms. Taking advantage of their position, they outfitted unseaworthy ships with small and mostly worthless cargoes, sent them to sea, then removed the crews and sank them, reporting the loss while exaggerating the value of the cargo. They also reported imaginary shipwrecks.
This fraud was first reported in 213 B.C., but the Senate
had delayed action for fear of offending other suppliers, who depended on the assurances of the state against loss. Pomponius was captured by Hanno
that same year. In 212, the tribunes
Spurius
and Lucius Carvilius
proposed to fine Postumius 200,000 asses. On the day of his trial, Postumius' supporters nearly came to blows with the those who had assembled to vote. Another tribune, Gaius Servilius Casca, who was a relative of Postumius, failed to intervene on his behalf, and in order to avoid an insurrection, the proceedings were halted by the consul Quintus Fulvius Flaccus
.
The matter was then brought before the Senate by the consuls, who argued that Postumius and his allies had robbed the people of their right to vote. The Carvilii then brought a capital charge against Postumius and those who had supported him against the crowd. Postumius gave surety, but chose to go into exile rather than appear for trial before the first of May. Many of his supporters did likewise, while those who could not give surety were immediately imprisoned, together with some of those who could.
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
as a "farmer of the taxes" during the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
, whose character for avarice and fraud were equaled only by Titus Pomponius Veientanus.
During this period, when Rome
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
and her allies had many troops in the field, and it was necessary to transport goods to them by sea, the state assumed all risks on behalf of private suppliers, such as Postumius and Pomponius, insuring them against all losses to their ships caused by storms. Taking advantage of their position, they outfitted unseaworthy ships with small and mostly worthless cargoes, sent them to sea, then removed the crews and sank them, reporting the loss while exaggerating the value of the cargo. They also reported imaginary shipwrecks.
This fraud was first reported in 213 B.C., but the Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
had delayed action for fear of offending other suppliers, who depended on the assurances of the state against loss. Pomponius was captured by Hanno
Hanno the Elder
Hanno the Elder was a Carthaginian general who served under Hannibal during the Second Punic War. According to the historian Livy, his track record was terrible: in 215 BC he was defeated by Tiberius Sempronius Longus at Grumentum, in 214 BC he was defeated by Gracchus at Beneventum, two years...
that same year. In 212, the tribunes
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
Spurius
Spurius Carvilius (tribune)
Spurius Carvilius was tribune of the people at Rome in 212 BC. Together with Lucius Carvilius , he proposed that a fine of 200,000 asses be levied against Marcus Postumius Pyrgensis, for defrauding the state. Postumius was one of the "farmers of the taxes", who made their living shipping goods to...
and Lucius Carvilius
Lucius Carvilius (tribune)
Lucius Carvilius was tribune of the people at Rome in 212 BC. Together with Spurius Carvilius, perhaps his brother, he proposed that a fine of 200,000 asses be levied against Marcus Postumius Pyrgensis, for defrauding the state. Postumius was one of the "farmers of the taxes", who made their...
proposed to fine Postumius 200,000 asses. On the day of his trial, Postumius' supporters nearly came to blows with the those who had assembled to vote. Another tribune, Gaius Servilius Casca, who was a relative of Postumius, failed to intervene on his behalf, and in order to avoid an insurrection, the proceedings were halted by the consul Quintus Fulvius Flaccus
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, son of Marcus Fulvius Flaccus , Quintus was consul in 237 BC, fighting the Gauls in northern Italy. He was censor in 231 BC, again consul in 224 BC, when he subdued the Boii...
.
The matter was then brought before the Senate by the consuls, who argued that Postumius and his allies had robbed the people of their right to vote. The Carvilii then brought a capital charge against Postumius and those who had supported him against the crowd. Postumius gave surety, but chose to go into exile rather than appear for trial before the first of May. Many of his supporters did likewise, while those who could not give surety were immediately imprisoned, together with some of those who could.