Publius Decius Mus

Publius Decius Mus (23 April 348 BC-295 BC) was a Consul of the Roman Republic in 312 BC, 308 BC, 297 BC, and 295 BC. He was a member of a family renowned for sacrificing themselves on the battlefield for Rome, and he lived up to their reputation with his heroic devotio at the Battle of Sentinum in 295 BC.

Biography

Publius Decius Mus was born in 348 BC, the son of Publius Decius Mus, the Roman consul for 340 BC who sacrificed himself in battle with the Latins during the Latin War. He served as Consul of the Roman Republic in 312 BC, 308 BC, 297 BC, and 295 BC, and, in 309 BC, he fought on the northern front of the Samnite Wars and subdued the Samnites' Etruscan allies. In 297 BC, he defeated a Samnite army near Maleventum, and, in 296 BC, he continued his campaigning as proconsul. In 295 BC, he returned to his consulship, and he and Fabius Maximus Rullianus led a double-consular army into battle with the Samnite-led alliance at the Battle of Sentinum. Mus' left wing of the army was pushed back by the fearsome Gauls, and, when he saw that his men were routing, he gave an inspirational speech to his men and swore that he would destroy the Gauls and Samnites along with himself. He then suicidally charged into the Gallic ranks, and the Gauls killed him with missile fire. Mus' men, inspired by their general's sacrifice, then pushed back the Gauls, turning the tide of the battle and leading to a decisive Roman victory.

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