CORIOLANUS

                Long before Benedict Arnold, there was Gaius Marcius Coriolanus.  Gaius grew up in a patrician family.  When he reached adulthood he became an officer in the Roman army.  In 493 B.C., a Roman army was laying siege to the Volscian city of Corioli.  A relief army arrived and at the same time, the citizens and soldiers in the city made a surprise sally.  Gaius sounded the alarm and while most of the army battled the relief army, he gathered a small force to fight the sally.  Not only did Gaius defeat the enemy, his group broke into the city and set fire to homes.  When the Volscians saw their city going up in flames their morale was broken and they gave up.  Gaius was proclaimed a hero and given the honorary name Coriolanus.  Fame can be fleeting, however.

                In 491 B.C., Rome underwent a famine due to a shortage of grain.  Things looked better when a grain shipment from Sicily arrived.  The question was how to divided the grain.  Coriolanus pushed for grain being given to the plebeians only if they agreed to roll back some of their hard won government reforms.  For example, Coriolanus wanted the office of tribune abolished.  The tribunes had been created to protect plebeian rights.  Naturally, the lower class was not keen on giving up powers they had earned.  Apparently, Coriolanus thought his fame would protect him.  It didn’t.  Even most patricians thought the proposal was too reactionary.  He was exiled.

                Being a very poor sport, Coriolanus went over to the Volscians.  He befriended their king Aufidius.  Coriolanus convinced Aufidius to break the truce with Rome.  He and Aufidius led the Volscian army into Roman territory.  It captured many towns and ravaged the countryside.  Coriolanus told the soldiers to burn plebian property, but to leave patrician estates untouched.  The Volscians reached the city of Rome and laid siege to it.  The Romans were in a bad situation and begged for a peace treaty.  Envoys were sent to the Volscian camp, but Coriolanus refused to even talk to them.  Priests were sent with the same result.  Finally, in their desperation, the Romans sent Coriolanus’ mother and wife, along with some other Roman mothers.  (see painting below)  Coriolanus could not turn down his mom and peace was negotiated.  We don’t know what happened to Coriolanus, but it’s safe to say he did not return to Rome.  Centuries later, he inspired a play by Shakespeare.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gnaeus-Marcius-Coriolanus

https://myadventuresacrosstheworld.com/famous-rome-myths-and-legends/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnaeus_Marcius_Coriolanus