The gens Laetoria was a
plebeian family at
ancient Rome. Its members appear regularly throughout the history of the
Republic. None of the Laetorii ever obtained the
consulship, but several achieved lesser offices of the Roman state.[1]
Praenomina
The only praenomina found among the Laetorii mentioned by the ancient historians are Marcus,
Gaius, and Lucius, the three most common names at all periods of Roman history. Some sources mention a Gnaeus Laetorius, but in other sources his praenomen is Gaius.
Branches and cognomina
The Laetorii of the Republic do not appear to have been divided into families, and the only surnames found are Mergus, a seagull, and Plancianus, apparently derived from the
nomen of the
Plancia gens, and perhaps indicating that the bearer was a descendant of that family, who was adopted by one of the Laetorii.[2]
Gaius Laetorius, tribune of the plebs in BC 471, the year in which the lex Publilia passed the election of the tribunes to the comitia tributa, freeing the office from the direct influence of the
patricians. The success of the rogation was due in no small part to the courage and energy of Laetorius.[7][8][9]
Marcus Laetorius Mergus,
military tribune during the
Third Samnite War, was accused of adultery by the tribune Cominius. He took his own life, but was tried and sentenced after his death.[10][11][12]
Lucius Laetorius, plebeian aedile in 202 BC, together with his colleague, Publius Aelius Tubero, celebrated the
Epulum Jovis and
Plebeian Games, but abdicated when their election was declared void ab initio for religious reasons.[17][18]
Laetorius,[iii] a friend of
Gaius Gracchus, who attempted to stop Gracchus' pursuers from crossing a wooden bridge; but when he was unable to prevent their pursuit, took his own life.[22][23]
Marcus Laetorius, a senator allied with
Gaius Marius, was proscribed by
Sulla when he entered Rome in 88 BC, but escaped, and subsequently returned with Marius.[24]
^According to Livy, Laetorius was chosen by the popular assembly after the consuls could not agree on which of them should dedicate the new Temple of Mercury; the
Senate was outraged by the election of a plebeian to perform these functions, but powerless to prevent it.[3] Münzer suggests that he was not plebeian aedile, but
decemvir sacris faciundis.[4]
^Gnaeus Laetorius in some manuscripts. Broughton considers him the same as the praetor of 210 BC.[19][20]