Discourses on Livy · Character

Valerius Corvinus

Roman consul and general known for his victory over the Gauls.

minor

Also known as Valerius

First appearance: v

Valerius Corvinus's tie to Manlius Capitolinus is one of the pressures that moves Discourses on Livy—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Consul Publius Valerius who led the assault on the Capitol and was slain.

In the storyXIIIOpen this moment free

Valerius Corvinus first appears in 0008 v.

With Manlius Capitolinus (rivalry): Manlius Capitolinus, a populist agitator, is opposed by Valerius Corvinus, a moderate patrician leader, representing the conflict between demagoguery and aristocratic order. With Titus Livius (professional): Titus Livius (Livy) is the historian who records the deeds of Valerius Corvinus, a Roman general and consul, as a subject of his historical narrative. With Titus Livius (professional): Titus Livius (Livy) is the historian who records the deeds of Valerius Corvinus, a Roman general and consul, as a subject of his historical narrative.

See Valerius Corvinus in XIII Book page

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Character Web

13 connections

A slice of how Valerius Corvinus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Professional
Other

Character groups

Historical and Political Examples
Founders and Tyrants
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the Claudian censor, driven by the family’s ingrained haughti…

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Relationships

Manlius Capitolinus
rivalry · negative
Manlius Capitolinus, a populist agitator, is opposed by Valerius Corvinus, a moderate… How this plays out →
Titus Livius
professional · positive
Titus Livius
professional · positive

Manlius Capitolinus
Manlius Capitolinus, a populist agitator, is opposed by Valerius Corvinus, a moderate patrician leader, representing the conflict between demagoguery and aristocratic order.
Titus Livius
Titus Livius (Livy) is the historian who records the deeds of Valerius Corvinus, a Roman general and consul, as a subject of his historical narrative.
Titus Livius
Titus Livius (Livy) is the historian who records the deeds of Valerius Corvinus, a Roman general and consul, as a subject of his historical narrative.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Valerius Corvinus in v

In the story

Valerius Corvinus appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XIII
Consul Publius Valerius who led the assault on the Capitol and was slain.
Chapter XXVIII: Whence it came that the Romans were less ungrateful to their citizens than were the Athenians.
Mentioned as Publius Valerius, who was suspected because he built a house on the Caelian hill.
XL: Of the creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, and what therein is to be noted.
Senator who, along with Horatius, inveighed against the insolence of the decemvirs in the Senate.
XLIV
Sent to negotiate with the commons; rejected the demand to burn the decemvirs alive.
LX
Cited as an example of a young consul (at age 24) who stated the consulship is a reward for desert, not birth.
XXVI
Suppressed the mutiny of the legions left at Capua and imposed a condition that no soldier be reproached for having taken part in the mutiny.
XXII
Exemplifies gentle and familiar command, winning soldiers' love; his methods are useful for a prince but dangerous for a private citizen in a republic.
Why Camillus was banished from Rome
Mentioned as a contrasting example of more popular methods that are hurtful to the citizen and country.
XXXVII
Example of a captain who made his men trial the enemy in skirmishes before a general engagement against the Samnites.
Of the qualities of a captain in whom his soldiers can confide
Roman commander sent against the Samnites; he reassured his soldiers by engaging in minor skirmishes and delivering a speech emphasizing his own martial prowess as an example.
XLVI
Mentioned as an example of the kindly and courteous Valerii family.

Chapter companion notes

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See Valerius Corvinus in v

See Valerius Corvinus in XIII