# Valerius Corvinus — Discourses on Livy character guide

> Valerius Corvinus in Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Valerius

**First appearance:** 0008-v

## Who they are

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

## Relationships

### [Manlius Capitolinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/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.

### [Titus Livius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/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.

### [Titus Livius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/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.

## In the story

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/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.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xxviii)

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.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xl)

Senator who, along with Horatius, inveighed against the insolence of the decemvirs in the Senate.

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xliv)

Sent to negotiate with the commons; rejected the demand to burn the decemvirs alive.

### [LX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/lx)

Cited as an example of a young consul (at age 24) who stated the consulship is a reward for desert, not birth.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xxiii)

Mentioned as a contrasting example of more popular methods that are hurtful to the citizen and country.

### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xxxviii)

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xlvi)

Mentioned as an example of the kindly and courteous Valerii family.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/valerius_corvinus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters