Appius Claudius

Appius Claudius, the name of a great patrician family of ancient Rome, almost always distinguished for hostility to the plebs. The chief members were as follows: -

1. Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis, the founder of the family, a Sabine, who came to Rome about 490 B.C., and was admitted, with his followers, into the Claudia gens. He was consul in 482 B.C., and two of his sons attained the same honour.

2. Appius Claudius Crassinus, the Decemvir, and the would-be seducer of Virginia, held the consulship in 451 B.C.

3. Appius Claudius Caecus, the Censor in 312 B.C., constructed the great Aqueduct and the Appian Way. He defeated the Samnites in two campaigns. When old and blind he dissuaded the Senate from concluding a disgraceful peace with Pyrrhus.