Marcus Furius Camillus
Camillus, Marcus Furius
Lived from circa 447 to 365 B.C. Roman general and politician of patrician descent.
Camillus was a censor, dictator five times, and tribune with consular power six times. According to Roman legends, Camillus captured the Etruscan city of Veii after a siege that lasted ten years (406–396). Accused by plebeian tribunes of appropriating the booty, Camillus went voluntarily into exile. After Rome was defeated by the Gauls (390 or 387), he returned from exile and defeated the Gauls; this earned him the honorary title of paterpatriae, father of his country. In the 380’s Camillus fought successful wars against the Aequi, Volscians, and Etruscans, and he repulsed a new attack of the Gauls in 367.