The main praenomina used by the plebeian Lucretii were Lucius, Marcus, Spurius, and Quintus. There are also examples of Gaius, Gnaeus, and Titus.
The only patrician family of the Lucretii bore the cognomen Tricipitinus. The plebeian families are known by the surnames Gallus, Ofella, and Vespillo. Gallus was a common name referring either to a Gaul, or a cockerel. Vespillo, an occupational surname referring to one who removes corpses, was bestowed on one of this family who had thrown the body of Tiberius Gracchus into the river.[2][3]Carus, "dear", was a surname belonging to the poet Lucretius. On coins, the cognomen Trio is found, but it is not mentioned in any ancient writer. A few of the Lucretii are mentioned without any surname.[1]
This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.
Lucretia, according to some accounts, the wife of Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome. They were supposed to have married after Numa's accession to the throne.[4]
Publius Lucretius, according to Livy, consul in 506 BC; here Livy's manuscript appears to be corrupt, and list two sets of consuls; Lucretius is probably an error either for Spurius Larcius, apparently consul in this year, or Titus Lucretius, consul in 508 and 504, in both years the colleague of Publius Valerius Poplicola, whom the manuscript makes the colleague of the otherwise unknown Publius Lucretius.[5][6]
Lucius Lucretius, quaestor in 218 BC, at the commencement of the Second Punic War; he was taken prisoner by the Ligures, along with some other Roman officers, and delivered up to Hannibal.[7]
Marcus Lucretius, tribune of the plebs in 210 BC, took a leading part in the dispute over the appointment of a dictator in that year.[8]
Spurius Lucretius, praetor in 205 BC, during the Second Punic War, received Ariminum, subsequently called Gallia Cisalpina, as his province. In 203 he rebuilt the city of Genua, which had been destroyed by Mago.[9]
Gaius Lucretius Gallus, praetor in 171 BC, received the command of the fleet in the war against Perseus. In the following year he was accused of great cruelty, and condemned to pay a heavy fine.[10][11]
Marcus Lucretius, tribune of the plebs in 172 BC, brought forward a bill ut agrum Campanum censores fruendum locarent. In the following year, he served as legate to his brother, Gaius, the praetor, in Greece.[12]
Spurius Lucretius, praetor in 172 BC, obtained the province of Hispania Ulterior. In 169 he served with distinction under the consul Quintus Marcius Philippus in the war against Perseus. He was one of three ambassadors sent into Syria in 162.[13][14]
Quintus Lucretius Afella, a partisan of Sulla, he commanded the army that accepted the surrender of Praeneste in 82 BC. The following year, he made himself a candidate for consul, in violation of Sulla's law de magistratibus, and was slain by one of Sulla's soldiers.
Lucius Lucretius Tricipitinus Flavus, consul in 393 BC, and tribunus militum consulari potestate in 391, 388, 383, and 381; as consul he conquered the Aequi. According to Plutarch, he was usually the first senator allowed to speak, which in later times was the privilege of the princeps senatus, although the appointment of that name probably did not exist in the time of Lucretius.[32][33]
Lucretii Vespillones
Lucretius Vespillo, aedile in 133 BC, he threw the corpse of Tiberius Gracchus into the Tiber, thereby obtaining his cognomen, which refers to a corpse-bearer for the poor.[2]
Quintus Lucretius Vespillo, an orator and jurist, who was proscribed by Sulla and put to death.[34][35]
Quintus Lucretius Q. f. Vespillo, served in the fleet of Gnaeus Pompeius in 48 BC, during the Civil War; he was proscribed by the triumvirs in 43 BC, but concealed in his own house by his wife, Thuria, until he was pardoned. He was appointed consul suffectus in 19 BC.[36][37][38][39]
