Fulvia (gens)

The gens Fulvia, originally Foulvia, was one of the most illustrious plebeian families at Rome. By the end of the fourth century BC, they had joined the nobiles through the patronage of the Fabii, who supported the successful candidacy of Lucius Fulvius Curvus for the consulship of 322 BC. They were long active in the politics of the Republic, and gained a reputation for producing excellent military leaders.

According to Cicero, this gens came to Rome from Tusculum, although some members must have remained in their native place, since Fulvii occur at Tusculum as late as the time of Cicero. The gens Fulvia was believed to have received its sacra from Hercules after he had accomplished his twelve labours.

The Fulvii used the praenomina Lucius, Gnaeus, Marcus, Quintus, Servius, and Gaius. In the first century BC we also find Fulvii named Publius and Aulus, but these are not known from any of the major families of the gens.

The cognomens which occur in this gens in the time of the Republic are Bambalio, Centumalus, Curvus, Flaccus, Gillo, Nobilior, Paetinus, and Veratius or Neratius.

Curvus, which means "bent" or "crooked," is the first cognomen of the Fulvii to occur in history, although it is not known whether the name was due to some physical peculiarity, such as a bent nose, or crooked leg, or whether the name was bestowed metaphorically or ironically.

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