Aulus Manlius Torquatus Atticus
[3][4] Atticus was probably the uncle of his near-contemporary Titus Manlius Torquatus, like him twice consul in 235 and 224, censor in 231, and finally dictator in 208.
[5] The cognomen Torquatus was first received by Atticus' great-great-grandfather Titus Manlius Imperiosus in 361 after he had defeated a Gaul in single combat, and took his torque as a trophy.
[11] Atticus' first mention in history is his election as censor in 247, alongside Aulus Atilius Caiatinus, a plebeian with a distinguished career (twice consul in 258 and 254, dictator in 249).
During the third century, the Manlii and the Atilii were the allies of the great patrician gens Fabia and members of these three gentes are often found together in the Fasti.
[12] Atticus' accession to the censorship is exceptional because this magistracy was usually the pinnacle of a career at Rome, in theory reserved to former consuls (only six censors were in this situation between 312 and 31 BC).
He is additionally recorded as the censor prior in the Fasti, which means the Centuriate Assembly elected him before Atticus.
[20][21] Marcus Fabius Buteo was consul the previous year with another Atilius—Gaius Bulbus—and might have played a role in the election of Atticus and Blaesius.
[25] The latter was the brother of Gaius Lutatius Catulus who won the Battle of the Aegate Islands at the end of his consulship, on 10 March 241 (magistrates took office on 1 May at that time).
[31] The Augustan pontiff Aulus Manlius Torquatus was thus responsible for the promotion of Atticus in the Fasti, as well as several other members of his family.
However, he and Polybius add that the "people of Rome" rejected the treaty, so his brother Cerco negotiated harsher terms upon Carthage after he entered office.
Cerco's and Atticus' consulship was marked by natural disasters in Rome, which according to Orosius "almost destroyed the City".
[23] Ancient authors tell that the Faliscans—an Italic people living in Southern Etruria—revolted in order to take advantage of the situation.
He notes that the censors of 241 built the Via Aurelia which went northwards from Rome to Pisa and founded colonies in the area.
[46]According to Zonaras, Atticus had some difficulties overcoming the Faliscans in his first battle against them, as they defeated his infantry; the cavalry nonetheless saved the situation.
[53] Several ancient authors tell that Atticus' nephew—Titus Torquatus—closed the gate of the Temple of Janus, after his victorious campaign in Sardinia during his consulship of 235.
