Plautius was a member of the family of the Plautii, a relatively undistinguished plebeian gens who had only achieved their first consulship in 358 BC.
In 347 BC, Plautius served in his first consulship alongside Titus Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus, an illustrious Roman general of the era.
In reaction to these conflicts, the senate assigned Plautius with the responsibility of combating the Volscians and Privernates, and gave the task of defeating the Samnites to Aemilius.
Plautius firstly marched to Privernum, where he defeated the rebelling forces, took their city, and seized a significant portion of their territory in short order.
After achieving this victory, Plautius then plundered the Volscian territory with great vigor, even reaching the coast.