Marcus Valerius Corvus (c. 370–270 BC), also sometimes known as Corvinus, was a military commander and politician who served in the early-to-middle period of the Roman Republic.
[1] A member of the patrician gens Valeria, Valerius first came to prominence in 349 BC when he served as a military tribune under the consul Lucius Furius Camillus, who was on campaign against the Gauls of northern Italy.
[3] As a reward for his courage, Valerius received a gift of ten oxen and a golden crown, as well as the agnomen Corvus (the Latin word for "raven").
[16] It was also alleged that, during the troubles that brought about the passage of the leges genuciae, Corvus suggested that the Senate agree to the plebeian demands for the abolition of all debts; this was rejected out of hand.
[17] Historians such as Gary Forsythe and S. P. Oakley consider the alleged events of the mutiny to be later literary inventions, although the laws passed in that year are accurate.
[18] Corvus was elected consul for a fourth time in 335 BC, once again in response to an escalating military situation in Italy.
In a break with tradition, the consuls did not cast lots for their provinces; the Senate instead assigned the area around Cales directly to Corvus.
[26][note 1] Corvus was appointed dictator for the second time in 302 BC,[27] in response to the revolt of the Marsi at Arretium and Carseoli.
[30][31] While Corvus was in Rome taking the auspices, his magister equitum (probably Marcus Aemilius Paullus)[32] was ambushed by the enemy and forced to retreat to his camp, losing a portion of his army.
The second, which he legislated himself, was the expansion of the provocatio, or right of appeal to the people, which now made illegal the use of severe force (specifically killing or lashing by the higher magistrates) within the city of Rome.
[35][36] Then in the following year (299 BC), after the Senate considered appointing him dictator for the fourth time,[37] Corvus was elected suffect consul after the death of Titus Manlius Torquatus, who was in command of the war with the Etruscans.
Very popular with the soldiers he led into battle and with whom he shared camps, he reportedly competed with them in the athletic games which they played during their leisure time.