Publius Cornelius Rutilus Cossus was a statesman and military commander from the early Roman Republic who served as Dictator in 408 BC.
He was however the brother of the more famous Aulus Cornelius Cossus, one of the only three Romans awarded the spolia opima for having killed the king of Veii Lars Tolumnius in single combat.
When news of this reached Rome, the Senate, thinking the situation to be a dangerous one, called for the appointment of a dictator to lead the war effort.
[3] This caused consternation among two of the three Consular tribunes, Gaius Julius Iulus and Publius Cornelius Cossus, who wanted the command to stay with them.
[4] Rutilus Cossus then appointed Ahala as his magister equitum, which is doubtless the result of a power-sharing negotiation between the consular tribunes.