Quintus Fulvius Nobilior

Quintus Fulvius Nobilior was a Roman consul who obtained the consulship in 153 BC. His father Marcus Fulvius Nobilior and his brother Marcus Fulvius Nobilior (consul 159 BC) were also consuls.

Nobilior and his father were patrons of the writer Quintus Ennius.

Career In 153 BC, Quintus Fulvius Nobilior was in charge of a 30.000 strong army to campaign in Spain, which was largely unsuccessful. The Roman army was initially deployed against the oppidum of Segeda, whose Celtiberian inhabitants, the Belli, had been expanding its walls and attacking other nearby tribes. inflicting heavy losses. and had sheltered the Belli when they fled their city.

The Roman camp at Renieblas in Spain may have been Q. Fulvius Nobilior's winter quarters.

Cultural impact

Nobilior was designated consul in 154 BC, however his appointment could not come into effect until the Ides of March, the day for settling debts that marked the end of the calendar year. To overcome this obstacle, and recognizing the need for immediate action, the Roman Senate decreed January 1 as the new beginning to the civil year.