CAMILLUS, MARCUS FURIUS, Roman soldier and statesman, of patrician descent, censor in 403 B.C. He triumphed four times, was five times dictator, and was honoured with the title of Second Founder of Rome. Mommsen sums up his place in history by describing him as one who "first opened up to his fellow-countrymen the brilliant and perilous career of foreign conquest." When accused of having unfairly distributed the spoil taken at Veii, which was captured by him after a ten years' siege, he went into voluntary exile at Ardea. Subsequently the Romans, when besieged by the Gauls, created him dictator; he completely defeated the enemy (but see BRENNUS and ROME: History). He afterwards fought successfully against the Aequi, Volsci, and Etruscans and repelled a fresh invasion of the Gauls in 367. Though patrician in sympathy, he saw the necessity of making concessions to the plebeians and was instrumental in pass ing the Licinian laws, 367 B.C. (see PATRICIANS). He died of the plague in 365. The story of Camillus is no doubt largely traditional.
See Livy, v. 1o, vi. 4; Plutarch, Camillus. For the Gallic retreat, see Polybius ii. 18; T. Mommsen History of Rome (trans. Dickson, '9°') ii. chap. iv.