Titus Manlius Torquatus (consul 165 BC)
Titus Manlius Torquatus (born before 208 – died after 133 BC) was a politician of the Roman Republic, who became consul in 165 BC. Born into a prominent family, he sought to emulate the legendary severity of his ancestors, notably by forcing his son to commit suicide after he had been accused of corruption. Titus had a long career and was a respected jurist. He was also active in diplomatic affairs; he notably served as ambassador to Egypt in 162 BC in a mission to support the claims of Ptolemy VIII Physcon over Cyprus. Family background Titus was born before 208 in the patrician gens Manlia, one of the most important gentes of the Republic. Members of the family had held the consulship 18 times and consular tribuneship 14 times before him. His father Aulus was killed in 208 BC alongside the great Claudius Marcellus during the Second Punic War at an early age. However his grandfather Titus was twice consul in 235 and 224, censor in 231, and dictator in 208. He was known for his severity, notably by refusing to ransom the Roman soldiers captured by Hannibal after the Battle of Cannae, and by abruptly rejecting the admission