List of censors of the Roman Republic


This list of Roman censors includes all holders through to its subsumption under that of Roman emperor in 22BC.
Censors were elected by the Centuriate Assembly and served as a duo. Censors were elected to take an account of all citizens and their property value before performing a rite of religious purification. Roman taxes were levied based on the censors' account, and the censors could punitively tax citizens who failed to present at the census or falsely accounted for their property.
Whilst having no right to uphold law or command in war, the office of censor was the highest honour. Unlike the office of consul, which deteriorated over the Roman Republic period, most censors were men of exceptional standing and character. Censors were known also as castigatores for their duty as the regulators of public morality. For instance, in 92 BC censors Domitius Ahenobarbus and Crassus condemned the teaching of rhetoric in Latin :
Initially, censors were chosen exclusively from among Roman citizens of patrician birth. after legislation – that he introduced while dictator – providing one censor of each two must be a plebeian.

5th century BC

Before 443 BC, the consuls were responsible for the census. In 443 BC, the right to take the census was moved from the consuls to the newly established office of censor. They were chosen exclusively from Patricians.
YearBirthNameswidth="15%" Completedwidth="15%" Changed Senate or equites rollwidth="15%" Laws or regulations promulgatedwidth="15%" Undertook public works or building-
443
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443
435
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430435
PatricianLucius Papirius
430PatricianPublius Pinarius -
418PatricianUnknownUnknownNoNoNo-
418PatricianLucius Papirius MugillanusUnknownNoNoNo-
403PatricianMarcus Furius Camillus-
403PatricianMarcus Postumius Albinus Regillensis-

4th century BC

In 393 BC, Marcus Cornelius P.f. P. n. Maluginensis was elected suffect censor to replace the deceased censor Gaius Iulius Iullus. In 351 BC, Gaius Marcius Rutilus was elected as the first plebeian censor. According to the Lex Publilia, since 339 BC at least one of the censors had to be plebeian. In 312 BC, Appius Claudius Caecus was elected censor without being consul before.
YearBirthName
393PatricianLucius Papirius Cursor
393PatricianGaius Iulius Iullus
393PatricianMarcus Cornelius P. f. P. n. Maluginensis
389PatricianMarcus Furius Fusus
389PatricianLucius Papirius Mugillanus
380PatricianSpurius Postumius Albinus Regillensis
380PatricianGaius Sulpicius Camerinus
378PatricianSpurius Servilius Priscus
378PatricianQuintus Cloelius Siculus
366PatricianGaius Sulpicius Peticus
366PatricianPostumius Regillensis Albinus
363PatricianMarcus Fabius Ambustus
363PatricianLucius Furius Medullinus
351PatricianGnaeus Manlius Capitolinus Imperiosus
351PlebeianGaius Marcius Rutilus
340PatricianLucius Cornelius Scipio
340PlebeianPublius Cornelius Scipio
332PatricianSpurius Postumius Albinus Caudinus
332PlebeianQuintus Publilius Philo
319PatricianGaius Sulpicius Longus
319UnknownUnknown
318PatricianLucius Papirius Crassus
318PlebeianGaius Maenius
312PatricianAppius Claudius Caecus
312PlebeianGaius Plautius Venox
307PatricianMarcus Valerius Maximus Corvinus
307PlebeianGaius Junius Bubulcus Brutus
304PatricianQuintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus
304PlebeianPublius Decius Mus

3rd century BC

In 294 and 265 BC, Gaius Marcius Rutilus Censorinus was elected censor. This was the only time a person was elected censor twice. Marcius prevented this situation from repeating itself by originating a law stating that no one could be elected censor twice.
YearBirthName
300PatricianPublius Sulpicius Saverrio
300PlebeianPublius Sempronius Sophus
294PatricianPublius Cornelius Arvina
294PlebeianGaius Marcius Rutilus Censorinus
289PatricianQuintus Fabius Maximus Gurges
289PlebeianSpurius Carvilius Maximus
283Unknown?
283PlebeianQuintus Caedicius Noctua
280PatricianLucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus
280PlebeianGnaeus Domitius Calvinus Maximus
275PatricianQuintus Aemilius Papus
275PlebeianGaius Fabricius Luscinus
272PatricianLucius Papirius Praetextatus
272PlebeianManlius Curius Dentatus
269PatricianLucius Aemilius Barbula
269PlebeianQuintus Marcius Philippus
265PatricianGnaeus Cornelius Blasio
265PlebeianGaius Marcius Rutilus Censorinus II
258PatricianLucius Cornelius Scipio
258PlebeianGaius Duilius
253PatricianLucius Postumius Megellus
253PlebeianDecimus Junius Pera
252PatricianManius Valerius Maximus Corvinus Messalla
252PlebeianPublius Sempronius Sophus
247PatricianAulus Manlius Torquatus Atticus
247PlebeianAulus Atilius Calatinus
241PatricianMarcus Fabius Buteo
241PlebeianGaius Aurelius Cotta
236PatricianLucius Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus
236PlebeianQuintus Lutatius Cerco
234PatricianAulus Postumius Albinus
234PlebeianGaius Atilius Bulbus
231PatricianTitus Manlius Torquatus
231PlebeianQuintus Fulvius Flaccus
230PatricianQuintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus
230PlebeianMarcus Sempronius Tuditanus
225PatricianGaius Claudius Centho
225PlebeianMarcus Junius Pera
220PatricianLucius Aemilius Papus
220PlebeianGaius Flaminius
214PatricianPublius Furius Philus
214PlebeianMarcus Atilius Regulus
210PatricianLucius Veturius Philo
210PlebeianPublius Licinius Crassus Dives
209PatricianMarcus Cornelius Cethegus
209PlebeianPublius Sempronius Tuditanus
204PatricianGaius Claudius Nero
204PlebeianMarcus Livius Salinator

2nd century BC

In 131 BC, for the first time both censors were plebeian.
After only one year in office the in 109 BC elected censor Marcus Livius Drusus died. His colleague Marcus Aemilius Scaurus at first refused to resign but resigned when new censors were elected in 108 BC.
YearBirthName
199PatricianPublius Cornelius Scipio Africanus
199PlebeianPublius Aelius Paetus
194PatricianGaius Cornelius Cethegus
194PlebeianSextus Aelius Paetus Catus
189PatricianTitus Quinctius Flamininus
189PlebeianMarcus Claudius Marcellus
184PatricianLucius Valerius Flaccus
184PlebeianMarcus Porcius Cato
179PatricianMarcus Aemilius Lepidus
179PlebeianMarcus Fulvius Nobilior
174PatricianAulus Postumius Albinus Luscus
174PlebeianQuintus Fulvius Flaccus
169PatricianGaius Claudius Pulcher
169PlebeianTiberius Sempronius Gracchus
164PatricianLucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus
164PlebeianQuintus Marcius Philippus
159PatricianPublius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum
159PlebeianMarcus Popillius Laenas
154PatricianMarcus Valerius Messalla
154PlebeianGaius Cassius Longinus
147PatricianLucius Cornelius Lentulus Lupus
147PlebeianLucius Marcius Censorinus
142PatricianPublius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus
142PlebeianLucius Mummius Achaicus
136PatricianAppius Claudius Pulcher
136PlebeianQuintus Fulvius Nobilior
131PlebeianQuintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus
131PlebeianQuintus Pompeius
125PatricianGnaeus Servilius Caepio
125PlebeianLucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla
120PlebeianQuintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus
120PlebeianLucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi
115PlebeianLucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus
115PlebeianGnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus
109PatricianMarcus Aemilius Scaurus
109PlebeianMarcus Livius Drusus
108PatricianQuintus Fabius Maximus Eburnus
108PlebeianGaius Licinius Geta
102PlebeianGaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius
102PlebeianQuintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus