Quintus Valerius Falto
Quintus Valerius Falto was a Roman general and statesman in the middle of the Roman Republic. He helped end the First Punic War by leading the Roman fleet to victory at the Battle of the Aegates, and he earned a minor Triumph for this.
He was elected consul in 239 BC, serving with Gaius Mamilius Turrinus. His brother Publius Valerius Falto would become consul the following year, in 238 BC.
Falto was the first Praetor Peregrinus in 242 BC. The job was created because the war with Carthage needed a second Praetor, since the consul Aulus Postumius Albinus could not leave the city as he was also a priest of Mars.
When his superior Gaius Lutatius Catulus was injured at the Siege of Drepana, Falto took command of the Roman forces and led the fleet to victory at the Battle of the Aegates. After returning to Rome, he pressed to share in the triumph to which Catulus was entitled. At first his claim was rejected because he was not the commanding officer, and arbitration by Aulus Atilius Calatinus also ruled against him. Nevertheless, the people insisted he deserved the honor, and his triumph was held on 6 October 241 BC.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:05 (CET).