Publius Cornelius Cossus (consular tribune 415 BC)

Publius Cornelius Cossus was a Roman politician who served as a consular tribune in 415 BC. The consular tribuneship was a position created in the Roman Republic as a compromise between patricians and plebeians. It allowed plebeians to hold high office, although not with all the powers of the traditional consulship.

Details about Publius Cornelius Cossus's life and career are scarce. The historical record for this period of Roman history is fragmented and often contradictory. The names and number of consular tribunes for 415 BC vary across different sources. Livy lists him as one of four consular tribunes for that year, along with Cnaeus Fabius Vibulanus, Quintus Quinctius Cincinnatus, and Caius Valerius Potitus. Other historical accounts provide alternative or additional names.

During the tribuneship of Publius Cornelius Cossus and his colleagues, Rome faced various challenges, including internal political tensions and external military threats. The Volsci and Aequi continued to be problematic neighbors, and internal disputes between the patricians and plebeians over land distribution and political rights persisted. However, no major wars or significant internal upheavals are specifically attributed to his tenure in office.

The significance of Publius Cornelius Cossus lies primarily in his participation in a crucial phase of Roman political development, as the Republic grappled with finding a balance between the established patrician order and the growing demands of the plebeian class. His election to the consular tribuneship reflects the changing dynamics of Roman society, though the exact nature and impact of his specific actions remain largely unknown due to the limitations of the historical record.