Publius Servilius Priscus Structus Publius Servilius Priscus Structus was a Roman statesman who served as Senator and Consul . Consulship and military campaigns . Servilius was Roman consul in 495 BC , along with Appius Claudius Sabinus Inregillensis , and was the first consul of gens Servilia . During his consulship , Servilius successfully led Roman forces to victory against the invading Volsci , defeating them in battle a short distance from Rome , and then capturing and plundering the town of Suessa Pometia . Later in 495 BC , Servilius led the Roman infantry to victory against an invading Sabine army , and subsequently he also defeated an army of the Aurunci near Ariccia . Roman Domestic Affairs . Immediately before and after the Volscian invasion , Servilius was involved in seeking to address complaints by the plebs who were angry at levels of debt being suffered by them . Livy says that , of the two consuls , Appius was of a more harsh disposition and Servilius more mild , such that Appius looked upon the plebeian situation with distaste and Servilius with sympathy . In the debates in the senate , Servilius argued for relief from debt to be granted to the people . When the threat of the Volscian invasion became more immediate , the senate chose him because of his more mild disposition to take measures to ensure the enrolment of the army levies . Servilius proceeded to the assembly , and advised the people that the senate had been giving consideration to measures to alleviate the public concerns , but had been interrupted by news of the invasion . He exhorted the people to put aside their complaints momentarily to allow Rome united to face the common enemy . Further , he announced an edict that no Roman citizen should be detained , either in chains or in prison , from enrolling to fight , and that no soldier should , whilst serving in the army , have his goods seized or sold , nor his children or grandchildren arrested . Immediately the debtors who had been under arrest were released , and enrolled their names and , following them , crowds of the Roman people congregated in the forum to take the military oath . Immediately afterwards , Servilius led out the army to face the Volsci . Upon the army ' s return to Rome , the class tensions were reignited when Servilius ' colleague Appius issued decrees for even more serious penalties regarding debts . The senate sided with Appius and the people were angered at Servilius since his promises of debt relief prior to the war went unfulfilled . Servilius was thereby in effect politically isolated and disliked by all , and remained so for the balance of his consulate . During these events , the consuls were unable to decide upon which of them should dedicate a new temple to Mercury . The senate referred the decision to the popular assembly , and also decreed that whichever consul was chosen should also exercise additional duties , including presiding over the markets , establish a merchants ' guild , and exercise the functions of the pontifex maximus . The people , in order to spite the senate and the consuls , instead awarded the honour to the senior military officer of one of the legions named Marcus Laetorius . Family . Servilius is considered the father of the future consul Servilius Spurius Priscus in 476 BC and the grandfather of future consul Publius Servilius Priscus in 463 BC . See also . < br >