Titus Lartius Titus Lartius , surnamed either Flavus or Rufus , was one of the leading men of the early Roman Republic , twice consul and the first Roman dictator . Background . The Lartii , whose " nomen " is also spelled " Larcius " and " Largius " , were an Etruscan family at Rome during the early years of the Republic . Their nomen is derived from the Etruscan " praenomen Lars " . Titus ' brother , Spurius Lartius , was one of the heroes of the Republic , who defended the wooden bridge over the Tiber at the side of Horatius Cocles and Titus Herminius . He was also twice consul , in 506 and 490 B . C . Career . Lartius ' first consulship was in 501 B . C . , the ninth year of the Republic . His colleague was Postumus Cominius Auruncus . During their year of office , there was a disturbance at Rome , which was attributed to the actions of a group of young Sabines . Only the previous year , the consul Spurius Cassius Viscellinus had defeated the Sabines near Cures , and for a while it appeared that the war might be rekindled . Tensions were also high because it was anticipated that war with the Latins was imminent . Octavius Mamilius , the prince of Tusculum , and son - in - law of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus , the seventh and last King of Rome , was forming an alliance amongst the thirty towns of Latium , with the aim of restoring Tarquin to the throne . In these circumstances it was decided to appoint a single magistrate , originally called the " praetor maximus " or " magister populi " , " master of the infantry " , but afterwards known simply as the " dictator " , to oversee the defense of the city . The dictator held supreme authority in the exercise of his duties , and the people had no right to appeal from his decisions , as they could under the consuls . However , the command of the dictator was limited to a period of six months . The senate directed the consuls to nominate a dictator , and Cominius chose his colleague , Lartius . The dictator then proceeded to nominate Spurius Cassius , who had triumphed over the Sabines the previous year , as his " magister equitum " , or " master of the horse " . The creation of this magistracy is said to have alarmed the Sabines , who sent envoys to Rome in order to avert war . The negotiations were unsuccessful , and war was declared , but both sides were reluctant to take the field , and no battle occurred . During the remainder of his office , Lartius held the census , negotiated with the various Latin towns in hopes of retaining some old allies and gaining new ones , and presided over the consular elections for the following year . He then laid down his office before the expiration of his term , setting a precedent for future dictators . He held the consulship a second time in 498 B . C . , with Quintus Cloelius Siculus . During this year , the long anticipated war with the Latins began . The dictator Aulus Postumius Albus led the Roman forces to victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus , while the consul Lartius captured the town of Fidenae . After leaving his magistracy , Lartius is said by Dionysius to have dedicated the temple of Saturn at the foot of the Capitoline Hill . In 494 , Lartius unsuccessfully advocated measures to relieve the plebs from the burdens of debt ; and in the following year , when the plebeians seceded from the city and encamped on the " Mons Sacer " , Lartius was one of the envoys sent by the senate to treat with them . The embassy was successful , and resulted in the institution of the tribunes of the people . Also in 493 , Lartius served as legate to the consul Cominius , his colleague in 501 , at the siege of Corioli , where Gaius Marcius Coriolanus gained fame through his valor . Historical uncertainty . An alternative tradition states that the first dictator was Manius Valerius , the son of Marcus Valerius Volusus , consul in 505 B . C . However , the historian Titus Livius felt it unlikely that a man who had not yet been consul would be appointed the first dictator , or that Manius Valerius would have been nominated in place of his father . Another tradition places the institution of the dictatorship three years later , in 498 B . C . , during Lartius ' second consulship . In that year , Livius states that Aulus Postumius Albus was appointed dictator , and led the Roman army to victory over the Latins at the Battle of Lake Regillus . However , this battle is also placed by some authorities in 496 , when Postumius was consul .