Who's who: G. Manlius Clavus

Reputation: Manlius Calvus is the dominant senator currently serving and one of the most illustrious senators in Rome's history. His skills in the Latin language are unmatched and he has an encyclopedic knowledge of many fields.
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History: Calvus was born in a small town in Samnium in DCIX A.U.C. His father was a well respected lawyer and land owner. He was educated at home and his father spared no expense in his upbringing. At the age of thirteen he travelled to Athens to complete his education, there he was well trained in literature, philosophy, law and rhetoric. He has served in the senate his whole adult life and has held every office in Rome at least once. His law cases are now part of any legal curriculum and he as written over 40 works of philosophy, literature and history including: History of Roman Law, On Character, On Duty, On farming, On Health and Illness, On Pleasure and the Pain and many more.
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Family: Calvus is married to L. Cloelia Bassa and has one son (V. Manlius Calvus) and two daughters. He does not spend much time with his family.
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Character: Calvus is intelligent and energetic. He starts working everyday before the dawn and works until well into the evening. He enjoys the company of friends and contemplative conversation. As much as possible given his responsibilities he tries to live the Epicurean ideal of modest pleasure. In public he is confident and completely controls the conversation, but in private he is very modest and a good listener. Unfortunately his health is very poor. He is always accompanied by an Egyptian herbalist, a Greek doctor and a Mesopotamian astrologer. His diet is limited to mostly bread, vegetable, fruit and unseasoned fish. Because of his poor health he rarely leaves Rome and his country home in Samnium.
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Politics: Calvus has great faith in law and order and is devoted to the Roman system of checks and balances. He views it as his job to ensure that no one person has a monopoly of power in the Roman republic. His sensibilities tend to be pro status quo and firmly patrician. In military terms he is conservative, preferring to protect the borders of the empire as opposed to territorial expansion.