Publius Cornelius Rufinus (consul 290 BC)

Publius Cornelius Rufinus was a Roman politician of the third century BC. He may have been the son of Publius Cornelius Rufinus, who briefly served as dictator in 334 BC. He was the grandfather of the first Sulla, Publius Cornelius Sulla and thus an ancestor of the 1st century BC dictator and reformer Lucius Cornelius Sulla.

Publius was elected consul twice, first in 290 BC alongside Manius Curius Dentatus, during which time they brought the Samnite Wars to a conclusion, and then again in 277 BC, this time serving next to Gaius Junius Bubulcus Brutus - both of his co-consuls served as consul on three occasions. Publius was known for being greedy and dishonest, but also for being a wonderful general; indeed, it is said that his personal enemy, Gaius Fabricius, supported his second run for the consul because Rome was in need of a good general due to the ongoing Pyrrhic War. In 275 BC, Publius was expelled from the senate by his enemies, including Fabricius as well as Quintus Aemilius Papus, on account of being found to be in possession of ten pounds of silver plate.^[1]

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