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Metelli

Metelli is a surname of Italian origin and also the Latin plural form used for members of a prominent Roman gens, the Caecilii Metelli. In ancient Rome, the Caecilii Metelli were among the leading patrician families of the early and middle Republic and later intermarried with other orders, maintaining substantial political and military influence for generations. Several members held the office of consul and commanded Roman armies in major conflicts. The Metelll i branch used cognomina such as Macedonicus, Numidicus, Pius, and Delphinus to distinguish individuals and branches within the family. Notable members include Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, a consul and military commander associated with the Macedonian War; Gaius Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, consul and commander in Numidia; and Caecilius Metellus Pius, who held high office in the late Republic. The Metelli were known for their political influence, strategic alliances, and roles in shaping Roman policy across successive generations.

In modern usage, Metelli remains a surname found in Italy and among Italian diaspora communities. As a

historical
name,
it
is
frequently
encountered
in
discussions
of
Roman
prosopography
and
onomastics,
where
it
is
used
to
refer
to
the
Caecilii
Metelli
as
a
collective
lineage
within
the
broader
history
of
the
Roman
Republic.