Quintus Minucius Thermus (died 188 BC) was a Roman statesman and military commander.[1]
In 202, Minucius Thermus may have been the military tribune named Thermus who served in Africa under Scipio Africanus.[2] As a tribune of the plebs in 201, Thermus and his fellow tribune Manius Acilius Glabrio opposed the desire of Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus to have Africa as his consular province.[3] Thermus was also responsible for legislation confirming peace with Carthage after the Second Punic War.[4] His actions may reflect on the earlier connection with Scipio, whose imperium in Africa was extended into 201 so he could finalize the treaty, as a result of which he received the cognomen Africanus.
Minucius Thermus was curule aedile in 198. From 197, he served on the three-man commission (triumviri coloniis deducendis) in charge of establishing colonies located at the mouths of the Volturnus and the Liternus (in Campania), at Puteoli, Castrum Salerni, and Buxentum.[5]
As praetor in 196, he was assigned to Hispania Citerior ("Nearer Spain").[6] He was possibly acting as proconsul when his military success at Turda in Spain, where he defeated the Turboletae people, gained him the honor of a triumph.[7]
Thermus was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria as his province. From his base in Pisa, he waged war against the Ligurians with little success.[8] Among his officers was the prefect M. Cincius Alimentus. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa.[9] He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191–190, until he was instructed by the senate to transfer command to Scipio Nasica. He was denied a triumph upon return.[10]
In 189–188, Thermus took part in the ten-man commission (decemviri) who assisted the proconsul Manlius Vulso in concluding the treaty with Antiochus III and making a settlement in Asia.[11] Thermus went with Manlius to administer the oath that ratified the treaty.[12] He was killed while returning through Thrace with Manlius.[13]