Coriolanus ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same years he wrote Antony and Cleopatra, making them the last two tragedies written by him. Coriolanus is the name given to a Roman general after his military feats against the Volscians at Corioli. Following his success he seeks to be consul, but his disdain for the plebeians and the mutual hostility of the tribunes lead to his banishment from Rome. He presents himself to the Volscians, then leads them against Rome. Characters Romans Caius Marcius – later surnamed Coriolanus Menenius Agrippa – Senator of Rome Cominius – consul and commander-in-chief of the army Titus Larcius – Roman general Volumnia – Coriolanus' mother (historically, Veturia) Virgilia – Coriolanus' wife Young Martius – Coriolanus' son Valeria – chaste lady of Rome and friend to Coriolanus' family Sicinius Velutus – tribune Junius Brutus – tribune Roman Citizens Roman Soldiers Roman Herald Roman Senators' Volscians Tullus Aufidius – general of the Volscian army Aufidius' Lieutenant Aufidius' Servingmen Conspirators with Aufidius Adrian – Volscian spy Nicanor – Roman traitor Volscian Lords Volscian Citizens Volscian Soldiers Other Gentlewoman Usher Volscian senators and nobles Roman captains Officers Messengers Lictors Aediles Synopsis The play opens in Rome shortly after the expulsion of the Tarquin kings. There are riots in progress, after stores of grain are withheld from ordinary citizens. The rioters are particularly angry at Caius Marcius, a brilliant Roman general whom they blame for the loss of their grain. The rioters encounter a patrician named Menenius Agrippa, as well as Caius Marcius himself. Menenius tries to calm the rioters, while Marcius is openly contemptuous, and says that the plebeians were not worthy of the grain because of their lack of military service. Two of the tribunes of Rome, Brutus and Sicinius, privately denounce Marcius. He leaves Rome after news arrives that a Volscian army is in the field. The commander of the Volscian army, Tullus Aufidius, has fought Marcius on several occasions and considers him a blood enemy. The Roman army is commanded by Cominius, with Marcius as his deputy. While Cominius takes his soldiers to meet Aufidius' army, Marcius leads a rally against the Volscian city of Corioli. The siege of Corioli is initially unsuccessful,