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[German version] Numidian prince, who in 206 BC rose violently to power as regent of the Massyli. M. sought support from Carthage, marrying a niece of Hannibal [4]. Late in 206, M. was defeated by the pretender Massinissa, his kinsman, on the latter's return from Spain, but his life was spared (Liv. 29,29,6-30,12). In 202, he - if he is to be identified with the Mesotylus mentioned by Appian (App. Lib. 33,141) - rebelled, and fought for Hannibal. He presumably fell at Zama. Punic Wars Fündling, Jörg (Bonn)

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[German version] [1] Sister of M. Porcius [I 7] Cato Sister of M. Porcius [I 7] Cato, married to L. Domitius [I 8] Ahenobarbus. She outlived her husband, who was killed in 48 BC, and died a highly respected woman before August 45;…

[German version] Rare Italian surname, known through the senator Q. L., friend of T. Pomponius Atticus. Varro depicts L., who owned herds of cattle and above all large stud farms in Epirus, as a horse expert (Varro, Rust. 2,7,1-16); L. was also famous for his witty and complicated humour (Varro, Rust. 2,5,1). His mention in Cic. Att. 7,5,3 is doubtful.…

Name of probably the most important Roman plebeian family. The similarity to the Etruscan name lecne and the links between the gens and Etruria in historical times (L. [I 7]) suggest an origin in that region [1. 108, n. 3]; the name may, however, also be of Latin origin ( Licinus). The spelling with a double ‘n’ occurs not only in the Greek form Λικίννιος ( Likínnios), but also in Latin inscriptions [1. 108, n. 1]. In the annalistic historical records dealing with the early Republic, members of the family appear among the earliest people's tribunes, reaching their polit…

Name of a Roman patrician family, probably originally from Cameria (hence the cognomen Camerinus); documented in the fasti from c. 500 BC. The otherwise rare praenomen Servius appears comparatively frequently and at times is even used in place of the nomen gentile (Tac. Hist. 2,48; Plut. Galba 3,1). The number of cognomina within the gens is high, but it has been impossible to identify clear branches. The link between the S. from the 3rd to the 2nd and 1st cent. BC is unclear. In the 2nd cent. BC, the most important branch of the family was that of…

Roman family name derived from the praenomen Tullus; oldest traditional bearer of the name is the sixth king of Rome, Servius T. [I 4]; until the time of Cicero and his family, other bearers are only rarely recorded. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) I. Republican period [German version] [I 1] T., Attius As 'by far the first man of the Volsci at the time' (Liv. 2,35,7), tradition connected him with the story…

[German version] Italian nomen gentile, recorded primarily in inscriptions (cf. [1. 274 f.]; AE 1986,262; 1996,532). The only prominent member was Q. T. Sabinus, son of a mint-master c. 88 BC (MRR 2,454), who served Cn. Pompeius [I 3] in Spain (Sall. Hist. 2,94 M.) and was a legate of Caesar in Gaul. In 57 BC, T. fought the Belgae, in 56 the Veneti and with great success the Venelli under Viridovix (Caes. B Gall. 3,17,1-19,6), and in 55, with five legions in Caesar's absence, the Morini and the Menapii. The disaster in …

[German version] Italic nomen gentile. Known from L. R., aide of C. Verres in Sicily in 73-71 BC (Cic. Verr. 2,2,31). In 56 a people's tribune of the same name (his son?) acted in the interests of the  Senate against P. Clodius [I 4] (Cic. Fam. 1,7,2; Cic. Ad Q. Fr. 2,1,2; Cic. Planc. 77 with scholia Bobiensia 165 f. Stangl); probably the same R. conspired against Q. Cassius [I 16] Longinus in Spain in 48 and was executed (Bell. Alex. 53,3; 55,2). Fündling, Jörg (Bonn)

Oscan praenomen ( Egnatius [I 3]). Attested as a Roman nomen gentile from the 2nd cent. BC. The most important holder is the seven-time consul M. [I 1]; the prominent Imperial-period Spanish bearer of the name, M. [II 3], is probably a descendant of family members of that Marius. I. Republican Period [German version] [I 1] M., C. Seven-time consul, victor over Jugurtha and over the Cimbri and Teutoni, opponent of Sulla The seven-time consul; victor over Jugurtha and over the Cimbri and Teutoni. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] A. The rise to political prominence Born c. 157 BC near Arpinum, from an equestrian (but by no means ‘peasant’, as claimed by tradition) family with ties to Rome. He acquired early military experience: in 134 he served with particular distinction under P. Cornelius [I 70] Scipio at…

(also Mithradates; Μιθριδάτης/ Mithridátēs, Μιθραδάτης/ Mithradátēs ). The personal name Μιθραδάτης is Persian - coins [4. 10-17] attest to the original spelling. Inscriptions, (Syll.3 709 passim; 741,14,23; 742,4; 12) sporadically give Μιθριδάτης, even contemporary ones (Greek ILS 37,8, Latin ILS 38,28; 60,5; 9), which is the form found in most later documents (Syll.3 785,10) and manuscripts. The change α/ι is due to weakening of vowels at the morpheme boundary, demonstrable from the 5th century onward and appearing in the spoken language, being adopted only gradu…

[German version] Proper name derived from praeco ('herald'). Known because of P., the mistress of P. Cornelius [I 15] Cethegus c. 75 BC. By giving her impressive gifts L. Licinius [I 26] Lucullus secured Cethegus’ support and with it the province of Cilicia (Plut. Lucullus 6,2-4). Fündling, Jörg (Bonn)

Name of a Plebeian family (connection with the Campanian city of Pompeii is unclear). The family acquired political significance with P. [I 1]; he is the origin of the Rufi branch. With P. [I 8] a related branch attained consulship and with his son Cn. P. [I 3] Magnus supplied the most significant member of the gens. Both lineages continue until the early Imperial period (family trees: [1; 2; 3]). I.…

[German version] [1] Brother of T. [2], 1st cent. BC Brother of T. [2], senator, excluded from the Senate and exiled by Caesar; an appeal for clemency on his behalf was the signal for the murder of the dictator (Nicolaus of Damascus, Vita Caesaris 24,88; Plut. Caesar 66,5; Plut. Brutus 17,3 f.; App. B Civ. 2,490-493). According to Horatius (Sat. 1,6,24 f.; 107-111), T. returned shortly thereafter and became senator again (as people's tribune in 43?). His supposed hopes on becoming praetor were not fulfilled (death at Philippi in 42?). Fündling, Jörg (Bonn) [German version] [2] T. Cimber, L. Follower of Caesar and one of his murderers, he was possibly in Delphi in 62 BC (CIG I 1695). In 46 he campaigned for T. Ampius [2] Balbus (Cic. Fam. 6,12,2). Despite having received favours from Caesar such as a praetorship (in 45?, MRR 2,307; 3,205), T. joined the conspirators, perhaps due to his bitterness about the exile of his brother T. [1]. On 15 March 44 BC, T. approached the dictator, again pleaded for clemency and, when Caesar denied it as expected, tore down his toga - the sign for the murder. Caesar had recently nominated T. as governor of Bithynia et Pontus; confirmed in this office, he departed soon thereafter [1. 330-345]. At the order of M. Iunius [I 10] Brutus and C. Cassius [I 10] Longinus, T. strongly armed the province which had no troops when he had taken it over (App. B Civ. 3,4; 3,18) and, in 43, attacked C. Cornelius [I 29] Dolabella in Syria, where he besieged Tarsus (Cass. Dio 47,31,1). In 42 he followed Cassius to Macedonia, feigned a landing manoeuvre against the Caesarians and took part in the decisive double battle near Philippi (App. B Civ. 4,426; 429; 438) during which he probably fell. T.' change of sides was viewed either as a model of loyalty for republican principles (Cic. Phil. 2,27) or as ingratitude (Sen…

Roman nomen gentile, attested from the 1st cent. BC evident mainly in Gallia Cisalpina (frequently confused with Verginius in MSS). The spelling Virgilius for the name of the poet Vergilius [4] is only documented from the 5th cent. AD onwards. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [1] V. (less frequently: Verginius), C. Legate of Calpurnius [I 19] in Macedonia, 57-55 BC 57-55 BC; legate of Calpurnius [I 19] in Macedonia; depicted by Cicero (Prov. cons. 7) as an example of integrity in contrast with Piso. Perhaps (as in MRR 2,205) identical with V. [2]. Fündling, Jörg (Bonn) [German version] [2] V. (also: Verginius) Balbus, C. Praetor in 62 Aed. pl. in 65 BC, praetor in 62 (both times with Tullius [I 11]: Cic. Planc. 95 f.), from 61-58 unusually long period of office as propraetor of Sicily. In April 58, he refused to admit the exiled Cicero ( ibid.) for fear of Clodius [I 4]. In the Civil War, he sided with Pompeius [I 3]. In 46, he was in charge of the defence of Thapsus [2]; Caesar's advance on the city forced Pompey's followers to engage in a battle on 4 April, in which V. fought valiantly. He only capitulated a few weeks later (Bell. Afr. 28,1-4; 79; 86; 93,3) and was dispossessed by Caesar (Cic. Att. 13,33,2).…

[German version] Roman cognomen, very rarely also a surname [1. 289]. Probably a diminutive of the forename Lucius [1. 177, 461]. The form Luciolus is also attested [2. 128]. The combination of Lucius and L. appears in about 200 BC in the family of the Licinians: Licinius [I 23-29] (the commander with a proverbially luxurious lifestyle [I 26]). The epithet L. then passes from there by adopti…

Name of a Roman plebeian family. Bearers of the name, recorded from the 3rd cent. BC, not of urban Roman origin, emerged as business people from the 2nd cent. (ILLRP 723b; 747; 1025) and received Roman citizenship perhaps only after the Social War [3]. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) I. Republican period [German version] [I 1] L., L. Proscribed in 82 BC Read his name on one of Sulla's lists of proscribed persons in 82 BC and was thereupon immediately killed on leaving the Forum (Oros. 5,21,4f.). Fündling, Jörg (Bonn) [German version] [I 2] L., L. Pompey's legate against the pirates in 67 BC …

(also Sitius). Italian personal name, originally Campanian [1. 232]. [German version] [1] S., P. Son of a citizen of Nuceria [1] who in 91-88 BC was loyal to Rome (Cic. Sull. 58), an entrepreneur with an estate in Campania, engaged in the grain trade with the Mauretanian kings, until the Civil War a friend of Cicero. In 63 S. recruited troops in Spain, probably for Catilina; when the conspiracy failed he fled with them to northern Africa in order to avoid prosecution. P. Cornelius [I 89] Sulla financed this …

Name of a Roman plebeian family, in the late Republic also often spelt Plotius, with no clear difference in use (cf. Claudius/Clodius). The earliest epigraphic evidence comes from Praeneste (among it the maker of the Ficoronian Cista, Novios Plautios, CIL I2 561), while the family in Rome achieved political eminence after 367 BC (Münzer therefore considers them to have migrated from Praeneste [1. 42; 44f.; 412]), providing seven consuls between 358 and 318; their migration may explain their interest in integrating Latini (cf. P. [I 5]…

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