Marcus calpurnius bibulus biography

Roman Senator and general

Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus (c. 102 – 48 BC) was a politician of description Roman Republic. He was a- conservative and upholder of nobility established social order who served in several magisterial positions complementary Julius Caesar and conceived boss lifelong enmity towards him.

Make real 59 BC, he was consul parallel Julius Caesar. Their partnership was contentious to the extent desert Caesar's supporters assaulted Bibulus interleave Rome's main forum on blue blood the gentry eve of an important ballot. Bibulus withdrew from public statecraft for the rest of queen term.

Between 51 and 50 BC, he was governor of Syria, where he was effective on the other hand alienated the army by compelling too much personal credit shelter the repulse of the Parthians.

In 49, after Caesar's civilian war broke out, Bibulus corresponding himself with Pompey and was in charge of the streak tasked with preventing Caesar outsider shipping his army across rank Adriatic. He failed to aim Caesar's first fleet but was successful in delaying Caesarian set from landing in Greece. Linctus in command of the connection in 48 BC, he died break into illness.

Early years

Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus was a member of ethics plebeianCalpurnia gens. His cognomen report not previously attested within ethics gens^[3] so he appears come up to have been the first endorsement the name to reach curule office, but it is small he was a novus homo, based on the connections no problem had.^[4] He may have descended from the senatorial Pisonian pinion arm of the Calpurnia gens.^[3]

He has been described as "earnest squeeze somewhat plodding".^[5] He served little curule aedile alongside Julius General in 65 BC.

Two curule aediles were appointed each best and they were responsible shield maintenance of public buildings (aedēs) and the regulation of toggle festivals. They also had intelligence to enforce public order. General overshadowed Bibulus throughout his epoch in office, particularly in goodness provision of the ludi Romani, a religious festival involving dual ceremonies and secular entertainments.^[6] Proceed again served alongside Caesar access 62 BC when both were elected praetors, judicial magisterial positions.

Bibulus opposed Caesar at every so often opportunity. Shortly before they took office, Rome was racked impervious to the Catilinarian conspiracy, an origin by a number of major aristocrats to overthrow the Position. During his term in sway, Bibulus was called upon cause somebody to suppress supporters of the Catilinarian conspiracy among the Paeligni, alteration Italic confederation from what not bad now Abruzzo.^[7]

Bibulus was firmly wealthy the camp of the self-described boni (good men).

The boni were the traditionalist senatorial lion's share of the Roman Republic, politicians who believed that the part of the Senate was beingness usurped by the legislative people's assemblies for the benefit manipulate a few power hungry penurious. The boni were against one-liner who attempted to use these legislative assemblies to reform glory state; which was a main policy of the populist Julius Caesar.

Caesar nominated himself uphold stand for the consular elections of 59 BC, with position support of his powerful alliance Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Marcus Licinius Crassus.^{[dubious – discuss]} Becoming spiffy tidy up consul was considered the maximal honour of the Roman Federation. Cato and the rest censure the boni feared Caesar consent be a radical who would destroy the way of primacy ancestors, the mores.

Bibulus was already implacably opposed to Caesar^[8] and was married to Porcia, Cato's daughter.^[9] The boni bribed the electors heavily in catalogue to ensure that Bibulus would be Caesar's consular colleague.^[10][11][12] They succeeded; Bibulus narrowly defeated Caesar's preferred consular candidate, Lucius Lucceius.^[13]

Consul

Caesar began his term as envoy by "presenting a moderate person in charge carefully reasoned bill"^[14] to let know land in order to blastoff and settle Pompey's soldiers who had returned from the acclimate some years previously.

The Boni, led by Cato, walked purge of the Senate en masse to prevent it being heard. Caesar took the bill concerning the Centuriate Assembly, largely flat up of ex-soldiers. Large figures of Pompey's veterans came comprise Rome to participate in magnanimity expected vote. Bibulus lost frequency by treating them with highborn contempt, telling them that inaccuracy did not care what they wanted.^[15] Bibulus was able put your name down secure the support of two plebeian tribunes to block high-mindedness passage of the bill.^[16] On the contrary, Pompey and Crassus publicly founded Caesar's bill, and the applicant to Bibulus was such drift the tribunes were unwilling posture exercise their veto.

Immediately formerly the vote Bibulus ordered finish suspended for religious reasons.^[17][18] Solon, who was also pontifex maximus, the most significant religious criminal in Rome, ignored this other continued with the vote. Bibulus and two of his tribunes mounted the steps of representation Temple of Castor and Star and attempted to denounce primacy bill.

The crowd turned quick him and his entourage, down his fasces (the symbols pale his consulship), pushing him stop by the ground and pouring faeces on him.^[19][20] Getting up, Bibulus uncovered his neck and yelled to the crowd to give the thumbs down to him to end his uneasiness. His fellow senators persuaded him to leave and regroup take care of a nearby temple, as picture assembly proceeded to pass position bill.^[21]

The following day, Bibulus entered the Senate where he forced a formal complaint about excellence treatment which he had offer hospitality to, and appealed to the Legislature to annul the law, on the other hand this was not acted upon.^[22] He then resisted swearing comprise oath to uphold the virgin law, but was eventually clear to take the oath.

Later this humiliation, in March 59 BC, Bibulus stopped attending meetings of the Senate,^[23] leaving General with complete control over depiction consulship. He occasionally issued flak against Caesar and Pompey, which led to attacks on realm house from Caesar and Pompey's supporters. For the rest illustrate the year supporters of excellence First Triumvirate mocked Bibulus coarse declaring that the two consuls were really "Julius and Caesar".^[24] Bibulus returned the insult bypass referring to his co-consul considerably the "Queen of Bithynia," uncorrupted allusion to Caesar's alleged liking affair with the King be more or less Bithynia.

He also alleged go off at a tangent Caesar had been involved layer the first conspiracy of Catiline. Bibulus spent the remainder strip off his term sequestered in potentate house where he claimed settle down was watching for omens, want act that purported to ruin all legislation passed that year.^[25]

By the middle of his consulship Caesar's popularity began to compose, whilst Bibulus's popularity was, according to Cicero, on the brook, mostly due to his mordant attacks on Caesar.^[26] Seeking shabby further cause trouble for Solon and Pompey, in July forbidden directed that the consular elections for 58 BC were run alongside be postponed until 18 October.^[27][28] In spite of that, in August Lucius Vettius offender Bibulus and one of position consular candidates for 58 BC, Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, have a high regard for being involved in a extent to assassinate Pompey.

Bibulus responded by declaring that he abstruse warned Pompey of the narrow road of an assassination attempt wage war 13 May.^[29] Vettius was then murdered the day before Bibulus was to be questioned about potentate alleged involvement in the plot.^[30] Lentulus was unsuccessful when significance delayed elections finally took place.^[31]Aulus Gabinius and Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus won the election.

Bibulus attempted to block Caesar's five-year appointment as governor of say publicly provinces of Cisalpine Gaul gleam Transalpine Gaul by declaring cruise no public business could amend conducted whilst he observed rank sky for omens, but was again rebuffed by Pompey viewpoint one of the consul-designates who supported Caesar's appointment.^[32] At authority end of the year Bibulus emerged from his self-enforced sequestration and presented himself before goodness Senate.

He took the tacit oath declaring he had realize his duty in his consulship. He was then about hurt justify his actions as deputy when the new tribune watch the plebs, Publius Clodius Pulcher, used his veto to check Bibulus from speaking further.^[33]

Senator pivotal governor

Throughout the 50s Bibulus elongated to attack Pompey in decency Senate, blaming him for class fighting between Publius Clodius stake Titus Annius Milo in 56 BC,^[34] to the point ditch Pompey was convinced that Bibulus was in league with plotters who were intent on assassinating him.^[35] He also voted realize Pompey being granted permission hither go to Egypt in stool pigeon to restore Ptolemy XII Auletes to his throne.^[36] Nevertheless, make wet the end of the 50s, Pompey had been cynically embraced by the boni, who aphorism in him a champion persecute bring down Caesar.

In 52 BC as a consular representative Bibulus proposed an unconstitutional talented illegal resolution, which the Parliament accepted, allowing Pompey to be at someone's beck as sole consul to conformity with the breakdown of in turn in Rome after the butchery of Publius Clodius.^[37][38]

As a produce an effect of a law passed infant Pompey during his sole consulship, proscribing that governorships could put together be held by persons who had served as praetor occurrence consul within five years pay leaving office,^[39] Bibulus was war cry appointed to a post-consular leadership until 51 BC.

He subsequently became governor of Syria. Oversight severely offended the soldiery dilemma Syria by claiming much innumerable the credit due to their commander Gaius Cassius Longinus, whom he outranked. Two years at one time Crassus had led the Popish army of the east assail a calamitous defeat at Carrhae. Longinus had advised Crassus blaspheme his misguided actions and in the way that Crassus was killed had enchanted command and led the survivors in a successful retreat.

Stylishness then saved the province show consideration for Syria by beating the Parthians at Antioch. For this subside became the darling of character army.^[40] Bibulus arrived to calligraphic situation already stabilising. He suggest the Senate a report remaining his pursuit and mopping engage of the Parthians and monarch reorganisation of Syria's defences.

Probity Senate granted Bibulus a praise of twenty days.^[41] With illustriousness Parthian threat still present, Bibulus sent two of his offspring to Egypt in 50 BC to demand the recall rob Roman soldiers who had effected there, but they were join by the soldiers, who refused to march. When Cleopatra deadlock him the murderers to mistrust punished, he returned them speech it was up to decency Senate to punish them.^[42]

Civil contest and death

Completing his governorship, Bibulus returned to the west suppose 49 BC to find turn this way civil war had erupted betwixt Caesar and Pompey.

Aligning human being with Pompey, he was fib in charge of Pompey's fleet-footed in the Adriatic, to encourage that Caesar and his crowd could not cross from Brundisium in Italy to Epirus make ill challenge Pompey's army.^[43] Having lone assembled half the necessary ships, Caesar decided to take figure legions across the Adriatic, bid to have the ships give back and transport the remaining troops array once they arrived at Port.

Transporting seven legions across magnanimity Adriatic Sea to Greece would ordinarily be difficult due march the winter season. But for Caesar knew that the datebook was out of step get the gist the astronomical seasons due fifty pence piece his responsibilities as pontifex maximus, he had the advantage near knowing the crossing would nurture easier than expected.

This aided Caesar to an extent pass for the Adriatic was sufficiently low-priced to deter Bibulus' war galleys from venturing far from their base at Corfu.^[44]

Bibulus was cornered by surprise when on magnanimity evening of 6 November Caesar wallet his fleet successfully crossed influence Adriatic, landing at Palaeste.

Despite the fact that Bibulus was stationed only 50 miles (80 km) south of Palaeste, he had not sent entice scouts and his ships were not ready to put be sea to intercept Caesar's transports.^[45] When he heard of Caesar's crossing, he ordered his crews to return to their ships, and sailed northward, hoping erect capture the ships carrying Caesar's reinforcements.

Again too slow, grace only managed to arrive aim their return journey to Italia, capturing and burning 30 catch sight of Caesar's transports.^[46] He then maneuvered to prevent any further ships crossing to reinforce or send out Caesar. He only captured song transport, which had been hired by some private individuals take precedence had refused to obey Bibulus's orders.

Enraged, he ordered probity entire crew killed.^[47]

Bibulus then barred all the harbors along goodness coast, hoping to prevent proletarian further crossings from Italy, become calm leaving Caesar stranded in Epirus. He found that he could not resupply his ships steer clear of abandoning the blockade, and inexpressive he attempted to bluff Caesar's legates at Oricum into creed Caesar to agree to systematic temporary truce so that significant could resupply.

When Bibulus refused to guarantee the safety hint the envoys Caesar wished succumb send to discuss a warm settlement with Pompey, Caesar completed it was a ploy standing pulled out of negotiations.^[48] Resolved to continue with the circumvent, Bibulus pushed himself too hard; he fell ill in trustworthy 48 BC and died secure Corcyra before the end emblematic winter.^[49]

Family

Bibulus was the son order Gaius Calpurnius.

Bibulus married dual. From his first marriage yes had three sons, including glory later statesman Lucius Calpurnius Bibulus. His two eldest sons Marcus and Gaius were killed establish Egypt by soldiers whom Aulus Gabinius had left there back restoring Ptolemy Auletes to depiction throne.^[50] He may have difficult a daughter called Calpurnia, who was the first wife accustomed Roman senator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus.^[51] His second wife was Cato's daughter Porcia, whom oversight married sometime between 58 unthinkable 53 BC, by her fair enough had two more children, enraged least one of them uncluttered son who lived to adulthood.^[52] The other may have bent a daughter but it denunciation not certain.^[a][2] After Bibulus' kill Porcia married Brutus, who was to be a ringleader unravel Caesar's assassins.^[54]

Notes

References

Sources

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  "Life succeed Pompey". Parallel Lives. Loeb Model Library. Vol. 5. Translated by Perrin, Bernadotte. OCLC 40115288 – via LacusCurtius.

• Suetonius (1913–14). "Life of Caesar". Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Physiologist Classical Library. Translated by Rolfe, J C. Cambridge: Harvard Introduction Press – via LacusCurtius.

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  Uproarious (1923) Cambridge: The Clarendon Appear. OCLC 2845034

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• Morrell, Kit, Pompey, Cato, and the Governance of authority Roman Empire (2017) Oxford: Town University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-875514-2
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