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Gaius Scribonius Curio (praetor 48 BC)
LuciusHistoricus: Made an article for Gaius Scribonius Curio the younger from material from the Gaius Scribonius Curio article (which is about the father and the son). Both deserve their own pages.
'''Gaius Scribonius Curio''' (d. 49 BC) was the son of Gaius Scribonius Curio Burbulieus. He was a friend to [[Pompey]], [[Julius Caesar]], [[Mark Antony]], [[Publius Clodius Pulcher|Clodius]] and [[Cicero]]. Like his father he was a distinguished orator. Curio's character was very conspicuous and profligate.<ref>F. Abbott, ''The Common People of Ancient Rome'' (1965) p. 235</ref> Despite his faults, Cicero assisted him in every way and evidently wrote several letters to him.
There was a rumor that Curio and [[Marcus Antonius|Mark Anthony]] had an affair when they were young. When the two men had been banned from seeing each other by Curio's father, Curio had smuggled Mark Anthony in through his father's roof.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', pp 235-236 and 251.</ref>
In the year of Caesar's consulship (59) Curio is noted for his defiance of Caesar. This led him to be seen as a patriot and brought him much prestige.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 236.</ref>
In the same year Curio was apparently asked to join an assassination attempt on Pompey. The notorious professional spy Lucius Vettius had been hired by several junior and senior senators to set up the assassination. His father informed Pompey and the plot fell through. Cicero refused to believe in the existence of the plot and dismissed the whole episode as an attempt by Caesar to cast suspicion on young Curio and several other senatores. Before a full judicial enquiry could be set up Vettius was found strangled in prison.<ref>John Leach, ''Pompey the Great'', p. 127; McDermott, ''The Vettius Affair'', 1949.</ref>
Curio built Rome's first permanent [[amphitheatre]], in his father's memory and celebrated funeral games there with seating built on a pivot that could move the entire audience.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 295; cf. Plin. nat. hist. 36, 117.</ref>
In about 52 BC, he married [[Fulvia]], the widow of [[Publius Clodius Pulcher|Publius Clodius]] and a granddaughter of [[Gaius Gracchus]]. Through her he got a stepdaughter, [[Claudia Pulchra (wife of Augustus)|Clodia Pulchra]], a stepson, Publius Clodius Pulcher (junior), and the support of Clodius' gangs. She would also give him a son.<ref>C.L. Babcock, [https://ift.tt/36jqu6I ''The Early Career of Fulvia''], American Journal of Philology 86 (1965), pp. 1–32.</ref>
He began in politics as a supporter of [[Publius Clodius Pulcher|Clodius]], but shortly after came out as a Conservative in fierce opposition to [[Caesar]].<ref>F. Abbott, ''The Common People of Ancient Rome'' (1965) p. 244-6</ref> Known universally as unpredictable, by standing for the Tribuneship in 51 he placed himself (as Cicero told him) in a pivotal position at the Republic's crisis point,<ref>D. R. Shackleton Bailey trans., ''Cicero's Letters to his Friends'' (Atlanta 1988) p. 154-5 and p. 204</ref> when at the end of 51 BC Curio got himself elected as a [[tribune of the Plebs]] for 50 BC. As Tribune he suddenly did a ''volte-face'' and became a supporter of Caesar (probably because in return for his support, Caesar paid off his debts).<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 301; Cicero, ''To Friends'', 8.7.</ref> According to [[Tacitus]], Caesar bribed him for his oratory. Curio vetoed every effort by Caesar's opponents to prise his provinces from him.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 302.</ref> Before the Civil War, Curio was one of the last politicians to call on Pompey and Caesar to make peace.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> At the end of his year as tribune Curio travelled to Ravenna to inform Caesar about developments in Rome.<ref name=THJL>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 305; John Leach, ''Pompey the Great'', p. 170.</ref> Caesar gave Curio instructions and sent him back to Rome with an ultimatum.<ref name=THJL/>
On 1 January of 49 BC Mark Antony entered office as one of the tribunes of the Plebs, he took over from Curio, he summoned a meeting of the Senate and read out Caesar's letter.<ref name=THJL/> The meeting ended with the consul [[Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus]] expelling Antony from the Senate building by force. Antony fled Rome, fearing for his life, and returned to Caesar's camp on the banks of the [[Rubicon|Rubicon River]]. On his flight Anthony was accompanied by [[Marcus Caelius Rufus|Marcus Caelius]] and Curio.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 305.</ref>
Caesar made Curio a [[praetor]] and sent him with four legions and a 1,000 Gallic cavalry to Sicily and Africa to take both provinces and secure the grain supply.<ref name=Rice95>T.R.E. Holmes, ''The Roman Republic and the Founder of the Empire'', Vol III, p. 95.</ref> Curiu drove [[Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger|Cato]] from Sicily and secured the island for Caesar.<ref name=Rice95/> After receiving word that Caesar had defeated the Pompeians in Spain he embarked with two of his legions and half the cavalry and sailed to Africa.<ref name=Rice95/> In Africa he faced [[Publius Attius Varus|Attius Varus]] and King [[Juba I of Numidia]] (a supporter of Pompey). Although he won the [[Battle of Utica (49 BC)]], he was eventually defeated by Juba at the [[Battle of the Bagradas River (49 BC)|Second Battle of the Bagradas River]] and fought to his death, along with his army, rather than attempting to flee to his camp.<ref>Gardner (translator), Jane F (1967). Julius Caesar – The Civil War. Penguin Books. p. 104.</ref>
Under the Empire, both [[Lucan]] and [[Seneca the Younger|Seneca]] would be inspired to write of his character and about his varying roles.<ref>F. Abbott, ''The Common People of Ancient Rome'' (1965) p. 235</ref>
There was a rumor that Curio and [[Marcus Antonius|Mark Anthony]] had an affair when they were young. When the two men had been banned from seeing each other by Curio's father, Curio had smuggled Mark Anthony in through his father's roof.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', pp 235-236 and 251.</ref>
In the year of Caesar's consulship (59) Curio is noted for his defiance of Caesar. This led him to be seen as a patriot and brought him much prestige.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 236.</ref>
In the same year Curio was apparently asked to join an assassination attempt on Pompey. The notorious professional spy Lucius Vettius had been hired by several junior and senior senators to set up the assassination. His father informed Pompey and the plot fell through. Cicero refused to believe in the existence of the plot and dismissed the whole episode as an attempt by Caesar to cast suspicion on young Curio and several other senatores. Before a full judicial enquiry could be set up Vettius was found strangled in prison.<ref>John Leach, ''Pompey the Great'', p. 127; McDermott, ''The Vettius Affair'', 1949.</ref>
Curio built Rome's first permanent [[amphitheatre]], in his father's memory and celebrated funeral games there with seating built on a pivot that could move the entire audience.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 295; cf. Plin. nat. hist. 36, 117.</ref>
In about 52 BC, he married [[Fulvia]], the widow of [[Publius Clodius Pulcher|Publius Clodius]] and a granddaughter of [[Gaius Gracchus]]. Through her he got a stepdaughter, [[Claudia Pulchra (wife of Augustus)|Clodia Pulchra]], a stepson, Publius Clodius Pulcher (junior), and the support of Clodius' gangs. She would also give him a son.<ref>C.L. Babcock, [https://ift.tt/36jqu6I ''The Early Career of Fulvia''], American Journal of Philology 86 (1965), pp. 1–32.</ref>
He began in politics as a supporter of [[Publius Clodius Pulcher|Clodius]], but shortly after came out as a Conservative in fierce opposition to [[Caesar]].<ref>F. Abbott, ''The Common People of Ancient Rome'' (1965) p. 244-6</ref> Known universally as unpredictable, by standing for the Tribuneship in 51 he placed himself (as Cicero told him) in a pivotal position at the Republic's crisis point,<ref>D. R. Shackleton Bailey trans., ''Cicero's Letters to his Friends'' (Atlanta 1988) p. 154-5 and p. 204</ref> when at the end of 51 BC Curio got himself elected as a [[tribune of the Plebs]] for 50 BC. As Tribune he suddenly did a ''volte-face'' and became a supporter of Caesar (probably because in return for his support, Caesar paid off his debts).<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 301; Cicero, ''To Friends'', 8.7.</ref> According to [[Tacitus]], Caesar bribed him for his oratory. Curio vetoed every effort by Caesar's opponents to prise his provinces from him.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 302.</ref> Before the Civil War, Curio was one of the last politicians to call on Pompey and Caesar to make peace.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (given 1, expected 2)</ref> At the end of his year as tribune Curio travelled to Ravenna to inform Caesar about developments in Rome.<ref name=THJL>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 305; John Leach, ''Pompey the Great'', p. 170.</ref> Caesar gave Curio instructions and sent him back to Rome with an ultimatum.<ref name=THJL/>
On 1 January of 49 BC Mark Antony entered office as one of the tribunes of the Plebs, he took over from Curio, he summoned a meeting of the Senate and read out Caesar's letter.<ref name=THJL/> The meeting ended with the consul [[Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus]] expelling Antony from the Senate building by force. Antony fled Rome, fearing for his life, and returned to Caesar's camp on the banks of the [[Rubicon|Rubicon River]]. On his flight Anthony was accompanied by [[Marcus Caelius Rufus|Marcus Caelius]] and Curio.<ref>Tom Holland, ''Rubicon'', p. 305.</ref>
Caesar made Curio a [[praetor]] and sent him with four legions and a 1,000 Gallic cavalry to Sicily and Africa to take both provinces and secure the grain supply.<ref name=Rice95>T.R.E. Holmes, ''The Roman Republic and the Founder of the Empire'', Vol III, p. 95.</ref> Curiu drove [[Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger|Cato]] from Sicily and secured the island for Caesar.<ref name=Rice95/> After receiving word that Caesar had defeated the Pompeians in Spain he embarked with two of his legions and half the cavalry and sailed to Africa.<ref name=Rice95/> In Africa he faced [[Publius Attius Varus|Attius Varus]] and King [[Juba I of Numidia]] (a supporter of Pompey). Although he won the [[Battle of Utica (49 BC)]], he was eventually defeated by Juba at the [[Battle of the Bagradas River (49 BC)|Second Battle of the Bagradas River]] and fought to his death, along with his army, rather than attempting to flee to his camp.<ref>Gardner (translator), Jane F (1967). Julius Caesar – The Civil War. Penguin Books. p. 104.</ref>
Under the Empire, both [[Lucan]] and [[Seneca the Younger|Seneca]] would be inspired to write of his character and about his varying roles.<ref>F. Abbott, ''The Common People of Ancient Rome'' (1965) p. 235</ref>
January 03, 2020 at 10:15PM
