Gaius Antonius
Encyclopedia
Gaius Antonius
(died 42 BC) was the second son of Marcus Antonius Creticus
and Julia Antonia
, and thus, younger brother of Mark Antony
, triumvir and enemy of Caesar Augustus.
Caesar's civil war
During the civil war, Gaius was a legate
of Julius Caesar
(49 BC), and entrusted with the defense of Illyria
against Pompeians and regaining cities already taken by rebels and the Pompeians. Gaius was entrusted the newly recruited 24th legion, and half of the new 28th legion. On the way to Illyria, Antonius was intercepted by a Pompeian fleet. Led by centurion
Titus Pullo
, the men refused to fight, and turned traitor. They were then reported to be fighting at the Battle of Dyrrachium.
family, he was then promoted to high offices of the cursus honorum
. In 44 BC, Gaius was urban praetor, while his brothers Mark Antony and Lucius Antonius
were consul and tribune respectively.
of Caesar, Gaius (as a Caesarean) was appointed governor to the Roman province
of Macedonia. Marcus Junius Brutus
and the other assassins, however, chose Macedonia as refuge from Octavian
and - on opposition from Gaius - dispossessed him of his governorship. Brutus at first seemed to treat him generously, but ultimately ordered his death.
Antonius
Antonius is the nomen of the gens Antonia, one of the most important plebeian families at Rome. It is also the source of the English personal name Anthony, as well as a number of similar names in various European languages....
(died 42 BC) was the second son of Marcus Antonius Creticus
Marcus Antonius Creticus
Marcus Antonius Creticus was a Roman politician, member of the Antonius family. Creticus was son of Marcus Antonius Orator and by his marriage to Julia Antonia he had three sons: Triumvir Marcus Antonius, Gaius Antonius and Lucius Antonius.He was elected praetor in 74 BC and received an...
and Julia Antonia
Julia Antonia
Julia Caesaris or Julia Antonia was a daughter to consul Lucius Julius Caesar III and mother to the future triumvir and deputy of Caesar, Mark Antony. She was a sister to consul Lucius Julius Caesar IV. Her mother is unknown. She was born and raised in Rome...
, and thus, younger brother of Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
, triumvir and enemy of Caesar Augustus.
Early life
Like his brother, Gaius started his life free from paternal guidance, in the midst of scandals, parties and gambling.Caesar's civil warCaesar's civil warThe Great Roman Civil War , also known as Caesar's Civil War, was one of the last politico-military conflicts in the Roman Republic before the establishment of the Roman Empire...
During the civil war, Gaius was a legateLegatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
(49 BC), and entrusted with the defense of Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
against Pompeians and regaining cities already taken by rebels and the Pompeians. Gaius was entrusted the newly recruited 24th legion, and half of the new 28th legion. On the way to Illyria, Antonius was intercepted by a Pompeian fleet. Led by centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
Titus Pullo
Titus Pullo
Titus Pullo was one of the two Roman centurions of the 11th Legion mentioned in the writings of Julius Caesar. The other soldier mentioned was Lucius Vorenus; they appear in Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Book 5, Chapter 44....
, the men refused to fight, and turned traitor. They were then reported to be fighting at the Battle of Dyrrachium.
Caesar's dictatorship
With all the members of the AntoniusAntonius
Antonius is the nomen of the gens Antonia, one of the most important plebeian families at Rome. It is also the source of the English personal name Anthony, as well as a number of similar names in various European languages....
family, he was then promoted to high offices of the cursus honorum
Cursus honorum
The cursus honorum was the sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians in both the Roman Republic and the early Empire. It was designed for men of senatorial rank. The cursus honorum comprised a mixture of military and political administration posts. Each office had a minimum...
. In 44 BC, Gaius was urban praetor, while his brothers Mark Antony and Lucius Antonius
Lucius Antonius
Lucius Antonius may refer to:*Lucius Antonius , the brother of Mark Antony*Lucius Antonius , the grandson of Mark Antony...
were consul and tribune respectively.
Caesar's assassination and afterwards
After the assassinationAssassination of Julius Caesar
The assassination of Julius Caesar was the result of a conspiracy by approximately forty Roman senators who called themselves Liberators. Led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus, they stabbed Julius Caesar to death in the Theatre of Pompey on the Ides of March 44 BC...
of Caesar, Gaius (as a Caesarean) was appointed governor to the Roman province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Macedonia. Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus , often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his original name...
and the other assassins, however, chose Macedonia as refuge from Octavian
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
and - on opposition from Gaius - dispossessed him of his governorship. Brutus at first seemed to treat him generously, but ultimately ordered his death.