Gaius Epidius Marcellus
Encyclopedia
Gaius Epidius Marcellus (fl.
44 BCE) was a Roman tribune most famous for the diadem incident.
The fear of Caesar becoming autocrate, thus ending the Roman Republic
, grew stronger when someone placed a diadem
on the statue of Caesar on the Rostra
. The tribune
s, Gaius Epidius Marcellus and Lucius Caesetius Flavus, removed the diadem. Not long after the incident with the diadem, the same two tribunes had citizens arrested after they called out the title Rex
to Caesar as he passed by on the streets of Rome. Now seeing his supporters threatened, Caesar acted harshly. He ordered those arrested to be released, and instead took the tribunes before the Senate
and had them stripped of their positions. Caesar had originally used the sanctity of the tribunes as one reason for the start of the civil war
, but now revoked their power for his own gain.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
44 BCE) was a Roman tribune most famous for the diadem incident.
The fear of Caesar becoming autocrate, thus ending the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, grew stronger when someone placed a diadem
Diadem (personal wear)
A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband worn by Eastern monarchs and others as a badge of royalty. The word derives from the Greek "διάδημα" , "band" or "fillet", from "διαδέω" , "I bind round", or "I fasten"....
on the statue of Caesar on the Rostra
Rostra
The Rōstra was a large platform built in the city of Rome that stood during the republican and imperial periods. Speakers would stand on the rostra and face the north side of the comitium towards the senate house and deliver orations to those assembled in between...
. The tribune
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
s, Gaius Epidius Marcellus and Lucius Caesetius Flavus, removed the diadem. Not long after the incident with the diadem, the same two tribunes had citizens arrested after they called out the title Rex
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
to Caesar as he passed by on the streets of Rome. Now seeing his supporters threatened, Caesar acted harshly. He ordered those arrested to be released, and instead took the tribunes before the Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
and had them stripped of their positions. Caesar had originally used the sanctity of the tribunes as one reason for the start of the civil war
Caesar's civil war
The 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...
, but now revoked their power for his own gain.