Gnaeus Mallius Maximus
Encyclopedia
Gnaeus Mallius Maximus was a Roman politician and general.
He was a novus homo
when he was elected to the consul
ship of the Roman Republic
in 105 BC
. He drew Gallia Transalpina as his province for the year. He was defeated by Cimbri
at the battle of Arausio
(6 October 105 BC). He lost his sons in the battle and he was impeached for the loss of his army upon his return to Rome. Although it is unclear whether he was convicted at trial and subsequently went into exile, he was placed under an aquae et ignis interdictio by a rogatio
of Saturninus
; that is, like Cicero
later, he was "denied water and fire", a formulaic expression of banishment (see Law of majestas
).
He was a novus homo
Novus homo
Homo novus was the term in ancient Rome for a man who was the first in his family to serve in the Roman Senate or, more specifically, to be elected as consul...
when he was elected to the consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
ship of 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...
in 105 BC
105 BC
Year 105 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufus and Maximus...
. He drew Gallia Transalpina as his province for the year. He was defeated by Cimbri
Cimbri
The Cimbri were a tribe from Northern Europe, who, together with the Teutones and the Ambrones threatened the Roman Republic in the late 2nd century BC. The Cimbri were probably Germanic, though some believe them to be of Celtic origin...
at the battle of Arausio
Battle of Arausio
The Battle of Arausio took place on October 6, 105 BC, at a site between the town of Arausio and the Rhône River. Ranged against the migratory tribes of the Cimbri under Boiorix and the Teutoni were two Roman armies, commanded by the proconsul Quintus Servilius Caepio and consul Gnaeus Mallius...
(6 October 105 BC). He lost his sons in the battle and he was impeached for the loss of his army upon his return to Rome. Although it is unclear whether he was convicted at trial and subsequently went into exile, he was placed under an aquae et ignis interdictio by a rogatio
Rogatio
In Roman constitutional law, rogatio is the term for a legislative bill placed before an Assembly of the People in ancient Rome. The rogatio procedure underscores the fact that the Roman senate could issue decrees, but was not a legislative or parliamentarian body...
of Saturninus
Saturninus
Saturninus may refer to:* Lucius Appuleius Saturninus , tribune* Lucius Antonius Saturninus , provincial governor and rebel against Domitian* Julius Saturninus , provincial governor and rebel against Probus...
; that is, like Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
later, he was "denied water and fire", a formulaic expression of banishment (see Law of majestas
Law of majestas
The Law of Majestas, or lex maiestas, refers to any one of several ancient Roman laws throughout the republican and Imperial periods dealing with crimes against the Roman people, state, or Emperor....
).