Lucius Caecilius Metellus
Encyclopedia
Lucius Caecilius Metellus was a Roman aristocrat. He was praetor
in 71 BC. He succeeded Gaius Verres as governor of Sicily in 70 BC. He died in office as consul
in 68 BC. His co-consul was Quintus Marcus Rex.
Lucius' grandfather was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus
. He was praetor in 148 BC, consul in 143 BC, and censor in 131 BC. He was given the command in Macedonia, where he defeated Andriscus
, a pretender to the throne. He received a triumph and the cognomen 'Macedonicus' for his victory. He was an opponent of Tiberius Gracchus
and Gaius Gracchus
.
Lucius' father was Gaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius
, Macedonicus' youngest son. Caprarius fought under Scipio Aemilianus in Numantia
. He was praetor in 117 BC, consul in 113 BC, and fought as proconsul in Thrace in 112 BC. He triumphed for his victory in Thrace in 111 BC. He was censor in 102 BC.
Lucius had two brothers. One was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus. Creticus was praetor in 74 BC, consul in 69 BC, and pontifex from 73 until his death in the late 50s BC. He was given the proconsular command against Crete during his consulship. He subjugated the island and triumphed for his victory in 62 BC. He was an opponent of Pompey
. Lucius' other brother was Marcus Caecilius Metellus. He was praetor and president of the extortion court in 69 BC.
Lucius' sister, Caecilia Metella, was married to Gaius Verres. Verres was governor of Sicily from 73-71 BC and the defendant on trial in Cicero
's speech Against Verres.
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
in 71 BC. He succeeded Gaius Verres as governor of Sicily in 70 BC. He died in office as 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...
in 68 BC. His co-consul was Quintus Marcus Rex.
Family
The Caecilii Metelli were an illustrious family of the Roman republic. They were politically conservative, although members of the plebeian gens Caecilia.Lucius' grandfather was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus was a Praetor in 148 BC, Consul in 143 BC, Proconsul of Hispania Citerior in 142 BC and Censor in 131 BC. He was the oldest son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus and grandson of Lucius Caecilius Metellus.A brilliant general, he fought in the Third Macedonian War...
. He was praetor in 148 BC, consul in 143 BC, and censor in 131 BC. He was given the command in Macedonia, where he defeated Andriscus
Andriscus
Andriscus, and often called the "pseudo-Philip", was the last King of Macedon , and ruler of Adramyttium in Aeolis ....
, a pretender to the throne. He received a triumph and the cognomen 'Macedonicus' for his victory. He was an opponent of Tiberius Gracchus
Tiberius Gracchus
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was a Roman Populares politician of the 2nd century BC and brother of Gaius Gracchus. As a plebeian tribune, his reforms of agrarian legislation caused political turmoil in the Republic. These reforms threatened the holdings of rich landowners in Italy...
and Gaius Gracchus
Gaius Gracchus
Gaius Sempronius Gracchus was a Roman Populari politician in the 2nd century BC and brother of the ill-fated reformer Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus...
.
Lucius' father was Gaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius
Gaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius
Gaius Caecilius Metellus Caprarius was born around 160 BC. He served under Scipio Aemilianus in Numantia around 133 BC. He was praetor in 117 BC and consul in 113 BC; his co-consul was Gnaeus Papirius Carbo. Caprarius was proconsul in Thrace from 112-111 BC. He triumphed for his victory there in...
, Macedonicus' youngest son. Caprarius fought under Scipio Aemilianus in Numantia
Numantia
Numantia is the name of an ancient Celtiberian settlement, whose remains are located 7 km north of the city of Soria, on a hill known as Cerro de la Muela in the municipality of Garray....
. He was praetor in 117 BC, consul in 113 BC, and fought as proconsul in Thrace in 112 BC. He triumphed for his victory in Thrace in 111 BC. He was censor in 102 BC.
Lucius had two brothers. One was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus. Creticus was praetor in 74 BC, consul in 69 BC, and pontifex from 73 until his death in the late 50s BC. He was given the proconsular command against Crete during his consulship. He subjugated the island and triumphed for his victory in 62 BC. He was an opponent of Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
. Lucius' other brother was Marcus Caecilius Metellus. He was praetor and president of the extortion court in 69 BC.
Lucius' sister, Caecilia Metella, was married to Gaius Verres. Verres was governor of Sicily from 73-71 BC and the defendant on trial in 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...
's speech Against Verres.