Lucius Manlius Torquatus
Encyclopedia
Lucius Manlius Torquatus was a Roman
politician who was elected Consul
in 65 BC
after the condemnation of Publius Cornelius Sulla
and Publius Autronius Paetus
.
Manlii, one of the oldest Roman houses. He was proquaestor in Asia under Lucius Cornelius Sulla
in 84 BC
, for whom he issued gold and silver coinage. He returned to Rome
with Sulla in 82 BC
where he fought at the Battle of the Colline Gate
. He was elected Praetor
by 68 BC
, and was possibly a legate
under Pompey
before taking up his new post of proconsul
in Asia in 67 BC
.
In 66 BC
, Torquatus stood for election as Roman consul
, but was defeated by Publius Cornelius Sulla
and Publius Autronius Paetus
. However, Torquatus and Lucius Aurelius Cotta
accused the consul designates for the following year of bribery in connection with the elections; they were condemned under the Lex Acilia Calpurnia
, and Cotta and Torquatus elected in their places. This led to the so-called First Catilinian Conspiracy
where, allegedly, Catiline
together with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, Autronius, and perhaps also Sulla, conspired to murder the new consuls on the 1st of January 65 BC
, when they were due to enter office. Autronius and Sulla were to install themselves as consuls, while Piso was to take possession of the provinces of Hispania
. The plot failed when the Senate became suspicious and issues bodyguards to the incoming consuls. However, during Catiline’s trial for corruption when he was governor of Africa in 65 BC, he was supported by Torquatus, and an investigation undertaken by the consul into the circumstances of the aborted plot was inconclusive.
In 64 BC
, Torquatus obtained Macedonia
as his allotted province and while there he was awarded the title of Imperator
from the Senate
upon the recommendation of Cicero
when Cicero reported Torquatus's achievements to the Senate.. By the autumn of 63 BC
he was back in Rome. He took an active part in suppressing the Second Catilinian Conspiracy late that year, and he also supported Cicero when Cicero was banished in 58 BC
.
Torquatus was married to a woman from Asculum
. He had at least one son, Lucius Manlius Torquatus
who died during Caesar's Civil War
.
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...
politician who was elected Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
in 65 BC
65 BC
Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cotta and Torquatus...
after the condemnation of Publius Cornelius Sulla
Publius Cornelius Sulla
Publius Cornelius Sulla was a politician of the late Roman Republic. He was a relative of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix. He was elected consul in 66 BC together with Publius Autronius, but both were discovered to have committed bribery and were disqualified from the office...
and Publius Autronius Paetus
Publius Autronius Paetus
Publius Autronius Paetus was a politician of the late Roman Republic who was involved in the conspiracy of Catiline.He was elected consul in 66 BC , alongside Publius Cornelius Sulla, but before they could take office both were accused of electoral corruption by Lucius Aurelius Cotta and Lucius...
.
Biography
Torquatus belonged to the patricianPatrician
The term patrician originally referred to a group of elite families in ancient Rome, including both their natural and adopted members. In the late Roman Empire, the class was broadened to include high council officials, and after the fall of the Western Empire it remained a high honorary title in...
Manlii, one of the oldest Roman houses. He was proquaestor in Asia under Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
in 84 BC
84 BC
Year 84 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Carbo and Cinna...
, for whom he issued gold and silver coinage. He returned to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
with Sulla in 82 BC
82 BC
Year 82 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Marius and Carbo...
where he fought at the Battle of the Colline Gate
Battle of the Colline Gate
The battle of the Colline Gate, fought in November of 82 BC, was the final battle by which Sulla secured control of Rome following the civil war against his rivals. The Samnites led by Pontius Telesinus attacked Sulla's army at the Colline Gate on the northeastern wall, and fought all night before...
. He was elected Praetor
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...
by 68 BC
68 BC
Year 68 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Metellus/Vatia and Rex...
, and was possibly a legate
Legatus
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...
under Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
before taking up his new post of proconsul
Proconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
in Asia in 67 BC
67 BC
Year 67 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Glabrio...
.
In 66 BC
66 BC
Year 66 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lepidus and Tullus...
, Torquatus stood for election as Roman consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
, but was defeated by Publius Cornelius Sulla
Publius Cornelius Sulla
Publius Cornelius Sulla was a politician of the late Roman Republic. He was a relative of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix. He was elected consul in 66 BC together with Publius Autronius, but both were discovered to have committed bribery and were disqualified from the office...
and Publius Autronius Paetus
Publius Autronius Paetus
Publius Autronius Paetus was a politician of the late Roman Republic who was involved in the conspiracy of Catiline.He was elected consul in 66 BC , alongside Publius Cornelius Sulla, but before they could take office both were accused of electoral corruption by Lucius Aurelius Cotta and Lucius...
. However, Torquatus and Lucius Aurelius Cotta
Lucius Aurelius Cotta
Lucius Aurelius Cotta was a Roman politician from an old noble family who held the offices of praetor , consul and censor . Both his father and grandfather of the same name had been consuls, and his two brothers, Gaius Aurelius Cotta and Marcus Aurelius Cotta, preceded him as consul in 75 and 74...
accused the consul designates for the following year of bribery in connection with the elections; they were condemned under the Lex Acilia Calpurnia
Lex Acilia Calpurnia
Lex Acilia Calpurnia was a law established during the Roman Republic in 67 BC mandating permanent exclusion from office in cases of electoral corruption.-External links:*...
, and Cotta and Torquatus elected in their places. This led to the so-called First Catilinian Conspiracy
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catilina , known in English as Catiline, was a Roman politician of the 1st century BC who is best known for the Catiline conspiracy, an attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic, and in particular the power of the aristocratic Senate.-Family background:Catiline was born in 108 BC to...
where, allegedly, Catiline
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catilina , known in English as Catiline, was a Roman politician of the 1st century BC who is best known for the Catiline conspiracy, an attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic, and in particular the power of the aristocratic Senate.-Family background:Catiline was born in 108 BC to...
together with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, Autronius, and perhaps also Sulla, conspired to murder the new consuls on the 1st of January 65 BC
65 BC
Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cotta and Torquatus...
, when they were due to enter office. Autronius and Sulla were to install themselves as consuls, while Piso was to take possession of the provinces of Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
. The plot failed when the Senate became suspicious and issues bodyguards to the incoming consuls. However, during Catiline’s trial for corruption when he was governor of Africa in 65 BC, he was supported by Torquatus, and an investigation undertaken by the consul into the circumstances of the aborted plot was inconclusive.
In 64 BC
64 BC
Year 64 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Figulus...
, Torquatus obtained Macedonia
Macedonia (Roman province)
The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon, the last Ancient King of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics established by Rome in the region were dissolved...
as his allotted province and while there he was awarded the title of Imperator
Imperator
The Latin word Imperator was originally a title roughly equivalent to commander under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part of the titulature of the Roman Emperors as part of their cognomen. The English word emperor derives from imperator via Old French Empreur...
from 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...
upon the recommendation of 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...
when Cicero reported Torquatus's achievements to the Senate.. By the autumn of 63 BC
63 BC
Year 63 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cicero and Hibrida...
he was back in Rome. He took an active part in suppressing the Second Catilinian Conspiracy late that year, and he also supported Cicero when Cicero was banished in 58 BC
58 BC
Year 58 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Gabinius...
.
Torquatus was married to a woman from Asculum
Asculum
Asculum, also known as Ausculum, was the ancient name of two Italian cities.The first is Ascoli Piceno, the Ausculum in ancient Picenum . It is situated in the valley of the Truentus river on the via Salaria. It was originally a Sabine city . Following its defeat by the Romans in 268 BC...
. He had at least one son, Lucius Manlius Torquatus
Lucius Manlius Torquatus (Praetor 49 BC)
Lucius Manlius Torquatus was a Roman politician. He is portrayed by Cicero in De Finibus I & II as a spokesman advocating Epicurean ethics.-Biography:...
who died during Caesar's 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...
.
Sources
- T. Robert S. BroughtonThomas Robert Shannon BroughtonThomas Robert Shannon Broughton was a Canadian classical scholar and leading Latin prosopographer of the twentieth century. He is especially noted for his definitive three-volume work, Magistrates of the Roman Republic ....
, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol II (1952). - Holmes, T. Rice, The Roman Republic and the Founder of the Empire, Vol. I (1923)
- Syme, Ronald, The Roman Revolution, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1939.
- Anthon, Charles & Smith, William, A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography (1860).