Lucius Manlius Torquatus (Praetor 49 BC)
Encyclopedia
Lucius Manlius Torquatus (died 46 BC
) was a Roman
politician. He is portrayed by Cicero
in De Finibus I & II as a spokesman advocating Epicurean ethics
.
, Torquatus belonged to the patrician
Manlii, one of the oldest Roman houses. In 69 BC
he was elected a member of the Quindecimviri sacris faciundis. In 66 BC
it was he who first accused Publius Cornelius Sulla
and Publius Autronius Paetus
, the consul designates for the following year, of bribery in connection with the elections, thereby securing the election of his father in 65 BC
.
Closely aligned with Cicero
whom Torquatus supported during Cicero’s praetorship
in 65 BC and consulship
in 63 BC
, they found themselves on opposite sides when in 62 BC
Torquatus brought a new accusation against Publius Cornelius Sulla, whom he accused of being a part of both of Catiline
’s conspiracies. Torquatus was the prosecutor, while Cicero defended the accused. Torquatus accused Sulla in 66 BC of raising a force of men to secure the consulship for Catiline and murder the ruling consuls Lucius Manlius Torquatus and Lucius Aurelius Cotta
. He also accused Cicero of manufacturing evidence recorded on the 3rd of December, 63 BC, against the Catilinian conspirators. Torquatus lost the case and Sulla was acquitted.
Torquatus was elected praetor
in 49 BC
and was stationed at a place called Alba with six cohort
s. Deciding to oppose Julius Caesar
, he joined Pompey
in Greece and in the following year he was appointed propraetor. Pompey put him in charge of the defence of Oricum, but the defenders and the townspeople refused to fight, forcing Torquatus to surrender the town to Caesar, after which Caesar let him go. Returning to Pompey, he held command of the section of Pompey’s forces that penetrated Caesar’s siege works at Dyrrachium
. Retaining his imperium
, in 47 BC
, after the defeat of Pompey, he was in Africa With the defeat
of the Optimate
forces there in 46 BC
, Toquatus attempted to flee to Hispania
along with Metellus Scipio
, but was trapped at Hippo Regius
by the fleet of Publius Sittius, who soon put him to death.
Torquatus was noted by Cicero for his knowledge of Greek literature and his breadth of learning. An Epicurean
, he was portrayed by Cicero in De Finibus I & II as a spokesman advocating Epicurean ethics. His wife was named Lavinia.
46 BC
Year 46 BC was the last year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Lepidus . The denomination 46 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe...
) was a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
politician. He is portrayed by 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...
in De Finibus I & II as a spokesman advocating Epicurean ethics
Epicurus
Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.Only a few fragments and letters remain of Epicurus's 300 written works...
.
Biography
The son of Lucius Manlius TorquatusLucius Manlius Torquatus
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.-Biography:...
, Torquatus belonged to the patrician
Patrician
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. In 69 BC
69 BC
Year 69 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hortalus and Metellus...
he was elected a member of the Quindecimviri sacris faciundis. 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...
it was he who first accused 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...
, the consul designates for the following year, of bribery in connection with the elections, thereby securing the election of his father 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...
.
Closely aligned with 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...
whom Torquatus supported during Cicero’s praetorship
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 65 BC and consulship
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 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...
, they found themselves on opposite sides when in 62 BC
62 BC
Year 62 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Silanus and Murena...
Torquatus brought a new accusation against Publius Cornelius Sulla, whom he accused of being a part of both of 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...
’s conspiracies. Torquatus was the prosecutor, while Cicero defended the accused. Torquatus accused Sulla in 66 BC of raising a force of men to secure the consulship for Catiline and murder the ruling consuls Lucius Manlius 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...
. He also accused Cicero of manufacturing evidence recorded on the 3rd of December, 63 BC, against the Catilinian conspirators. Torquatus lost the case and Sulla was acquitted.
Torquatus 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...
in 49 BC
49 BC
Year 49 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus...
and was stationed at a place called Alba with six cohort
Cohort (military unit)
A cohort was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC.-Legionary cohort:...
s. Deciding to oppose 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....
, he joined Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
in Greece and in the following year he was appointed propraetor. Pompey put him in charge of the defence of Oricum, but the defenders and the townspeople refused to fight, forcing Torquatus to surrender the town to Caesar, after which Caesar let him go. Returning to Pompey, he held command of the section of Pompey’s forces that penetrated Caesar’s siege works at Dyrrachium
Battle of Dyrrhachium (48 BC)
The Battle of Dyrrachium on 10 July 48 BC, was a battle of Caesar's Civil War in the area of the city of Dyrrachium . It was fought between Julius Caesar and the army led by Gnaeus Pompey with the backing of the majority of the Roman Senate. The battle was indecisive but is regarded as a victory...
. Retaining his imperium
Imperium
Imperium is a Latin word which, in a broad sense, translates roughly as 'power to command'. In ancient Rome, different kinds of power or authority were distinguished by different terms. Imperium, referred to the sovereignty of the state over the individual...
, in 47 BC
47 BC
Year 47 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calenius and Vatinius...
, after the defeat of Pompey, he was in Africa With the defeat
Battle of Thapsus
The Battle of Thapsus took place on April 6, 46 BC near Thapsus . The Republican forces of the Optimates, led by Quintus Caecillius Metellus Scipio, clashed with the veteran forces loyal to Julius Caesar.-Prelude:...
of the Optimate
Optimates
The optimates were the traditionalist majority of the late Roman Republic. They wished to limit the power of the popular assemblies and the Tribunes of the Plebs, and to extend the power of the Senate, which was viewed as more dedicated to the interests of the aristocrats who held the reins of power...
forces there in 46 BC
46 BC
Year 46 BC was the last year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Lepidus . The denomination 46 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe...
, Toquatus attempted to flee to 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....
along with Metellus Scipio
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica , in modern scholarship often as Metellus Scipio, was a Roman consul and military commander in the Late Republic. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and the senatorial faction led by Pompeius Magnus , he remained a staunch optimate...
, but was trapped at Hippo Regius
Hippo Regius
Hippo Regius is the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba, in Algeria. Under this name, it was a major city in Roman Africa, hosting several early Christian councils, and was the home of the philosopher and theologian Augustine of Hippo...
by the fleet of Publius Sittius, who soon put him to death.
Torquatus was noted by Cicero for his knowledge of Greek literature and his breadth of learning. An Epicurean
Epicurus
Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher and the founder of the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.Only a few fragments and letters remain of Epicurus's 300 written works...
, he was portrayed by Cicero in De Finibus I & II as a spokesman advocating Epicurean ethics. His wife was named Lavinia.
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)
- Holmes, T. Rice, The Roman Republic and the Founder of the Empire, Vol. III (1923)
- Anthon, Charles & Smith, William, A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography (1860).