Quintus Pedius
Encyclopedia
Quintus Pedius was a Roman who lived during the late Roman Republic
. Pedius
was the son of a Marcus or Quintus Pedius and nephew or great nephew of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar
.
Pedius in 57 BC served as a general during Caesar’s conquest of Gaul
. In 55 BC, he lost an election for the office of aedile
.
During the Roman Civil War between Caesar and Pompey
in 49 BC, Pedius allied himself with Caesar. In 48 BC, Pedius was promoted to the praetor
ship in Rome. In that same year, he commanded a legion
and successfully quelled an anti-Caesarean uprising at Compsa
, resulting in the deaths of both Marcus Caelius Rufus
and Titus Annius Milo
, who had been leading the ill-fated revolt. In early 45 BC, Pedius served as a legatus
against Sextus Pompeius
in Spain
. Pedius claimed victory against Sextus Pompeius and returned to Rome
with Caesar. Caesar honored him with a triumph parade and gave him the title of proconsul.
Caesar was assassinated in Rome
of March 44 BC. In Caesar’s will, Pedius was named as one of his heirs. Like his cousin Lucius Pinarius
, he was to receive one eighth of Caesar’s legacy, but he renounced the inheritance in favor of Caesar’s main heir, Pedius’ cousin Octavian (future Roman Emperor
Augustus
). In August 43 BC, Octavian with Pedius were elected as consuls after marching on Rome with an army.
During the consulship, Pedius created a law called the Lex Pedia or Pedian Law, which punished all the murderers of Caesar or those who called for Caesar’s death. Pedius was left in charge of Rome, while his colleague and cousin left for Northern Italy
to join Mark Antony
and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
, in forming the Second Triumvirate
.
The Senate approved of his law. Not so long afterwards at Bononia
, the Second Triumvirate was formed. When news reached Rome of the new power pact between Octavian, Antony and Lepidus and their lists of people whom they would put to death, Pedius became very concerned. Pedius was unable to stop the events from occurring and recommended only seventeen people to be put to death. Out of concern, he pledged to protect the citizens of Rome. Not so long after, Pedius had suffered so much political fatigue he died.
Pedius married a Roman noblewoman called Valeria, who was related (perhaps a sister) to the Roman consul, senator and orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
. Pedius and Valeria had at least one child, a son named Quintus Pedius Publicola
. Publicola became a Roman senator, who distinguished himself with his oratory.
Pliny the Elder
in his Naturalis Historia mentions that Quintus Pedius had a grandson also named Quintus Pedius who was deaf and is notable as being the earliest example of a deaf individual named in written history (see Quintus Pedius (deaf painter)
).
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...
. Pedius
Pedius
Pedius may refer to:* Quintus Pedius , Roman general, politician, great nephew of dictator Gaius Julius Caesar, maternal cousin to first Roman Emperor Augustus* Quintus Pedius Publicola Pedius may refer to:* Quintus Pedius (d. 43 BC), Roman general, politician, great nephew of dictator Gaius Julius...
was the son of a Marcus or Quintus Pedius and nephew or great nephew of the Roman dictator 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....
.
Pedius in 57 BC served as a general during Caesar’s conquest of Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
. In 55 BC, he lost an election for the office of aedile
Aedile
Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public order. There were two pairs of aediles. Two aediles were from the ranks of plebeians and the other...
.
During the Roman Civil War between Caesar and 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 49 BC, Pedius allied himself with Caesar. In 48 BC, Pedius was promoted to the 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...
ship in Rome. In that same year, he commanded a legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
and successfully quelled an anti-Caesarean uprising at Compsa
Compsa
Compsa was an ancient city of the Hirpini, near the sources of the Aufidus, on the boundary of Lucania and not far from that of Apulia, on a ridge 609 m above sea level....
, resulting in the deaths of both Marcus Caelius Rufus
Marcus Caelius Rufus
Marcus Caelius Rufus was an orator and politician in the late Roman Republic. He was born into a wealthy equestrian family from Interamnia Praetuttiorum , on the central east coast of Italy...
and Titus Annius Milo
Titus Annius Milo
Titus Annius Milo Papianus was a Roman political agitator, the son of Gaius Papius Celsus, but adopted by his maternal grandfather, Titus Annius Luscus...
, who had been leading the ill-fated revolt. In early 45 BC, Pedius served as a legatus
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...
against Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, in English Sextus Pompey , was a Roman general from the late Republic . He was the last focus of opposition to the Second Triumvirate...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Pedius claimed victory against Sextus Pompeius and 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 Caesar. Caesar honored him with a triumph parade and gave him the title of proconsul.
Caesar was assassinated in 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...
of March 44 BC. In Caesar’s will, Pedius was named as one of his heirs. Like his cousin Lucius Pinarius
Lucius Pinarius
Lucius Pinarius Scarpus was a Roman that lived in the late Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire.According to Suetonius, Pinarius was a great nephew of dictator Gaius Julius Caesar through one his sisters...
, he was to receive one eighth of Caesar’s legacy, but he renounced the inheritance in favor of Caesar’s main heir, Pedius’ cousin Octavian (future Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
). In August 43 BC, Octavian with Pedius were elected as consuls after marching on Rome with an army.
During the consulship, Pedius created a law called the Lex Pedia or Pedian Law, which punished all the murderers of Caesar or those who called for Caesar’s death. Pedius was left in charge of Rome, while his colleague and cousin left for Northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to join Mark Antony
Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir)
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus , was a Roman patrician who rose to become a member of the Second Triumvirate and Pontifex Maximus. His father, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, had been involved in a rebellion against the Roman Republic.Lepidus was among Julius Caesar's greatest supporters...
, in forming the Second Triumvirate
Second Triumvirate
The Second Triumvirate is the name historians give to the official political alliance of Octavius , Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Mark Antony, formed on 26 November 43 BC with the enactment of the Lex Titia, the adoption of which marked the end of the Roman Republic...
.
The Senate approved of his law. Not so long afterwards at Bononia
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, the Second Triumvirate was formed. When news reached Rome of the new power pact between Octavian, Antony and Lepidus and their lists of people whom they would put to death, Pedius became very concerned. Pedius was unable to stop the events from occurring and recommended only seventeen people to be put to death. Out of concern, he pledged to protect the citizens of Rome. Not so long after, Pedius had suffered so much political fatigue he died.
Pedius married a Roman noblewoman called Valeria, who was related (perhaps a sister) to the Roman consul, senator and orator Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus
Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus was a Roman general, author and patron of literature and art.-Family:He was the son of politician Marcus Valerius Messalla Niger Although, some dispute his parentage and claim another descendant of Marcus Valerius Corvus to be his father.Messalla Corvinus is...
. Pedius and Valeria had at least one child, a son named Quintus Pedius Publicola
Quintus Pedius Publicola
Quintus Pedius Publicola or sometimes spelt as Poplicola was a Roman who came from a Roman senatorial family. Publicola was the son of consul Quintus Pedius and noblewoman Valeria....
. Publicola became a Roman senator, who distinguished himself with his oratory.
Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
in his Naturalis Historia mentions that Quintus Pedius had a grandson also named Quintus Pedius who was deaf and is notable as being the earliest example of a deaf individual named in written history (see Quintus Pedius (deaf painter)
Quintus Pedius (deaf painter)
Quintus Pedius was a Roman painter and the first deaf person in recorded history known by name. He is the first recorded deaf painter and his education is the first recorded education of a deaf child...
).
Sources
- SuetoniusSuetoniusGaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Caesar - Ronald SymeRonald SymeSir Ronald Syme, OM, FBA was a New Zealand-born historian and classicist. Long associated with Oxford University, he is widely regarded as the 20th century's greatest historian of ancient Rome...
, The Augustan Aristocracy - William SmithWilliam Smith (lexicographer)Sir William Smith Kt. was a noted English lexicographer.-Early life:Born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents, he was originally destined for a theological career, but instead was articled to a solicitor. In his spare time he taught himself classics, and when he entered University College...
, text of Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, v. 3 p. 163 - Addison Hart, Dreams of Empire: The Fall of the Roman Republic, Military History Online