Aulus Gabinius

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Aulus Gabinius († 48 BC or early 47 BC, probably in Salona ) was a Roman politician and general ; he was a supporter of Pompey and an important figure in the final years of the republic .

Life

67 BC As a tribune of the people he passed a law with the Lex Gabinia , which assured Pompey the authority in the war against the pirates with extensive power and control over the Mediterranean Sea and up to 50 miles (around 90 kilometers) into the country. Two other measures by Gabinius prohibited the lending of money to foreign ambassadors (to check corruption in the Senate ) and instructed the Senate to grant audiences to foreign embassies on certain days (February 1 to March 1).

61 BC BC, now as praetor , Gabinius tried to win the public's favor by promising games of a previously unusual size. 58 BC He managed to become consul , where he exposed himself to the suspicion of bribery. During his tenure, he helped Publius Clodius Pulcher , Cicero to send into exile. 57 BC Gabinius went to Syria as proconsul , where he reinstated Hyrcanus in Jerusalem as high priest , suppressed revolts, made important changes in the administration of Judea and had some cities rebuilt.

During his absence in Egypt , where he had been sent by Pompey without the consent of the Senate, to Ptolemy XII. reinstated as Pharaoh , gangs of robbers ravaged Syria; Alexander , the son of Aristobulus II , took up arms again to drive Hyrcanus out of his office. With some difficulties Gabinius restored order and handed over in 54 BC. The province his successor Marcus Licinius Crassus . The Knights, who suffered heavy losses during his tenure in Syria, brought him to court when he appeared before the Senate for an accountability report on three charges, all of which were capital felony.

He was acquitted of the maiestas ( high treason ) charge for leaving the province without the approval of the Senate and the Sibylline Books - it was alleged that the judges were bribed and that Cicero, an enemy of Gabinius, was also was persuaded by Pompey to say as little as possible. On the second count, the repetundae (extortion in the office of governor) with special reference to the 10,000 talents Ptolemy paid him for the reinstatement, he was found guilty, despite the evidence that Pompey offered in his favor, despite the witnesses from Alexandria and the eloquence of Cicero, who had been asked to plead on this case. Only a desire to do Pompey a favor had Cicero taken on: it is implied that his half-hearted defense speech contributed to Gabinius' condemnation. The third charge, that of ambitus (illegality in considering his election as consul), was subsequently dropped; Gabinius went into exile and his property was confiscated.

After the outbreak of the civil war he was 49 BC. Recalled by Caesar . Gabinius entered Caesar's service, but did not actively oppose his former patron Pompey. After the battle of Pharsalus he was tasked with bringing some recently dug up troops to Illyricum . On the way there he was attacked by the Dalmatians and it was only with difficulty that he managed to get to Salona . Here he valiantly defended himself against the attacks of the Pompeian commander Marcus Octavius , but died after a few months (48 BC or early 47 BC) of an illness.

See also

swell

literature

  • Peter von der Mühll : Gabinius 11. In: Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume VII, 1, Stuttgart 1910, Col. 424-430.
  • Richard Stanley Williams: Aulus Gabinius: A Political Biography. UMI, Ann Arbor 1973.
  • Frank Goldmann: The governors of the Roman provinces from 60 to 50 BC BC - Political action in a decade of crisis. Dissertation Göttingen 2012, pp. 21–74 ( PDF , eDiss).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gabinius, Aulus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman politician and general
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC BC or 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 48 BC BC or 47 BC Chr.
Place of death uncertain: Salona , Dalmatia , Roman Republic