Gaius Scribonius Curio (Tribune of the People)

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Gaius Scribonius Curio (* 90 BC ; † 49 BC ) was a politician and tribune of the people in the Roman Republic .

Curio came from a conservative plebeian family; his father of the same name had been both consul and censor . As a young man, Curio belonged to a group of his peers around Publius Clodius Pulcher , who tried to draw attention to themselves through their provocative behavior. The young Curio was said to have had a homosexual relationship with Marcus Antonius . Nonetheless, the young man was also a gifted speaker, best known as a critic of the (first) triumvirate .

After the death of Clodius in 52 BC. BC Curio married his widow Fulvia , with whom he had a son. An immense debt that the young man had for the organization of funeral games in honor of his 53 BC. His father, who died in BC, and had amassed for the construction of a highly modern theater for the time, forced him to change course politically. He joined his old opponent Gaius Iulius Caesar , who promised him financial support, and ran for the office of tribune, where he could serve Caesar's interests. Curio was actually elected with the most votes. As a tribune of the people (50 BC) he was able to prevent Caesar from losing his proconsular office in Gaul by inserting his veto . However, Caesar's opponents finally defied Curio's veto and that of his successor, Marcus Antonius, whereupon both had to flee to Caesar in Ravenna .

In the civil war that followed, Curio, as the commander of two legions , succeeded in driving the republican politician Marcus Porcius Cato from Sicily and occupying the island that was important as a grain supplier. He then led a campaign in the province of Africa , where he initially succeeded in defeating an army of Optimates and Numidians under Juba I and Publius Attius Varus at Utica , but was later lured into a trap by them and in the battle on Bagradas and his army went down.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Curio, Gaius Scribonius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Politician and tribune in the Roman Republic
DATE OF BIRTH 90 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 49 BC Chr.