Lucius Aurelius Orestes (Consul 157 BC)

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Lucius Aurelius Orestes was a Roman politician and consul in the 2nd century BC.

Origin and family environment

Lucius Aurelius Orestes belonged to a subsidiary branch of the gens Aurelia , one since the 3rd century BC. Important plebeian family of the nobility , whose main branch were the Aurelians with the Cognomen Cotta , and which provided the Roman state with numerous consuls until the 1st century AD. Caesar's mother Aurelia came from this family, which also initiated the construction of the via Aurelia from Rome to Pisa .

Life and political career

Lucius Aurelius Orestes was the son and grandson of each Lucius , both of which cannot be identified, since the Aurelian gens was limited to a few, repeatedly used first names (Gaius, Lucius, Marcus). He is likely to be around the end of the 3rd century BC Since he was born in 157 BC. Became consul and according to the regulations for the official career at this time had to be at least 43 years old.

Nothing is known about Aurelius' early career in office. Around 163 BC He was sent to Syria with Gnaeus Octavius ​​and Spurius Lucretius as envoy of the Senate . Around 160 BC He officiated as praetor . Together with Sextus Iulius Caesar he was 157 BC. Elected consul. Then he was 148 BC. BC sent on a diplomatic mission by the Senate to Greece. Rome was at that time with Macedonia and its king Perseus in the war . The Achaean League , an association of numerous Greek city-states, had declared itself against Rome. Orestes had to convey the demands of the Senate, according to which the federal state of the Achaeans was to be converted into a federation and Sparta, Rome's ally, should no longer belong to the federation. Orestes presented these demands of the Senate in Corinth to the Federal Assembly of the Achaean League and was badly mistreated by the Achaeans for this. This led to the war against the Achaeans, in which Orestes also participated two years later as the companion of the Roman general and consul Lucius Mummius , who visited Corinth in 146 BC. BC conquered and destroyed, participated. Nothing is known about the further work of Orestes and the date of his death. His son Lucius Aurelius Orestes was born in 126 BC. Also consul.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Ingemar König: The Roman State. Part 1. 1992, Consull List, p. 223.
  2. ↑ Polybios , Histories 31, 12, 9.
  3. ↑ Fasti Capitolini in the year 157 BC Chr .; among others
  4. ↑ Polybios, Historien 38, 7, 1; 38, 7, 6; 38, 8, 2; Pausanias , travels in Greece 7, 14, 1f.
  5. ^ Pausanias, Journeys in Greece 7, 16, 1.

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personal data
SURNAME Aurelius Orestes, Lucius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Orestes, Lucius Aurelius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman consul 157 BC Chr.
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 2nd century BC Chr.