Lucius Cornelius Balbus Maior
Lucius Cornelius Balbus , called Maior (the elder) to distinguish him from his nephew Lucius Cornelius Balbus Minor , was born in the early 1st century BC. Born in BC and came from a long -established family in Gades (today Cádiz). He was a Roman consul during the second triumvirate and belonged to Octavian's party . He was one of the first foreigners to enter the consulate office in 40 BC. Chr.
Balbus was from Hispania . For his efforts against Sertorius him and his family was Pompey the Roman citizenship granted. Due to his connections to all political groups, he was significantly involved in the formation of the First Triumvirate , especially since he was one of the main financiers in Rome. He took care to make himself popular with Caesar, whom he, as this propraetor , accompanied as praefectus fabrum to Hispania (61 BC) and to Gaul (58 BC).
His position as a naturalized foreigner, his influence and his wealth made Balbus many enemies who in 56 BC. Brought up a Gades native to indict him for illegally adopting civil rights, a lawsuit directed against the triumvirs and himself alike. Cicero , Pompey and Crassus spoke in his favor, he was acquitted. During the civil war he tried to persuade Cicero to mediate between Caesar and Pompey in order to secure himself from having to take the latter's side for good. Cicero admits that contrary to his own opinion, he was dissuaded.
In the following years Balbus became Caesar's private secretary, with whom Cicero had to ask for an appointment with Caesar. After Caesar's death, Balbus joined Octavian and once again became an influential advisor; 43 or 42 BC He was praetor , 40 BC. A suffect consul , an honor bestowed on a foreigner for the first time. The year of his death is unknown.
Balbus kept a diary about his life and Caesar's life on the main events ( Suetonius , Caesar , 81). The eighth book by De bello Gallico , probably written by his friend Aulus Hirtius , was requested from him and is dedicated to him. The beginning of it, today Chapter 1, was designed by the author like a letter to Balbus and mentions Balbus's “urgent requests” for continuation and his own “daily refusal”.
literature
- Jochen Bleicken : Augustus. A biography. Alexander Fest, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-8286-0136-7 .
- Werner Dahlheim : Julius Caesar. The honor of the warrior and the plight of the state. Schöningh, Paderborn 2005, ISBN 3-506-71981-5 .
- Karl-Ludwig Elvers : Cornelius [I 6]. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 3, Metzler, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-476-01473-8 , column 169.
Individual evidence
- ^ Franz Peter Bremer: The legal teachers and legal schools in the Roman Empire , published by I. Guttentag, Berlin 1868, p. 71 ff. (74).
- ↑ Caesar, De ballo Gallico 1,1: Salutation "Balbe" and farewell with "Vale".
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cornelius Balbus, Lucius Maior |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Balbus, Lucius Cornelius; Lucius Cornelius Balbus Maior |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Roman consul (40 BC) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1st century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1st century BC BC or 1st century |