Lucius Opimius

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lucius Opimius was born in 121 BC. BC together with Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus Roman consul .

As praetor urbanus in 125 BC He put down the revolt in the city of Fregellae . As consul, while Fabius was on a campaign in Gaul , he took part in what was probably the most decisive event in Roman history at that time.

When Gaius Gracchus and Marcus Fulvius Flaccus lost their re-election to Opimius and Fabius, Gracchus organized a mass demonstration on the Aventine . Startled by this action, the Senate responded with a senatus consultum ultimum , an emergency resolution that provided Opimius with all means, including force, necessary to suppress the activities. Opimius brought together an armed group of senators and their supporters and faced Gracchus and his supporters. There was a street battle inside Rome . Gracchus, Flaccus, and many of their supporters were killed in this conflict. After the opposition was driven from the streets, Opimius set up a quaestio , a tribunal , which sentenced 3,000 people to death for supporting Gracchus. Subsequently he had 121 BC. Chr. Rebuild the Concordia temple and build a basilica in the vicinity that bore his name .

Because of this act of violence, Opimius was killed in 120 BC. Indicted, but Gaius Papirius Carbo obtained his acquittal. Opimius' victory established the senatus consultum ultimum in the Roman constitution . For example, B. Cicero in his fight against the conspiracy of Catiline in 63 BC. On Opimius and the SCU.

116 BC BC Opimius was a commission that divided Numidia between Jugurtha and his brother Adherbal . Members of the commission were later investigated on suspicion of taking bribes from Jugurtha. Opimius was forced into exile, where he later died.

Trivia

In the year of the consulate of Opimius, an excellent wine ( Opimianer ) was produced, which was later considered one of the best in antiquity.

Remarks

  1. ^ Cicero, 1st speech against Catiline 2, 4.
  2. ↑ Petronius: Cena Trimalchionis, Das Gastmahl des Trimalchio (Latin, German) I: 27-41.8. Retrieved March 13, 2020 .


personal data
SURNAME Opimius, Lucius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman consul in 121 BC Chr.
DATE OF BIRTH before 125 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH after 116 BC Chr.