Marcus Petronius

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Marcus Petronius († 41 BC ) was a Roman politician from the Petronian family who belonged to the circle of conspirators against Gaius Iulius Caesar .

On the Ides of March in 44 BC Marcus Petronius was one of the participants in the assassination attempt against the dictator for life . After the defeat of Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus in the Battle of Philippi (42 BC), he fled in 41 BC. Together with other followers of the Caesar murderers to Ephesus . The triumvir Marcus Antonius pardoned those pleading for protection who had sought asylum in the Temple of Artemis . Only Petronius was convicted and executed because he was directly involved in the assassination of Caesar in 44 BC. Was involved.

At the time of Caesar there were several Petronii of military rank:

  • In 53 a Petronius served as a military tribune under Crassus and was an eyewitness to his death in the fight against the Parthians
  • An M. Petronius served as a centurion in Caesar's VIII Legion and sacrificed himself for his fellow soldiers during the conquest of Gergovia (52 BC).

Remarks

  1. ^ Appian , Civil Wars 5, 4 .
  2. Plutarch , Crassus 30f
  3. Caesar, Gallic War 7, 50