Quintus Marcius Crispus

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Quintus Marcius Crispus was a 1st century BC Living member of the ancient Roman family of Marcier and served as general under Gaius Iulius Caesar . One year after his murder his trace is lost in the tradition.

Life

Quintus Marcius Crispus is probably identical with that Quintus Marcius who lived from 57 to 55 BC. Acted as the legate of the proconsul Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus in Macedonia and was described as a close friend and brave man by the Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero . In contrast, Cicero was a bitter opponent of Calpurnius Piso, who 58 BC. Had held the consulate and was Caesar's father-in-law. Presumably Crispus had previously held the office of aedile . Around 54 BC BC Crispus may have exercised the office of praetor .

In the 49 BC The Roman civil war that broke out between Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was Crispus on Caesar's side. Of his related military activities, however, only one commission is known, which he, probably as a legate, in March 46 BC. During Caesar's campaign in Africa against the Pompeian military leaders who remained after Pompey's murder (48 BC): he was to occupy the village of Thabena with three cohorts , archers and numerous military equipment. The inhabitants of the place, which was not far from the city of Thapsus , had previously asked Caesar for protection. Not long afterwards, Thapsus became the scene of a decisive battle that ended with Caesar's victory.

45 BC BC Crispus administered the province of Bithynia as proconsul . When Lucius Staius Murcus moved to Syria after Caesar's assassination (March 15, 44 BC) and there unsuccessfully fought the renegade Roman knight Quintus Caecilius Bassus , Crispus interfered in this conflict in favor of Murcus. Like Murcus, Crispus had three legions and together they succeeded in locking Bassus in Apamea .

Early 43 BC The Caesar murderer Gaius Cassius Longinus appeared in Syria and was not only able to take over the two legions of Bassus, but also those six of Crispus and Murcus, whom Cassius graciously accepted as commander-in-chief. Cassius and Marcus Junius Brutus reported this in March / April 43 BC. By letter to Cicero. The speaker himself had spoken in February 43 BC. BC requests that Crispus, Murcus and Aulus Allienus should hand over their troops to Cassius. Crispus did not want to enter Cassius's service and was allowed to leave without being disturbed.

Because Crispus is no longer mentioned in the sources from then on, his further life is unknown. However, it cannot be completely ruled out that he was the suffect consul of 36 BC. BC, of ​​whose name only Marcius is known.

literature

Remarks

  1. ^ Cicero, in L. Pisonem 54 (23) .
  2. ^ Cicero, in L. Pisonem 88 (36) .
  3. ^ [Caesar], African War 77, 2 .
  4. ^ Appian , Civil Wars 3, 77f. and 4, 58 ; Cassius Dio 47, 27, 5 .
  5. ^ Letter from Cassius of March 7, 43 BC. To Cicero ( epistulae ad familiares 12, 11, 1 ); Letter from Brutus of April 1, 43 BC. To Cicero ( epistulae ad Brutum 2, 3, 3 ); see. also Velleius Paterculus 2, 69, 2 , Appian, Civil Wars 3, 78 and 4, 59 ; Cassius Dio 47, 28, 1 .
  6. ^ Cicero, Philippine Speeches 11:30 .
  7. ↑ Cassius Dio 47, 28, 4.
personal data
SURNAME Marcius Crispus, Quintus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Crispus, Quintus Marcius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman general
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC BC or 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 1st century BC BC or 1st century