Curio, Gaius Scribonius

▪ Roman politician [died 49 BC]

died 49 BC

      Roman politician, partisan of Julius Caesar (Caesar, Julius) against Pompey (Pompey the Great). He was the son of a statesman and orator of the same name.

      Curio was elected tribune for the year 50 BC. When the Senate demanded that year that Caesar surrender his imperium before entering Rome, Curio advocated that Pompey do the same, adding that, if the two generals refused to comply, both ought to be declared public enemies. His proposal was carried, but the consuls ignored it and called upon Pompey to undertake the command of all the troops stationed in Italy. Fleeing to Caesar at Ravenna, Curio was commissioned to take a message to the Senate. He met with so hostile a reception that he hurried back to Caesar. In the Civil War, Curio collected troops for Caesar in Umbria and Etruria and was sent by him to Sicily as propraetor in 49. After some successes against the forces loyal to Pompey, Curio crossed over to Africa, where he was defeated and killed by Juba, king of Numidia. The first amphitheatre in Rome was erected by him in 50 BC for the celebration of the funeral games of his father.

▪ Roman statesman [died 53 BC]

died 53 BC

      Roman statesman and orator, father of a noted politician of the same name.

      Curio opposed Saturninus in 100 BC, was tribune in 90 BC, and served in Sulla's army in Greece against Archelaus, general of Mithradates, and as his legate in Asia, where he was commissioned to restore the kings of Bithynia and Cappadocia to their thrones. In 76 he was consul, and as governor of Macedonia (75–73) defeated the Dardanians, thereby becoming the first Roman general to penetrate as far as the Danube. On his return he was granted a triumph. In 63, during the discussion as to the punishment of the Catilinarian conspirators, Curio supported Cicero, but he spoke in favour of P. Clodius at the latter's trial (61). This led to a violent attack on the part of Cicero, but it does not appear to have permanently impaired their friendship.

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