Appius Claudius Pulcher (consul 38 BC)

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Appius Claudius Pulcher was a Roman politician. An early supporter of Augustus, he was elected consul in 38 BC.

Biography

A member of the patrician branch of the Claudii family, Pulcher was the son of Gaius Claudius Pulcher, praetor in 56 BC. He or his brother was adopted by their paternal uncle Appius Claudius Pulcher, the consul of 54 BC, and took on his praenomen, thus both of the brothers were named "Appius Claudius Pulcher".[1] Both brothers prosecuted Titus Annius Milo in 51 BC for the murder of their other uncle Publius Clodius Pulcher, and managed to convict him with the help of Pompey.[2][a]

Originally a supporter of

Liberatores, and showed some willingness to join Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus.[3] However, by 38 BC, the year he was elected consul, he had attached himself to the cause of Octavian, one of the earliest patricians to publicly join the heir of Julius Caesar.[4] This alliance may have came about as a result of the marriage of Octavian to the aristocratic Livia Drusilla,[5] and by doing so, he attached his auctoritas to Octavian's rising power and fortune, and was greatly rewarded by Octavian in the years to come.[6]

In 36 BC, during Octavian's war with

Septemviri epulonum.[11]

Pulcher likely had at least one son, Appius Claudius Pulcher, who may have been put to death by the emperor Augustus on charges of adultery with the emperor's daughter Julia.[12] Marcus Valerius Messalla Appianus, the suffect consul of 32 BC (who was probably adopted by Marcus Valerius Messalla) may have been his son or possibly his nephew instead.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ There is some confusion as to which of the two Appius Claudius Pulchers who prosecuted Milo in 51 BC was the consul of 38 BC. Given that the other Appius Claudius Pulcher was impeached for extortion by the Servilii, it is assumed that the one adopted by his uncle (the former consul Appuis Claudius Pulcher) was the one who became consul in his turn in 38 BC.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Anthon & Smith, pgs. 209-210; Syme, pg. 229
  2. ^ Anthon & Smith, pg. 210
  3. ^ Syme, pg. 237
  4. ^ Broughton, pg. 389; Syme, pg. 229
  5. ^ Syme, pg. 268
  6. ^ Syme, pgs. 238-239
  7. ^ Broughton, pg. 400
  8. ^ Broughton, pgs. 411 & 418; Syme, pg. 239
  9. ^ Syme, pg. 292; Broughton, pg. 418
  10. ^ Syme, pg. 327
  11. ^ Broughton, pg. 426
  12. ^ Syme, pg. 426
  13. Clarendon Press. [ISBN missing
    ]

Sources

  • T. Robert S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol II (1952).
  • Syme, Ronald, The Roman Revolution (1939)
  • Anthon, Charles & Smith, William, A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography (1860).
Political offices
Preceded by
Gaius Norbanus Flaccus
 		Succeeded by
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