Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes (died 1st century BC) was a Roman politician who was elected consul in 71 BC.

Biography

Originally born into the Orestes branch of the

Plebeian tribunate, but was elected to the post of Aedile by or before 79 BC.[2]

In 77 BC, he was elected

Imperium maius to oversee all of Orestes’ legal cases for the rest of the year.[3]

After serving his year in office, he was appointed by lot to a

Transalpine Gaul.[4] He was then elected as consul alongside Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura in 71 BC. According to Cicero, Aufidius Orestes’ elections as praetor and consul were due in part to the expensive and extravagant games he held while he was aedile.[5] Following his period in office, Aufidius Orestes refused to accept a proconsular command or other promagisterial appointment.[6]

Family

Aufidius Orestes had at least one daughter, Aurelia Orestilla, who was the third wife of the notorious senator Catiline. According to the historian Sallust, Aufidius Orestes’ wife had an adulterous affair.[7]

References

  1. ^ Broughton, pgs. 122-123
  2. ^ Broughton, p. 83
  3. ^ Brennan, T. Corey, The Praetorship in the Roman Republic: Volume 2: 122 to 49 BC (2001), p. 445
  4. ^ Broughton, pp. 93-94
  5. ^ Smith, p. 43
  6. ^ Gruen, Erich S., The Last Generation of the Roman Republic (1995), p. 22
  7. ^ Smye, Ronald, Sallust (2002), p. 85

Sources

  • Broughton, T. Robert S., The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol. II (1951)
  • Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Vol III (1867)
Political offices
Preceded by
Lucius Gellius Publicola and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus
Consul of the Roman Republic
71 BC
with Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura
 Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gnaeus_Aufidius_Orestes&oldid=1174005992"