Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus
Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus (born 115 BC)
Biography
Although born into the
Clodianus soon was involved in protecting Pompey's interests, pushing a bill to validate grants of citizenship by Pompey in Hispania. He and his colleague also ensured that no Roman citizen in the provinces could be tried in absentia on a capital charge – an attempt to restrict the ravages of
However, the major event of his consulship was the revolt of Spartacus and the eruption of the Third Servile War. Having won a number of victories against ill-prepared Roman forces, the Senate now recognised Spartacus as a serious threat and sent both the consuls to confront the slave armies at the head of four legions.[9] Clodianus moved to block Spartacus's march northward, while his colleague Publicola moved in behind, hoping to catch the rebels between the two armies. However, Spartacus's slave army destroyed Clodianus' legions in the Apennine Mountains (near modern Pistoia) in the valley named Lentula,[10] and then turned and defeated the oncoming legions of Publicola.[11] Gathering their shattered forces, both consuls gave chase but were once again defeated at a battle near Picenum.[12]
Humiliated by these defeats, shortly afterward, in early autumn, Clodianus and Publicola were withdrawn as commanders by the
This setback to Clodianus's career was only temporary; with the support of Pompey, both Clodianus and Publicola were appointed
In 70 BC, Clodianus helped contribute to
By 67 BC, Clodianus was serving as a legate with praetorian
Although Clodianus was a noted orator, it was said that he hid his lack of talent through showmanship and the possession of a good voice.[19]
See also
References
- ^ Sumner, p. 124.
- ^ Anthon & Smith, pg. 429; Syme, pg. 44
- ^ Broughton, T., The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol III, pg. 61
- ^ Syme, pg. 44
- ^ Broughton, pg. 96
- ^ Syme, pg. 66
- ^ Broughton, pg. 115
- ^ Broughton, pg. 115; Holmes, pg. 155
- ^ Holmes, pgs. 157-158
- ^ Strauss, Barry S., The Spartacus War, Simon & Schuster, 2009, pg. 101
- ^ Holmes, pg. 158
- ^ Holmes, pgs. 386-387; Broughton, pg. 115
- ^ Holmes, pg. 159; Broughton, pg. 115
- ^ Anthon & Smith, pg. 724
- ^ Broughton, pg. 125; Syme, pg. 66; Anthon & Smith, pg. 429
- ^ Anthon & Smith, pgs 429-430
- ^ Broughton, pg. 125
- ^ Broughton, pg. 147
- ^ a b Anthon & Smith, pg. 430
Sources
- T. Robert S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol II (1952).
- Holmes, T. Rice, The Roman Republic and the Founder of the Empire, Vol. I (1923)
- Sumner, G.V. (1973). The Orators in Cicero's Brutus: Prosopography and Chronology. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-5281-9.
- Syme, Ronald, The Roman Revolution, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1939.
- Anthon, Charles & Smith, William, A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography (1860).