Marcus Lurius ( 40–31 BC) was a Roman military commander who supported Octavian, the later emperor

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

, in the civil wars of the late

Republic A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...

. He saw conflict against both Sextus Pompeius and

Marc Antony Marcus Antonius (14 January 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic from a constitutional republic into the auto ...

. In 40 BC, Lurius was serving as governor of

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label=Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label= Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, aft ...

when the island was invaded by Menas, one of Sextus Pompeius's commanders. Lurius at first routed his opponent, but was then himself the victim of an unexpected defeat by Menas in the ensuing pursuit. Lurius was forced to abandon the island and its two legions there. On 2 September 31 BC, at the naval Battle of Actium, Octavian entrusted Lurius with command of the right wing of the fleet.

References

Ancient sources

Appian Appian of Alexandria (; grc-gre, Ἀππιανὸς Ἀλεξανδρεύς ''Appianòs Alexandreús''; la, Appianus Alexandrinus; ) was a Greek historian with Roman citizenship who flourished during the reigns of Emperors of Rome Trajan, Ha ...

, ''Civil Wars''
5.56
*

Cassius Dio Lucius Cassius Dio (), also known as Dio Cassius ( ), was a Roman historian and senator of maternal Greek origin. He published 80 volumes of the history on ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy. The volumes documented the ...

, ''Roman History''
48.30
* Velleius Paterculus, ''Compendium of Roman History''
2.85

Modern sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lurius, Marcus 1st-century BC Romans Ancient Roman admirals Roman governors of Sardinia