Gaius Rabirius was a

Roman senator The Roman Senate () was the highest and Roman constitution, constituting assembly of ancient Rome and its aristocracy. With different powers throughout its existence it lasted from the first days of the Rome, city of Rome (traditionally founded ...

who was involved in the death of

Lucius Appuleius Saturninus Lucius Appuleius Saturninus (died late 100 BC) was a Roman populist and tribune. He is most notable for introducing a series of legislative reforms, alongside his associate Gaius Servilius Glaucia and with the consent of Gaius Marius, during t ...

in 100 BC.

Titus Labienus Titus Labienus (17 March 45 BC) was a high-ranking military officer in the late Roman Republic. He served as tribune of the Plebs in 63 BC. Although mostly remembered as one of Julius Caesar's best lieutenants in Gaul and mentioned frequently ...

, a

Tribune of the Plebs Tribune of the plebs, tribune of the people or plebeian tribune () was the first office of the Roman Republic, Roman state that was open to the plebs, plebeians, and was, throughout the history of the Republic, the most important check on the pow ...

whose uncle had lost his life among the followers of Saturninus on that occasion, was urged by fellow Senator and patron

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

to accuse Rabirius of participating in the murder. Caesar's real objective was to warn the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

against interference by force with popular movements, to uphold the sovereignty of the people and the inviolability of the person of the tribunes, at the time of the conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina. The obsolete accusation of '' perduellio'' was revived, and the case was heard before Caesar and his cousin Lucius Julius Caesar as commissioners specially appointed (''duumviri perduellionis''). Rabirius was condemned, and the people, to whom the accused had exercised the right of appeal, were on the point of ratifying the decision, when

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer ( – 59 BC) was a Roman politician who was consul in 60 BC and in the next year opposed Pompey, Julius Caesar, Caesar, and the so-called First Triumvirate's political programme. He was a member of the p ...

pulled down the military flag from the

Janiculum The Janiculum (; ), occasionally known as the Janiculan Hill, is a hill in western Rome, Italy. Although it is the second-tallest hill (the tallest being Monte Mario) in the contemporary city of Rome, the Janiculum does not figure among the pro ...

, which was equivalent to the dissolution of the assembly. Caesar's object having been attained, the matter was then allowed to drop. The defense was taken by

Marcus Tullius Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...

, consul at the time; the speech is extant: ''Pro Rabirio reo perduellionis''. A nephew, Gaius Rabirius Postumus was also defended by Cicero.

In fiction

* Robert Harris included Rabirius's trial in his book ''

Lustrum A lūstrum (, plural lūstra) was a term for a five-year period in Ancient Rome. It is distinct from the homograph ''lustrum'' ( ): a haunt of wild beasts (and figuratively, a den of vice), plural ''lustra'' ( ).Oxford Latin Desk Dictionary (2 ...

''. * Colleen McCullough included Rabirius's trial in '' Caesar's Women''.

Notes

References

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...

, ''Pro Rabirio'', ed. W. E. Heitland (1882) *

Dio Cassius 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 of ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy. The volumes documented the ...

, xxxvii. 26-38 * H. Putsche, ''Über das genus judicii der Rede Ciceros pro C. Rabirio'' (Jena, 1881) * O. Schulthess, ''Der Prozess des C. Rabirius'' (Frauenfeld, 1891) * 1824 edition of Lempriére's ''Classical Dictionary'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Rabirius, Gaius Senators of the Roman Republic 1st-century BC Romans Optimates Rabirii People charged with treason

In fiction

See also

Notes

References