PETR1479 C. Petronius (86, cf. 89)

Career

  • Legatus (Ambassador) 156 Asia (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Sent after Lentulus made his report to investigate the difficulties between Prusias and Attalus (Polyb. 32.16.5; cf. App. Mith. 3). (Broughton MRR I)
    • On the succession of embassies from 156 to 154 caused by the hostilities between Prusias II of Bithynia and Attalus lI of Pergamum, see Chr. Habicht (Hermes 84, 1956, 90-116, and RE s. v. Prusias II), whose reordering of the relevant fragments of Polybius has been accepted by Walbank (Comm. Polyb. III, on 32.16.1; 33.1; 32.15.1-4; 33.7, 12.1-13.10, with references to earlier discussions on p. 540). See MRR 1.448-451. The attack on Attalus in 156 caused Lentulus to return to Rome with the Attalid prince Athenaeus, but before their arrival a doubting Senate had sent L. Appuleius and C. Petronius. The report of Lentulus and Athenaeus led to the immediate appointment, probably late in 156, of a new embassy, C. Claudius Centho, L. Hortensius and C. Aurunculeius, who reached Pergamum in the spring of 155 in time to arrange a conference which was ruined by Pharnaces' treachery, to be immured in Pergamum and to see the havoc Pharnaces caused. By autumn they had returned to Rome, and a commission of ten was sent, led by L. Anicius Gallus, C. Fannius Strabo, and Q. Fabius Maximus Aemilianus, late in 155 or early in 154, who observed Attalus' victorious counterattack and returned. Finally, in summer 154, a new embassy, Ap. Claudius Centho, L. Oppius, and A. Postumius Albinus, secured peace between the two kings, and the payment of indemnities by Prusias to Attalus and the Greek cities. See also L. Robert, Et. Anat. 110-115. (Broughton MRR III)