Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

OPIM1639 L. Opimius (4) Q. f. Q. n.

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Life Dates

• 109, exiled (Kelly 2006) Expand

  Never restored. Kelly no. 13, Alexander no. 53.

• Before 57?, death (DPRR Team) Expand

  Cic. Sest. 140.

Relationships

son of

Q. Opimius (10) Q. f. Q. n. (cos. 154) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Lucil. XI 418

father of

? M. Opimius (8) (son of? L. Opimius (4) Q. f. Q. n. (cos. 121)) (Zmeskal 2009)

? L. Opimius (5) (son of? L. Opimius (4) Q. f. Q. n. (cos. 121)) (Zmeskal 2009)

Career

• Monetalis 131 (RRC) Expand
  • ref. 253 (RRC)
• Praetor 125 quo senatus censuisset, Latium (Broughton MRR I) Expand
  • Reduced Fregellae, which had rebelled, and destroyed the town (Cic. Inv. 2.105; Pis. 95; Planc. 70; Fin. 5.62; Phil. 3.17; Liv. Per. 60; Vell. 2.6.4; Val. Max. 2.8.4; Ascon. 17 C; Obseq. 30; Amm. Marc. 25.9.10; and perhaps Lucil. 1089 M; cf. Cichorius, Untersuch. Lucil. 209f.). (Broughton MRR I)
  • p. 741 (Brennan 2000)
• Repulsa (Cos.) 122 (Pina Polo 2012) Expand
  • pp. 65-72 (Pina Polo 2012)
• Consul 121 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
  • On Fabius' filiation, see Act. Tr. for 120. Opimius' father Quintus is mentioned by Lucilius, 418 M. He was Consul in 154. The letters n and part of Q remain in Fast. Ant. Opimius' name was used to date a famous vintage, e.g. CIL 1(2).2.659b; Cic. Brut. 287; Vell. 2.7.5; Plin. NH 14.55, and 94; Petron. 34.6; Mart. 1.26.7; 2.40.5; 3.26.3; and 82.24; 9.87.1; 10.49; 13.113; Plut. Sull. 35.1. On his reputation, note Cic. De Or. 2.169; P. Red. ad Quir. 11; Planc. 70-71, 88; Sest. 140; Pis. 95; Mil. 8, and 83; Rep. 1.6; Sall. Iug. 16.2; Vell. 2.7.3; Oros. 5.12.10. (Broughton MRR I)
  • CIL 1 .2.659; Fast. Ant., Degrassi 162f. (L. Opim[i. Q. f.] Q. n., Q. Fa[b]i. Ma[xim.]); Liv. Per. 61; Plin. NH 2.98; Obseq. 33; Chr. 354 (Opimio et Maximo); Fast. Hyd. (Opimio et Maximo Aemilii); Chr. Pasc. ({Gr}); Cassiod.; Augustin. CD 3.24; see Degrassi 126, 472f. Opimius, elected as an opponent of the Gracchan program, promptly made use of the disorders which ensued when Gracchus and Fulvius protested against the repeal of the Rubrian law (see 122, Tribunes of the Plebs) to secure passage of the senatus consultum ultimum and crush them and their supporters (Cic. Cat. 1.4; 4.13, and Schol. Gron. 290 Stangl; Planc. 88; Phil. 8.14; De Or. 2.165; Part. Or. 104; Diod. 34.29-30; Liv. Per. 61; Val. Max. 2.8.7; Ascon. 17 C; Plin. NH 14.55; Plut. CG 13-17; Flor. 2.3; App. BC 1.24-26; Auct. Vir. Ill. 65.5-6; 72.9; Ampel. 19.4; 26.2; Oros. 5.12.5-8). There is frequent mention of the reward offered for Gracchus' head, the cruelty to Fulvius' son, and the slaughter of Gracchus' followers (Sall. Iug. 16.2; Diod. 34.29-30; Val. Max. 6.3.1; 9.4.3; Vell. 2.6.5, and 7.2-3; Plin. NH 33.48; Plut. CG 17-18; Flor. 2.3.6; App. BC 1.26; Auct. Vir. Ill. 65.6; Oros. 5.12.9-10). After a lustration he rebuilt the temple of Concord (App. BC 1.26; Plut. CG 17.6; Augustin. CD 3.25) and a basilica (Varro LL 5.156; Cic. Sest. 140; cf. CIL 1(2).2.1336, 1337). Fabius joined Domitius, subdued the Allobroges, and then defeated the Ruteni and Arverni and captured their leader (Cic. Font. 36; Caes. BG 1.45.2; Strabo 4.1.11;{521} Val. Max. 9.6.3, successor of Domitius; Vell. 2.10.3, and 39.1; Plin. NH 7.166; 33.141; Flor. 1.37.4-6; App. Celt. 12; Apollod. in FGrH 2 B. 1027, no. 25; Amm. Marc. 15.12.5). He built a monument at the scene of his victory (Strabo, Flor., Apollod.), and took the cognomen Allobrogicus (Val. Max. 3.5.2; 6.9.4; Vell. 2.10.3, and 39.1; Senec. Ben. 4.30.2; Plin. NH 33.141; Iuven. 8.13; Amm. Marc. 15.12.5; Ps.-Ascon. 211 Stangl; cf. ILS 212.2, line 25). (Broughton MRR I)
• Legatus (Ambassador) 116 Numidia (Broughton MRR I) Expand
  • Sent as head of a commission of ten Legates to divide the kingdom of Numidia between Jugurtha and Adherbal, and with his associates{531} was accused of being influenced by Jugurtha's bribes (Sall. Iug. 16.2-5; 20.1; Schol. Bob. 141 Stangl; Plut. CG 18.1; cf. Lucil. 9.418 M; and on his conviction, see 109, Tribunes of the Plebs). Gsell (Hist. anc. Afr. Nord 7.147) is inclined to date this commission in 117. This year is the latest possible date. (Broughton MRR I)
• Legatus (Lieutenant)? 110 Numidia (Broughton MRR I) Expand
  • These three, along with Bestia (Cos. 111) and Albinus (Cos. 110) were convicted or forced into exile by the Mamilian commission (see 109, Tribunes of the Plebs), which was created to investigate the collusion, bribery, losses, and agreements connected with the Jugurthine war (Sall. Iug. 40.1; Cic. Brut. 128). Bestia in particular had brought leading nobles to Africa with him as Legates to shield his own misdeeds (Sall.). Cato therefore might have served under Bestia in 111 or Albinus in this year, and Galba also (see 119, Special Commissions). Of Opimius we know for a certainty only his part in dividing Numidia in 117 or 116 among the heirs of Micipsa (see 116, Legates). There is no record that A. Albinus (see above, Legates) was condemned by the commission. (Broughton MRR I)

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