Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

CALP1663 L. Calpurnius (23) Bestia

Life Dates

  • 154?, birth (Sumner Orators) Expand

    Sumner R83.

Relationships

father of
Calpurnia (125) (daughter of L. Calpurnius (23) Bestia (cos. 111)) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Vell. II 26.3

Career

  • Triumvir Agris Dandis? 121 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • CIL 1 .2.696- ILS 28; see CIL 1(2).2, p. 726; Cichorius, Röm. Stud. 113-117. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumvir Coloniis Deducendis? 121 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • A fragmentary inscription found at Carthage preserves portions of the names of these three men who were active on some commission in Africa in this period. Cichorius (Röm. Stud. 113-117) suggests that they were members of the Gracchan land commission which continued in existence until the socalled Lex Thoria (App. BC 1.27), with Galba and Bestia the members appointed after the deaths of Fulvius and Gracchus (see 130, Special Com{523}missions). Gelzer (Gnomon 5 [1929] 656f.) expresses the belief that these were a special African commission, a more probable view. The terminus ante quem is set by Carbo's death in 119, unless indeed the name restored here should be that of one of his brothers, Gnaeus, Consul 113, and Marcus, Pr. in Sicily in an unknown year. See also Carcopino, Autour des Gracques 134f., 163; Merlin, Inscriptions latines de la Tunisie no. 892. (Broughton MRR I)
    • CIL 1 .2.696- ILS 28; see CIL 1(2).2, p. 726; Cichorius, Röm. Stud. 113-117. (Broughton MRR I)
  • Triumvir Agris Dandis Assignandis 120 (Broughton MRR I)
  • Tribunus Plebis 120 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Niccolini (FTP 174) believes that the notice in Cicero (P. Red. ad Quir. 10-11) that the Consul Opimius failed to aid the recall of Laenas from exile establishes 120 as Bestia's date; but Cicero may mean that Opimius, though Consul, made no effort, in which case the tribunate of Bestia probably falls in 121. I have listed him under the latest possible date. (Broughton MRR I)
    • Carried a law to recall P. Popillius Laenas from exile (Cic. Brut. 128; cf. P. Red. in Sen. 38; P. Red. ad Quir. 10-11). (Broughton MRR I)
    • p. 257-63 (Thommen 1989)
  • Praetor before 113 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • The latest date possible for their praetorships under the Lex Villia. (Broughton MRR I)
    • p. 742, footnote 170 (Brennan 2000)
  • Consul 111 (Broughton MRR I) Expand
    • Lex Agr. of 111, CIL 1 .2.585, line 95; Fast. Ant., Degrassi 162f. ([- - - -S]cipio [- - - -]); Cic. Brut. 128; Sall. Iug. 27.4; Val. Max. 1.8.11; 7.5.2; Obseq. 39; Eutrop. 4.26.1; Chr. 354 (Nasica et Bestia); Fast. Hyd. (Nasica Scipione et Bestia Calpurnio); Chr. Pasc. ({Gr}); Oros. 5.15.1; Cassiod.; and on Bestia, CIL 1(2).2.672, 673; Fast. Cap., Degrassi 54f. ([- - - -Bes]tia), 127, 474f.; Liv. Per. 64. Scipio remained in Italy (Sall. Iug. 27.4), declared a iustitium, probably at the outbreak of the Jugurthine war (Cic. Planc. 33; Schol. Bob. 158 Stangl), and died in office (Cic. Brut. 128; Diod. 34-35.33.1 and 8; cf. Plin. NH 21.10, his tribunate !). Bestia, in command of the war against Jugurtha, was induced by the King's bribes to grant him an easy surrender, then leaving his army in charge of subordinates, returned to Rome to hold the elections (Sall. Iug. 27-29; 32.2; 85.16; Liv. Per. 64; Plut. Mar. 9.3; Flor. 1.36.7; Eutrop. 4.26.1; Oros. 5.15.4). He made a treaty of alliance with Lepcis Magna (Sall. Iug. 77.3). See 109, Tribunes of the Plebs. (Broughton MRR I)

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