Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

CAEL2417 M. Caelius (35) Vel. Rufus

Status

  • Eques R Expand

    Nicolet Ref 68. Cic. Cael., 3. son of a knight

Life Dates

  • 82, birth (Rüpke 2005)
  • 48, expelled from Senate (DPRR Team) Expand

    Caes. BC 3.21, Dio 42.23.3, 42.24.3 (expelled by decree of consuls, following removal from office).

  • 48, death - violent (Broughton MRR II) Expand

    Murdered in mutiny.

Relationships

son of
M. Caelius (34) Vel. Rufus (eq. R.) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Cic. Cael. 4, Quintil. inst. XII 11.6

Career

  • Lupercus? 60 to 57 (Rüpke 2005)
  • Quaestor? 57 (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Quaestor 57? Caelius' curule aedileship in 50 and his praetorship in 48 suggest that, unless he had won some special exemption, he was born in 88 and Pliny (NH 7.165) is mistaken in making him and Calvus the same age. His quaestorship is not explictly mentioned, and Austin thinks it was omitted (Pro Caelio, App. 1), but this office, almost without exception, was the beginning of a senatorial career in the first century, whatever insignia or distinctions his successful prosecution of the consular C. Antonius may have given him. As Sumner has noted, Cicero states that he was already at the age for candidacy in 58 (Cael. 18, cum ... per aetatem magistratus petere posset), and in 56 the hinting of his prosecutors that he had engaged in ambitus (Cael. 78) is consistent at least with candidacy in 59 or 58. See Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 247-248; Orators 146-147. But Cicero's silence regarding it is strange, and the possibility of an exemption remains. See H. E. Russell, Advancement in Rank under the Republic as a Reward for the Soldier and the Public Prosecutor (Diss. Bryn Mawr College, 1950, microfilm). (Broughton MRR III)
  • Lupercus 56 to 48 (Rüpke 2005) Expand
    • Cic. Cael. 26. (Broughton MRR II)
  • Tribunus Plebis 52 (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • Supported Milo (Cic. Mil. 91; Brut. 273; Att. 7.1.4; Ascon. 33-37 C; App. BC 2.22), and joined Cicero in the defence of M. Saufeius (Ascon. 55 C). (Broughton MRR II)
    • p. 257-63 (Thommen 1989)
  • Aedilis Curulis 50 (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • Cic. Fam. 2.9-15; Brut. 273; Cael. in Cic. Fam. 8.2.2, and 3. 1, and 4.3, and 9.1. He repeatedly begged Cicero to send him panthers from Cilicia for his games (Fam. 8.2.2, and 4.5, and 6.5, and 8.10, and 9.3; cf. 2.11.2; Att. 6.1.21; Plut. Cic. 36.5). He prosecuted persons who were diverting water from the aqueducts (Fam. 8.6.4; Frontin. Aq. 2.76). See above, Censors, on his quarrel with Appius Claudius. (Broughton MRR II)
  • Praetor 48 inter peregrinos, Rome (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • Pressed measures for suspension of payments of interest, rents, and debts illegally against the opposition of his colleagues until he was suspended from office by the Consul Servilius; and later was killed by soldiers while attempting with Milo to raise a revolt in Italy (Caes. BC 3.20.1-22.4; Dio 42.22.1-25.3; cf. Cic. Fam. 8.17; Liv. Per. 111; Vell. 2.68.1-3; Quintil. Inst. Or. 6.3.25; Oros. 6.15.10; Jerome Chr. ad ann. 48, p. 156 Helm). (Broughton MRR II)

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