Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

CASS2458 C. Cassius (59) Longinus

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Status

• Nobilis Expand

  Cic. Phil. 2.44.113, 11.11.27, 13.11.26, Cic, Fam. 12.10.3, VM. 6.8.4, [Acro.] Hor. Carm. 1.14, Eutrop. 7.3

Life Dates

• 82?, birth (Rüpke 2005)
• 43, proscribed (Hinard 1985) Expand

  Hinard 43 no. 36

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

  Suicide after First B. of Philippi.

Relationships

son of

? C. Cassius (58) L. f. Longinus (cos. 73) (Zmeskal 2009)

brother of

L. Cassius (65) Longinus (tr. pl. 44) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Cic. fam. XII 7.1

married to

Iunia (206) Tertia (daughter of? D. Iunius (163) M. f. Silanus (cos. 62)) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Cic. Att. XIV 20.2, Dio XLIV 14.2, Tac. ann. III 76

father of

-. Cassius (1) (son of C. Cassius (59) Longinus (pr. 44)) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

Plut. Brut. 14.3(2)

uncle of

L. Cassius (15) L. f. Longinus (sen. 43) (Zmeskal 2009) Expand

App. b.c. IV 63 (272)

Career

• Quaestor c. 55 Syria (Broughton MRR III) Expand
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Proquaestor 54 Syria (Broughton MRR III) Expand
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Proquaestor 53 Syria (Broughton MRR III) Expand
  • Served under Crassus in Syria as Quaestor in this year (Vell. 2.46.4, tum quaestore; Dio 40.25.4). He escaped from Carrhae, gathered the scattered survivors, and organized the defence of Syria (Vell. 2.46.4; Joseph. AJ 14.119; Plut. Crass. 20-29; Dio 40.25.4-5; Eutrop. 6.18.2; Oros. 6.13.5; cf. Cic. Phil. 11.35). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Proquaestor 52 Syria (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Proquaestor in Syria (Cic. Fam. 15.14, Prescript). In 52 he crushed an insurrection in Judaea (Joseph. AJ 14.119- 122; BJ 1.180-182), and continued to organize his defense of the province against the Parthians. (Broughton MRR II)
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Proquaestor 51 Syria (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Proquaestor in Syria (Cic. Fam. 15.14). He led the Parthian invaders into an ambush near Antioch and repulsed them with serious losses (Cic. Att. 5.20.3, and 21.2; Fam. 15.14.3, cf. 4.7; Vell. 2.46.4; Frontin. Str. 2.5.35; Iustin 42.4.5; Dio 40.28-29; cf. Cic. Att. 5.18.1; Fam. 2.10.2; 15.1.2, and 2.2-3; Phil. 11.35; Cael. in Cic. Fam. 8.10.2; Liv. Per. 108; Ruf. Fest. 17.4; Eutrop. 6.18.2; Oros. 6.13.5). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Quindecemvir Sacris Faciundis? 50 to 44 (Rüpke 2005)
• Praefectus 49 (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Anti-Caesarian (Cic. Att. 7.21.2-5, and 23.1, and 24, and 25; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83.4). (Broughton MRR II)
  • p. 257-63 (Thommen 1989)
• Tribunus Plebis 49 (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Commander of the Syrian squadron in Pompey's fleet (Caes. BC 3.5.3; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83.5; see above, Tribunes of the Plebs). (Broughton MRR II)
• Praefectus 48 (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • See 49, Prefects. He made successful attacks on Caesar's ships at Messana and Vibo (Caes. BC 3.101). After Pharsalus he went to the East to secure Caesar's pardon (Cic. Fam. 15.15.2; Att. 11.13.2, and 15.2, all in 47; cf. App. BC 2.88, and 111, where he is confused with L. Cassius, see above). (Broughton MRR II)
• Legatus (Lieutenant) 47 Achaea, Asia, Cilicia (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Caesar pardoned him, and took him into his service as a Legate (Cic. Fam. 6.6.10; 15.15; Att. 11.13.1, and 15.2; Dio 42.13.5; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83.6; cf. Cic. Phil. 2.26, on his plot to kill Caesar in Cilicia). (Broughton MRR II)
• Legatus (Lieutenant) 46 (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Legate under Caesar (Cic. Fam. 6.6. 10; App. BC 2.111, who confuses him with L. Cassius, and 146; Dio 42.13.5; see 47, Legates). (Broughton MRR II)
• Praetor 44 inter peregrinos, Cyrenaica, Rome (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Cic. Fam. 11.2, and 3, prescripts, and 3.3; Vell. 2.58.1; Plut. Caes. 57.3; Brut. 14.4; App. BC 2.112; 4.57; Dio 44.14.2, cf. 47.20.2; Zonar. 10. 11. Caesar preferred Brutus to him for the office of Praetor Urbanus (Plut. Brut. 7.1-3; Caes. 62.2; App. BC 4.57), and Cassius therefore probably received the one next in dignity. He was the moving spirit in the conspiracy against Caesar though Brutus became the leader (Plut. Brut. 8-12, and 18-19; App. BC 2.113, and 115; cf. Nic. Dam. Vit. Caes. 24, FGrH 2A.408f.; Dio 44.14.2; Eutrop. 6.25; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83; Oros. 6.17.2; see in general D.-G. 3.624ff., esp. 633-635). Although he shared in the amnesty accorded to the Liberators, the revulsion of feeling in Rome and the rise of Antony compelled both him and Brutus to withdraw from the city early in April (App. BC 2.148; 3.2; 4.57; Dio47.20; cf. Cic .Att. 14.5.1, and 7.1; Plut. Brut. 21; Cic. 42.3; Ant.15.1; cf. Caes. 68). He remained for some months in Latium and Campania collecting a fleet, ostensibly in connection with his appointment to charge of the grain collection by the Senate on June 5 (Cic. Att. 14.4. 1, and 10.1; 15.4.2, and esp. 9.1, Sicily, and 11.1-2, and 12.1, and 20.2; 16.2.4, and 3.6; Fam. 12.2, away in September). Later in the summer he was assigned the province of Cyrene, perhaps about August 1 (Plut. Brut. 19.3; App. BC 3.8, Cyrenaica and Crete; cf. Phil. 2.31 and 97, on the date; Nic. Dam. Vit. Caes. 28, FGrH 2A.414, Illyricum; Dio 47.21.1, Bithynia; see T. Rice Holmes, Architect of the Roman Empire 196f.). He joined Brutus in issuing an edict in sharp criticism of Antony (Cic. Fam. 12.3; cf. Att. 16.7.1 and 7; Vell. 2.62.3), and about the end of September departed for the East, and proceeded, not to the province assigned him, but by way of Asia (Cic. Fam. 12.14.6; Dio 47.26.1-2) to Syria (Cic. Phil. 11.27-28; Vell. 2.62.2; Dio 47.20-21; cf. Nic. Dam. Vit. Caes. 28, and 31, FGrH 2A.413f., 419f.). (Broughton MRR II)
• Proconsul 44 Cyrenaica (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • At some time in the summer of 44, perhaps August 1, he was appointed governor of Cyrenaica (Cic. Phil. 2.31 and 97; Plut. Brut. 19.3; App. BC 3.8; cf. Nic. Dam. Vit. Caes. 28, FGrH 2A.414, Illyricum; Dio 47.21.1, Bithynia), probably, like Brutus in Crete, with the title Proconsul (Cic. Phil. 2.97). See T. Rice Holmes, Architect of the Roman Empire 196; and above, Praetors. (Broughton MRR II)
• Moneyer? 43 Syria (RRC) Expand
  • ref. 498 (RRC)
  • ref. 499 (RRC)
  • ref. 500 (RRC)
• Proconsul 43 Syria (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • Proconsul in Syria (prescripts of Cic. Fam. 12.11, and 12, May 7; Liv. Per. 121; Vell. 2.62.3; App. BC 3.63; Dio 46.40.3-4; 47.28.5, and 29.6). His command was not legitimized until late in April, despite Cicero's proposal early in March that he be given maius imperium and general command against Dolabella (Phil. 11.30-31; 13.30; Fam. 12.7. 1). In fact he had entered the province early in 43 and by March 7 had obtained command of the former forces of Caecilius Bassus, Marcius Crispus, Staius Murcus, and A. Allienus (Cic. Fam. 12.11, and 12; Ad Brut. 2.3.3; Phil. 11.32; Vell. 2.69.2; Joseph. AJ 14.271-272 and 320; BJ 1.219; App. BC 3.78; 4.59; Dio 47.26, and 28). He besieged Dolabella in Laodiceia until the latter committed suicide (Cic. Fam. 12.13.4, and 14.4, and 15.7; Liv. Per. 121; Strabo 16.2.9; Vell. 2.69.2; App. BC 4.60-62; Dio 47.30.3-6), and punished both Laodiceia and Tarsus for supporting him (Strabo 16.2.9; App. BC 4.62, and 64; 5.7; Dio 47.30.7-31.5; cf. Joseph. AJ 14.289; BJ 1.231). He made levies of troops and money in Syria and Palestine and planned to proceed to the occupation of Egypt, but late in the year Brutus summoned him to Smyrna to co-ordinate their plans (Plut. Brut. 28.230.1; App. BC 4.63-65; Dio 47.32; cf. Liv. Per. 122; Joseph. AJ 14.271-280; BJ 1.219- 235). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Quindecemvir Sacris Faciundis 43 to 42 (Rüpke 2005) Expand
  • Coins of Lentulus and of Aquinus with the type of the tripod and the name of Cassius correspond with those of Brutus with the symbols of the pontificate (Grueber, CRRBM 2.480, and 482, c.a. 43-42). (Broughton MRR II)
• Proconsul 42 Syria (Broughton MRR II) Expand
  • 1 The use of the terms Legate and Proconsul under the Second Triumvirate is of necessity attended by uncertainty and confusion. Commanders, like Ventidius Bassus, who were for the most part ex-Consuls, held command over large and important areas and armies, and apparently acted with considerable initiative, are termed Legati in Latin sources such as the Periochae of Livy and Florus and # in Dio (Liv. Per. 127, 128; Flor. 2.19; Dio 48.41.5; cf. 49.21, and Act. Tr. for 38, on the title and triumph of Ventidius), and yet many of them appear in the lists of triumphs as Proconsuls. In mentioning the triumph of Domitius Calvinus, Dio (48.42.3-4) remarks that those in power granted honors at will # (see also 49.42.3; 54.12.1-2). Mommsen finds the beginning of this contradiction in Caesar's grant of triumphs at the end of 45 to his Legates Fabius Maximus and Q. Pedius (see 45, Promagistrates). Like these, the later commanders were Legates also under the superior imperium of the Triumviri, and their appearance as Proconsuls depended upon a fictive grant of imperium for the day of their triumph (Str. 1.125, 130f.; 2.245, note 1). The term Proconsul cannot refer to their status in command since a Legate never had more than an imperium pro praetore. The term Legatus pro consule does not occur, and indeed cannot occur because it is intrinsically self-contradictory (ibid. 1.130f.). Moreover it was simply this permission to triumph that made it logically possible for some of these Legates to accept acclamation as Imperator (see, on Sosius, Mommsen Str. 1.125). Mommsen's doctrine is difficult to test because in nearly all cases no official inscriptions remain from the period of command, and several of the commands are known only from the record of the triumph (see 34-32, Promagistrates, on Norbanus Flaccus, Statilius Taurus, Marcius Philippus, Olaudius Pulcher, and L. Cornificius). The term Legatus in Livy and Florus is strongly in his favor, since Die might have been affected by the regular system of Legati pro praetore in the Empire. However, as Canter saw (46-55), the situation was more complicated. The illogicality of a subordinate with an imperium pro consule occurs under Antony on the official coinage in Greece of M. lunius Silanus, who terms himself Quaestor pro consule (see 34, Promagistrates; note that in the Empire Pliny could be given the exceptional position of Legatus pro praetore consulari potestate), and raises the question how many commanders senior to Silanus may not also have held an imperium pro consule under the superior imperium of the Triumviri. Moreover, Sosius (Cos. 32) apparently termed himself Imperator on his coinage from 37 B. C. (see 37, Promagistrates), on a rather distant anticipation of the moment of a fictive grant of imperium pro consule for a day in 34; and there were others, like Laronius (see 33, Consules Suffecti), who took the title Imperator and did not triumph at all. The period of the Second Triumvirate was a period of transition in which irregularities and illogicalities could frequently occur in the government of the Roman Empire, before the Augustan regime rebuilt the pattern anew. I have therefore been inclined to keep the question open; and to list among the Promagistrates the holders of important commands under Octavian and Antony who received acclamation as Imperatores or celebrated triumphs. It must be granted that the superior position of the Triumvirs in this period made the difference between the functions of a Promagistrate and of a Legate much less than it had been before. See Ganter 46-55. (Broughton MRR II)
  • Proconsul in Syria. He probably exercised a maius imperium elsewhere in the East (see 43, Promagistrates). By agreement with Brutus he brought troops and supplies from Syria and elsewhere in the East, subdued Rhodes, then rejoined Brutus at Sardis, whence they advanced together to Macedonia and Philippi. He killed himself after the first engagement in the belief that he had lost the battle. (Liv. Per. 122-124; Vell. 2.69-72; Val. Max. 1.5.8; 6.8.4; Joseph. AJ 14.294 and 301; BJ 1.236 and 242; Plut. Brut. 28-44; Ant. 22; Caes. 69.3; App. BC 4.63-76, 82, and 87-114; Flor. 2.17; Dio 47.32-33, 35-46; Eutrop. 7.3; Obseq. 70; Auct. Vir. Ill. 82.6; 83.6; Oros. 6.18.13- 16; Zonar. 10.18-19.) He was acclaimed Imperator at the meeting in Sardis (Plut. Brut. 34.1; Grueber, CRRBM 2.481-484). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Pr. 44. Quaestor and pro quaestore. See MRR 2.229, 237, 242. To the sources listed under 53, Quaestors (MRR 2.229), add Liv. Per. 108; Plut. Crass. 18; App. BC 4.59; Festus Brev. 17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 83. Although they appear unanimously to term him quaestor in 53, his office must begin in an earlier year, perhaps even with Crassus' consulship in 55, since there was no election of magistrates during 54, nor in 53 before July, at least a month after the battle of Carrhae on June 9 (Linderski, CPh 70, 1975, 35-37): He then served pro quaestore until his return in 51, and is so addressed in Cic. Fam. 15.14. See also G. V. Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 365. Proconsul 43-42. In MRR 2.343 and 360, on his coinage, refer also to Crawford, RRC 1.513-514, nos. 498-500, 43-42 B.C. XVvir s. f. On his coinage in 43-42 with symbols of this priesthood, see Crawford, RRC 1.513, nos. 498, 499. (Broughton MRR III)
• Moneyer? 42 Syria (RRC) Expand
  • ref. 498 (RRC)
  • ref. 499 (RRC)
  • ref. 500 (RRC)

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