Gaius Considius Longus was a Roman politician and general in the last years of the Roman republic. As a commander in Africa, he fought on the Pompeian side in the Roman civil war and was killed by his own retinue in 46 BC as he attempted to escape after Julius Caesar's victory at Thapsus.
Considius held the praetorship at an unknown date, not later than 52 BC,[1] and followed it by governing the province of Africa as propraetor. During his administration, in 50 BC, he travelled to Rome to seek the consulship, leaving Quintus Ligarius as his representative.[2] When the Roman civil war broke out, he returned to Africa with other supporters of Pompey. He and P. Attius Varus are described as legatus pro praetore in an inscription from Curubis (modern Korba), which they fortified: they would have held the office as subordinate commanders first to Pompey, then, after Pompey's death in 48 BC, to Metellus Scipio, who succeeded Pompey to command of the senatorial side against Julius Caesar.[3] Considius held Hadrumentum with one legion and took part in successful operations against Caesar's general Gaius Scribonius Curio.[4] By the time that Caesar reached Africa, in 46 BC, Considius had increased his troops to two legions and 700 cavalry.[5] Caesar's legate Lucius Munatius Plancus tried to negotiate with Considius, sending a captive to him carrying a letter. Considius asked who it was from. On hearing that it was from "the imperator Caesar", he replied "The only imperator of the Roman people at this time is Scipio" and ordered his men to execute the captive and send the letters on to Scipio unread.[6] He undertook ineffective operations against Acylla, a town which had gone over to Caesar's side.[7] Shortly after this he was in the town of Thysdra (modern El Djem) with soldiers and a retinue of gladiators and Gaetulians. It was here that he learnt that Caesar had been victorious at the battle of Thapsus. He left the town secretly, attempting to escape to Numidia, ruled by his ally, Juba I. But underway his Gaetulian retinue killed him for the money he was carrying and fled.[8][9]
Familyedit
The Bellum Africum mentions a son: Caesar captured him at Hadrumentum after the battle of Thapsus and spared his life.[10]Theodor Mommsen accepted the view of Bartolomeo Borghesi that C. Considius Paetus, a late republican moneyer, was the same person;[11] but Michael Crawford, in the most recent catalogue of republican coinage says only "the moneyer is a C. Considius Paetus, not otherwise known".[12]
Literatureedit
Primary sourcesedit
Our chief source is the anonymous Bellum Africum ("The African War"), also known as De Bello Africo ("On the African War"), an anonymous account of Julius Caesar's African campaign, which supplements Caesar's own account of the civil war and seems to have been written by a soldier who had served under Caesar on the campaign.[13] It is usually included in a larger text along with other accounts of the last stages of the civil war, the Bellum Hispaniense (War in Spain) and Bellum Alexandrinum (War in Alexandria).[14] For Considius' earlier career we have some information from Cicero's speech Pro Quinto Ligario ("On behalf of Quintus Ligarius") and the ancient commentary to this, first edited by Jakob Gronovius and so known as the Scholia Gronoviana, but now generally cited from the edition of Thomas Stangl.[15]
^Brennan (2000) II 546, discusses possible dates, with references to earlier literature. He also discusses the possibility (no more) that, if Considius is the praetor of 52, he could be the otherwise unknown Considius who presided over the trial of M. Saufeius in that year.
^Cic. Lig. 2; Schol. Cic. Gron. D p. 291, 4-6; Münzer (1901), 913.
^Translated from Latin to English by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn (1869). "Commentary on the African War". Harper & Brothers. Retrieved August 3, 2009. Pg 93 - The Getulians, to render themselves masters of his treasure, murdered him by the way, and fled every man where he could
^T. Mommsen, Geschichte des römischen Münzwesens (Berlin: Weidmann, 1860), 657 n. 556; F. Münzer, "C. Considius Paetus", R.E. IV 914, 51-8 (Considius 14).
^M.H. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, (Cambridge:CUP, 1974) I 478.
^With an English translation by A. G. Way (1955). "Alexandrian, African and Spanish wars". Harvard University Press. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
^T. Stangl (1912), Ciceronis Orationum Scholiastae (Vienna and Leipzig: F. Tempsky and G. Freytag).
February 14, 2024
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Gaius Considius Longus was a Roman politician and general in the last years of the Roman republic As a commander in Africa he fought on the Pompeian side in the Roman civil war and was killed by his own retinue in 46 BC as he attempted to escape after Julius Caesar s victory at Thapsus Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 Literature 3 1 Primary sources 3 2 Secondary literature 4 See also 5 FootnotesLife editConsidius held the praetorship at an unknown date not later than 52 BC 1 and followed it by governing the province of Africa as propraetor During his administration in 50 BC he travelled to Rome to seek the consulship leaving Quintus Ligarius as his representative 2 When the Roman civil war broke out he returned to Africa with other supporters of Pompey He and P Attius Varus are described as legatus pro praetore in an inscription from Curubis modern Korba which they fortified they would have held the office as subordinate commanders first to Pompey then after Pompey s death in 48 BC to Metellus Scipio who succeeded Pompey to command of the senatorial side against Julius Caesar 3 Considius held Hadrumentum with one legion and took part in successful operations against Caesar s general Gaius Scribonius Curio 4 By the time that Caesar reached Africa in 46 BC Considius had increased his troops to two legions and 700 cavalry 5 Caesar s legate Lucius Munatius Plancus tried to negotiate with Considius sending a captive to him carrying a letter Considius asked who it was from On hearing that it was from the imperator Caesar he replied The only imperator of the Roman people at this time is Scipio and ordered his men to execute the captive and send the letters on to Scipio unread 6 He undertook ineffective operations against Acylla a town which had gone over to Caesar s side 7 Shortly after this he was in the town of Thysdra modern El Djem with soldiers and a retinue of gladiators and Gaetulians It was here that he learnt that Caesar had been victorious at the battle of Thapsus He left the town secretly attempting to escape to Numidia ruled by his ally Juba I But underway his Gaetulian retinue killed him for the money he was carrying and fled 8 9 Family editThe Bellum Africum mentions a son Caesar captured him at Hadrumentum after the battle of Thapsus and spared his life 10 Theodor Mommsen accepted the view of Bartolomeo Borghesi that C Considius Paetus a late republican moneyer was the same person 11 but Michael Crawford in the most recent catalogue of republican coinage says only the moneyer is a C Considius Paetus not otherwise known 12 Literature editPrimary sources edit Our chief source is the anonymous Bellum Africum The African War also known as De Bello Africo On the African War an anonymous account of Julius Caesar s African campaign which supplements Caesar s own account of the civil war and seems to have been written by a soldier who had served under Caesar on the campaign 13 It is usually included in a larger text along with other accounts of the last stages of the civil war the Bellum Hispaniense War in Spain and Bellum Alexandrinum War in Alexandria 14 For Considius earlier career we have some information from Cicero s speech Pro Quinto Ligario On behalf of Quintus Ligarius and the ancient commentary to this first edited by Jakob Gronovius and so known as the Scholia Gronoviana but now generally cited from the edition of Thomas Stangl 15 Secondary literature edit Brennan T Corey 2000 The Praetorship of the Roman Republic Oxford OUP vol II ISBN 0 19 511460 4 Munzer F 1901 C Considius C f Longus Considius 11 R E IV 913 4 See also editConsidia gensFootnotes edit Brennan 2000 II 546 discusses possible dates with references to earlier literature He also discusses the possibility no more that if Considius is the praetor of 52 he could be the otherwise unknown Considius who presided over the trial of M Saufeius in that year Cic Lig 2 Schol Cic Gron D p 291 4 6 Munzer 1901 913 CIL VIII 24099 Munzer 1901 913 Caes bell civ 2 23 4 Munzer 1901 913 Bell Afr 33 3 Bell Afr 4 1 4 Bell Afr 33 43 Munzer 1901 914 Bell Afr 76 1 93 1 2 Munzer 1901 914 Translated from Latin to English by W A McDevitte and W S Bohn 1869 Commentary on the African War Harper amp Brothers Retrieved August 3 2009 Pg 93 The Getulians to render themselves masters of his treasure murdered him by the way and fled every man where he could Bell Afr 89 2 T Mommsen Geschichte des romischen Munzwesens Berlin Weidmann 1860 657 n 556 F Munzer C Considius Paetus R E IV 914 51 8 Considius 14 M H Crawford Roman Republican Coinage Cambridge CUP 1974 I 478 C B R Pelling 1996 Bellum Africum in Oxford Classical Dictionary ed 3 238 ISBN 0 19 866172 X With an English translation by A G Way 1955 Alexandrian African and Spanish wars Harvard University Press Retrieved August 3 2009 T Stangl 1912 Ciceronis Orationum Scholiastae Vienna and Leipzig F Tempsky and G Freytag Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gaius Considius Longus amp oldid 1064328146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
