Originally born into the Orestes branch of the Plebeiangens Aurelia, Aufidius Orestes was adopted by the elderly Gnaeus Aufidius, a Roman historian.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Plebeian tribunate, but was elected to the post of Aedile by or before 79 BC.[2]
In 77 BC, he was elected Praetor urbanus. His period in office was contentious for at least one legal proceeding where, after he had ruled in favour of a castrated priest of Magna Mater who had been named as the heir of a deceased freedman, his ruling was overturned by the ruling consulMamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus in favour of the freedman's former patron. The senate then passed a Senatus consultum which forbad the eunuch from asking any of the other praetors for help. Although this was limited to one case, it is possible that the consul used his full Imperium maius to oversee all of Orestes’ legal cases for the rest of the year.[3]
After serving his year in office, he was appointed by lot to a Propraetoreal command, possibly either Cisalpine Gaul or Transalpine Gaul.[4] He was then elected as consul alongside Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura in 71 BC. According to Cicero, Aufidius Orestes’ elections as praetor and consul were due in part to the expensive and extravagant games he held while he was aedile.[5] Following his period in office, Aufidius Orestes refused to accept a proconsular command or other promagisterial appointment.[6]
Familyedit
Aufidius Orestes had at least one daughter, Aurelia Orestilla, who was the third wife of the notorious senatorCatiline. According to the historian Sallust, Aufidius Orestes’ wife had an adulterous affair.[7]
gnaeus, aufidius, orestes, died, century, roman, politician, elected, consul, contents, biography, family, references, sourcesbiography, editoriginally, born, into, orestes, branch, plebeian, gens, aurelia, aufidius, orestes, adopted, elderly, gnaeus, aufidius. Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes died 1st century BC was a Roman politician who was elected consul in 71 BC Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 References 4 SourcesBiography editOriginally born into the Orestes branch of the Plebeian gens Aurelia Aufidius Orestes was adopted by the elderly Gnaeus Aufidius a Roman historian 1 He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Plebeian tribunate but was elected to the post of Aedile by or before 79 BC 2 In 77 BC he was elected Praetor urbanus His period in office was contentious for at least one legal proceeding where after he had ruled in favour of a castrated priest of Magna Mater who had been named as the heir of a deceased freedman his ruling was overturned by the ruling consul Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus in favour of the freedman s former patron The senate then passed a Senatus consultum which forbad the eunuch from asking any of the other praetors for help Although this was limited to one case it is possible that the consul used his full Imperium maius to oversee all of Orestes legal cases for the rest of the year 3 After serving his year in office he was appointed by lot to a Propraetoreal command possibly either Cisalpine Gaul or Transalpine Gaul 4 He was then elected as consul alongside Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura in 71 BC According to Cicero Aufidius Orestes elections as praetor and consul were due in part to the expensive and extravagant games he held while he was aedile 5 Following his period in office Aufidius Orestes refused to accept a proconsular command or other promagisterial appointment 6 Family editAufidius Orestes had at least one daughter Aurelia Orestilla who was the third wife of the notorious senator Catiline According to the historian Sallust Aufidius Orestes wife had an adulterous affair 7 References edit Broughton pgs 122 123 Broughton p 83 Brennan T Corey The Praetorship in the Roman Republic Volume 2 122 to 49 BC 2001 p 445 Broughton pp 93 94 Smith p 43 Gruen Erich S The Last Generation of the Roman Republic 1995 p 22 Smye Ronald Sallust 2002 p 85Sources editBroughton T Robert S The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Vol II 1951 Smith William Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Vol III 1867 Political officesPreceded byLucius Gellius Publicola and Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus Consul of the Roman Republic71 BCwith Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura Succeeded byGnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Marcus Licinius Crassus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes amp oldid 1174005992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
