He adopted the son of Scipio Nasia,
Metellus to Rome ; and, as the soldiers placed who is called in consequence Metellus Pius Scipio
more confidence in him than in the consul Octavius, (No.
Metellus to Rome ; and, as the soldiers placed who is called in consequence Metellus Pius Scipio
more confidence in him than in the consul Octavius, (No.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
6, was one of the most distinguished mem- which Glaucia was praetor and Marius consul for
bers of his family. The character of Metellus the sixth time. Saturninus forth with proposed an
stood very high among his contemporarics ; in an agrarian law, to which he added the clause, that
age of growing corruption his personal integrity the senate should swear obedience to it within five
remained unsullied ; and he was distinguished for days after its enactment, and that whosoever should
his abilities in war and peace. He was one of the refuse to do so should be expelled from the senate,
chief leaders of the aristocratical party at Rome, and pay a fine of twenty talents. In order to
and displayed the usual arrogance and contempt for entrap his enemy, Marius got up in the senate and
all those who did not belong to his order, which asserted that he would never take the oath ; and
distinguished the Roman nobles of his time. The Metellus made the same declaration ; but when
year of his praetorship is not stated ; but it was the senators were summoned to the rostra to comply
probably after his return from his praetorian pro- with the law, Marius was the first to swear obes
vince that he was accused of extortion, ou which dience, and Metellus was the only one in the senate
occasion it is related that the judges had such con- who refused to do so. He was therefore expelled
fidence in his integrity that they refused to look at from the senate ; and, not contented with this, the
his accounts when they were produced in court. tribune brought forward a bill to punish him with
Some modern writers, however, suppose that this exile. The friends of Metellus were ready to take
trial took place after his return from Numidia (Cic. up arms, if necessary, to resist the law ; but Me
pro Balb. 5, ail Att. 1, 16 ; Val. Max. ii. 10. § 1). tellus would not avail himself of their assistance,
Metellus obtained the consulship in B. c. 109, with and, in order to avoid a civil commotion, he de-
M. Junius Silanus, and received Numidia as his parted from the city, and retired to Rhodes, where
province, with the conduct of the war against Ju- he bore his loss with great calmness, without
gurtha, who had in the year before inflicted great troubling himself about his return.
In the course
disgrace upon the Roman arms. Their honour, of the same year, however, the mad schemes of
however, was fully retrieved by Metellus, who Saturninus occasioned his own ruin and that of his
gained a great victory over Jugurtha near the river friends; and the popular party received such a
Muthul. It is unnecessary to enter here into the severe blow in consequence of their death, that
details of the war, as they are given in the life of very little opposition was offered to the recall of
JUGURTHA. Metellus remained in Numidia during Metellus, which was proposed in the following year
the following year as proconsul, but as he was (B. C. 99) by the tribune Q. Calidius. The son of
chiefly occupied in the siege of towns, and was un- Metellus exerted himself so strongly in support of
able to bring the war to a conclusion, his legate the rogation of Calidius, that he obtained from his
C. Marius, whom he had grossly affronted (see conteniporaries the surname of Pius. According to
above
P. 954, a. ), industriously circulated reports a tale preserved by Cicero (de Nat. Deor. iii. 33),
in the camp and the city that Metellus designedly Q. Varius, who was tribune of the plebs B. c. 91,
protracted the war, for the purpose of continuing in and a violent enemy of the aristocracy, poisoned a
the command. These rumours had the desired Metellus, and as Cicero mentions him without any
effect. Marius was raised to the consulship, Nu- surname, he probably means the great Metellus
midia was assigned to him as his province, and Numidicus. The tale, however, may have been
Metellus saw the honour of finishing the war invented by the hatred of party.
snatched from his grasp.
The blow was all the The general character of Metellus has been al-
heavier, since his successor had sprung from the ready pourtrayed. He was certainly one of the
lower classes, and had at the commencement of his best specimens of his class, and probably one of
political career been assisted by Metellus himself the most virtuous citizens of his time. He was
(see p. 952, a. ). So bitter were his feelings that not ignorant of literature and art, and was a gene-
he could not brook the sight of Marius, and rous patron of both. In his youth he had heard
accordingly left the army in charge of his legate Carneades in Rome ; he was a friend and patron
P. Rutilius, who was to hand it over to Marius. of the poet Archias ; and when he went into exile
;
On his arrival at Rome, Metellus was, contrary to he took with him the rhetorician L. Aelius Prae-
his expectation, received with the utmost respect coninus or Stilo, and occupied his time in reading
and applause. The people probably felt that in the works and hearing the lectures of the philoso-
justice had been done him : he celebrated a splendid phers. His powers of oratory are spoken of with
triumph in B. c. 107, received the honorary surname praise by Cicero, and his orations continued to be
of Numidicus, and retired into private life, full of read with admiration in the time of Fronto. (Sall.
glory and honour.
Jug. 43–88 ; Plut. Marius; Liv. Epit. 65, 69;
In B. C. 102 Metellus was censor with his cousin Vell. Pat. ii. ll; Aurel. Vic. de Vir. IU. 62;
Metellus Caprarius. He attempted to expel from Flor. iii. 1 ; Eutrop. iv. 27 ; Oros. v. 15; Appian,
the senate L. Appuleius Saturninus and Servilius B. C. i. 28, 30—33 ; Val. Max. ii. 10. § 1, ix. 7
Glaucia, two of the greatest enemies of the aristo- $ 2 ; Gell. i. 6, xvii. 2 ; Fronto, p. 15; the pas-
cracy, but was prevented by the interposition of his sages of Cicero in Orelli's Onom. Tull. vol. ii. p.
colleague from carrying his desig into effect. He | 103, &c. ; Meyer, Orator. Roman. Fragm. p. 272,
refused to allow the name of L. Equitius, who pre &c. 2nd ed. )
tended to be a son of Gracchus, to stand upon the 15. CAECILIA (METELLA), sister of the two
list of citizens, notwithstanding the popular tumult preceding, and daughter of No. 6, married Lucul-
which this refusal occasioned. Saturninus and his lus, the father of the conqueror of Mithridates.
party resolved in revenge to ruin Metellus, and (CAECILIA, No. 3. ]
were supported in their design by Marius, who 16. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. Q. N. METELLUS Ne-
hated Metellus both on personal and political Pos, son of Balearicus [No. 7), and grandson of
grounds. By the murder of A. Nonius, who was the celebrated Macedonicus (No. 5), appeurs lu
ཏུན
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372
## p. 1060 (#1076) ##########################################
1060
METELLUS.
METELLUS.
have received the surname of Nepos, because he only was he obliged to call to his aid the armies in
was the eldest grandson of the latter ; for the Nearer Spain and in Gaul, but the Romans also sent
Metelli were so numerous that it became neces- to his assistance Pompey with proconsular power
sary, for the sake of distinction, that each member and another army. Sertorius, however, was
of the family should have some personal desig- match for them both; and when Metellus, after
nation. This surname of Nepos was also borne by frequent disasters, at length gained a victory over
one of his children (No. 21). Metellus Nepos Sertorius, he was so elated with his õuccess, that
exerted himself in obtaining the recall of his king he allowed himself to be saluted imperator, and
man Metellus Numidicus from banishment in B. C. celebrated his conquest with the greatest splendour.
99, and was consul the following year, B. c. 93, But Sertorius soon recovered from this defeat, and
with T. Didius. In this year the two consuls would probably have continued to defy all the
carried the lex Caecilia Didia. (Cic. post Rei, in efforts of Metellus and Pompey, if he had not been
Sen. 15, pro Dom. 20, ad Att. ii. 9 ; Schol. Bob. murdered by Perperna and his friends in B. c. 72.
pro Sext. p. 310, ed. Orelli ; Obsequ. 107. ) (SERTORIUS. ] Metellus returned to Rome in the
17. CAECILIA (METELLA), sister of the pre- following year, and triumphed on the 30th of
ceding, and daughter of Balearicus, married App. December.
Claudius, consul in B. c. 79. [CAECILIA, No. 4. ] In B. c. 65, Metellus was one of those who sup-
18. CAECILIA (METELLA), daughter of Dalma- ported the accusation against C. Cornelius. He
ticus (No. 13), married first Scaurus, consul in was pontifex maximus, and, as he was succeeded
B. c. 115, and afterwards the dictator Sulla (Cae- in this dignity by C. Caesar in B. c. 63, he must
CILIA, No. 5. )
have died either in this year or at the end of the
19. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. L. N. METELLUS Pivo, preceding. Metellus Pius followed closely in the
son of Numidicus (No. 14), received the surname footsteps of his father. Like him, he was a steady
of Pius on account of the love which he displayed and unwavering supporter of the aristocracy ; like
for his father when he besought the people to re- him, his military abilities were very considerable,
call himn from banishment, in B. c. 99. He was but not those of a first-rate general, and he was
about twenty years of age when he accompanied unable to adapt himself or his troops to the guerilla-
his father to Numidia in B. C. 109. He obtained warfare which had to be carried on in Spain ; like
the praetorship in B. c. 89, and was one of the his father, again, his personal character contrasted
commanders in the Marsic or Social war, which most favourably with the general dissoluteness of
had broken out in the preceding year. He de his contemporaries ; and lastly, he imitated his
feated and slew in battle Q. Pompaedius, the leader father in the patronage which he bestowed upon
of the Marsians in B. C. 88. He was still in arms Archias and other poets. His conduct at the time
in B. C. 87, prosecuting the war against the Sam- of his father's banishment, and the gratitude which
nites, when Marius landed in Italy and joined the he showed to Q. Calidius, are especially deserving
consul Cinna The senate, in alarm, summoned of praise.
He adopted the son of Scipio Nasia,
Metellus to Rome ; and, as the soldiers placed who is called in consequence Metellus Pius Scipio
more confidence in him than in the consul Octavius, (No. 22). (Sall. Jug. 64 ; Appian, B. C. i. 33,
they entreated him to take the supreme command 53, 68, 80-91, 97, 103, 108-115 ; Aurel. Vic.
shortly after his arrival in the city. As he refused de Vir. IU. 63 ; Oros. v. 18, 28 : Plut. Mar. 42,
to comply with their request, numbers deserted to Crass. 6, Sertor. 12—27; Liv. Epit. 84, 91, 92 ;
the enemy ; and finding it impossible to hold out Vell. Pat. ii. 15, 28—30 ; Dion Cass. xxvii. 37 ;
against Marius and Cinna, he left the city and Plut. Caes. 7 ; Cic. pro Arch. 4, 5, 10, pro Planc.
went to Africa. Here he collected a considerable 29, pro Cluent. 8, pro Balb. 2, 22 ; Ascon. in Cic.
force and was joined by Crassus, who had also fied Corn. p. 60, ed. Orelli. )
thither from Spain, but they quarrelled and sepa- 20. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. Q. n. METELLUS CELER,
rated shortly afterwards. In B. C. 84 Metellus consul B. C. 60, was son of Nepos, consul B. c. 98.
was defeated by C. Fabius, one of the Marian (No. 16. ] The latter was most probably his father,
party. He therefore returned to Italy, and re- but his descent has given rise to much dispute.
mained in Liguria ; but hearing of the return of Cicero and Asconius both call Metellus Celer the
Sulla from Asia in the following year (B. C. 83), he frater of the younger Metellus Nepos (No. 21),
hastened to meet him at Brundisium, and was one and Asconius states that the latter was the son of
of the first of the nobles who joined him. In the the elder Nepos (No. 16), the grandson of Balea-
war which followed against the Marian party, ricus (No. 7), and the great-grandson of Macedo-
Metellus was one of the most successful of Sulla's nicus (No. 5]. (Cic. ad Fam. v. 1, 2; Ascon. in
generals. Early in B. c. 82, Metellus gained a Cornel. p. 63. ) From the way in which Celer
victory over Carrinas, near the river Aesis in speaks of Nepos, as well as from other circum-
Umbria, defeated shortly afterwards another divi- stances, we are led to conclude that they were
sion of Carbo's army, and finally gained a decisive brothers and not first-cousins. The only difficulty
victory over Carbo and Norbanus, near Faventia in this supposition is, that they both bear the prae-
in Cisalpine Gaul.
nomen Quintus ; but the ingenious hypothesis of
In B. c. 80, Metellus was consul with Sulla Manutius (at Cic. l. c. ) removes this difficulty.
himself. In this year he rewarded the services of He supposes that the elder Nepos (No. 16) may
Calidius, in obtaining the recall of his father fronı have had two sons, one called Quintus and the
banishment, by using his influence to obtain for other perhaps Lucius : that the latter, the subject of
him the praetorship. In the following year (B. C. this notice, was adopted by the Q. Metellus Celer,
79), Metellus went as proconsul into Spain, in who is mentioned by Cicero as one of the orators
order to prosecute the war against Sertorius, who in B. c. 90, and that he received in consequence the
adhered to the Marian party. Here he remained praenomen Quintus and the cognomen Celer. Ma-
for the next eight years, and found it so difficult nutius further supposes that after the death of the
to obtain any advantages over Sertorius, that not | elder son Quintus, the wife of Nepos bore him is
## p. 1061 (#1077) ##########################################
METELLUS.
1061
METELLUS.
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third son, to whom he again gave the names of cracy that Cicero calls him “egregius consul" ;
Quintus and Nepos. This supposition accounts and although he did not at first oppose the adop-
not only for the two brothers bearing the same tion of Clodius into a plebeian family, apparently
praenomen, but also for the younger, and not the not attaching much importance to the matter, yet
elder, having the cognomen of his father.
as soon as he perceived that Clodius was resolved
In B. C. 66, Metellus Celer served as legate in to favour the views of the democratical party, Me-
the army of Pompey in Asia, and distinguished tellus opposed his plans to the utmost of his power.
himself by repulsing an attack which Oroeses, king Clodius was the first-cousin of Metellus, being the
of the Albanians, made upon his winter-quarters. son of his father's sister, and likewise the brother
He returned to Rome before Pompey, and was of his own wife ; but he did not allow this family
praetor in B. C. 63, the year in which Cicero was connection to produce any change in his political
consul. Like the other members of his family he conduct. As a war threatened to break out in
distinguished himself during his year of office by a Gnul, the senate determined that the consuls should
warm support of the aristocratical party. He pre- draw lots for the provinces of the Gauls; but Me
vented the condemnation of C. Rabirius by re- tellus did not leave Rome this year, nor apparently
moving the military flag from the Janiculum, as the next. In B. C. 59, the year of Caesar's consul-
has been already narrated in the life of Caesar ship, he took a leading part in the opposition to
(Vol. I. p. 541). He co-operated with Cicero in the agrarian law of Caesar, but in vain. He died
opposing the schemes of Catiline ; and, when the in the course of the same year, so unexpectedly,
latter left the city to make war upon the republic, that it was suspected that he had been poisoned by
Metellus had the charge of the Picentine and Se- his wife Clodia, with whom he lived on the most
nonian districts. By blocking up the passes he unhappy terms, and who was a woman of the ut-
prevented Catiline from crossing the Apennines most profligacy. The character of Metellus has
and penetrating into Gaul, and thus compelled him been sufficiently indicated in the preceding sketch
to turn round and face Antonius, who was march- of his life : he was one of the great leaders of the
ing against him from Etruria In the following aristocracy, but did not possess either sufficient in-
year, B. C. 62, Metellus went with the title of pro- fluence or sufficient genius to cope with such men
consul into the province of Cisalpine Gaul, which as Caesar and Pompey. His oratory is spoken of
Cicero had relinquished because he was unwilling favourably by Cicero, and was more adapted to the
to leave the city. Although Metellus and Cicero popular assemblies than to the courts. (Dion Cass.
had been thus closely connected, yet he was ex- xxxvi. 37, and libb. xxxvii. xxxviii ; Sall. Cut.
ceedingly angry when the orator attacked his 57 ; the passages of Cicero in Orelli's Onom. Tull.
brother Nepos, who had given him, however, abun- vol ii. p. 107. )
dant provocation. (See below, No. 21. ) The 21. Q. METELLUS, Q. F. Q. N. METELLUS
letter which Celer wrote to Cicero on this occasion Nepos, brother of the preceding, and son of the
is still preserved, and is very characteristic of the elder Nepos (No. 16). In B. C. 67 he served as
haughty aristocratical spirit of the family. Cicero's legate of Pompey in the war against the pirates,
reply is very clever. (Cic. ad Fam. v. 1, 2. ) and was still with him in Asia in B. C. 64. In
In B. C. 61, Metellus was consul elect, and by B. C. 63 he returned to Rome, in order to become a
his personal influence prevented the celebration of candidate for the tribunate, that he might thereby
the Compitalia, which a tribune of the plebs was favour the views of Pompey. The aristocracy,
preparing to celebrate in opposition to a senatus- who now dreaded Pompey more than any one else
consultum. Towards the end of the year he took in the state, were in the utmost consternation. They
an active part in conjunction with M. Cato, and brought forward M. Cato as a rival candidate, and
others of the aristocracy, in resisting the demands succeeded in carrying his election, but were unable
of the publicani, who petitioned the senate to to prevent the election of Metellus likewise. Me-
allow them to pay a smaller sum for the farm- tellus entered upon his office on the 10th of De-
ing of the taxes in Asia than they had agreed to cember, B. C. 63, and commenced his official career
give. Their request was accordingly refused, but by a violent attack upon Cicero, whom he looked
was subsequently granted, in B. C. 59, by Caesar, upon as the main support of the existing order of
who brought forward a bill in the comitia for the things. He openly asserted that he who had con-
purpose. In B. C. 60, Metellus was consul with demned Roman citizens without a hearing ought
L. Afranius, who was a creature of Pompey, and not to be heard himself, and accordingly prevented
had been raised to this dignity by Pompey's in- Cicero from addressing the people on the last day
fluence. Pompey was anxious to obtain the ratio of his consulship, when he had to lay down his
fication of his acts in Asia, and an assignment of office, and only allowed him to take the usual oath,
lands for his soldiers ; but Afranius was not a man whereupon Cicero swore that he had saved the
of sufficient ability and energy to be of much ser- On the 1st of January, B. C. 62, Cicero at-
vice to him, and Metellus thwarted all his plans, tacked Metellus with great bitterness in the senate,
since Pompey, and not Caesar, was generally re- and two days afterwards Metellus replied to hin
garded at that time as the most formidable enemy with equal bitterness, upbraiding him with his low
of the aristocracy. It was this opposition which origin, denouncing him as a tyrant for condemning
drove Pompey into the arms of Caesar, and thus Roman citizens to death unheard, and threatening
prepared the downfall of the republic. So resolute him with an impeachment. Stung to the quick,
was the opposition of Metellus to the agrarian law Cicero published an oration against him, entitled
of the tribune L. Flavius, which he brought for- “Metellina,” of the nature of which the second
ward in order to provide for Pompey's veterans, Philippic will probably give us the best idea. Sup-
that the tribune had him dragged to prison ; but ported by Caesar, who was anxious, above all
even this did not frighten Metellus, and the law things, to drive Pompey to an open rupture with
was in consequence abandoned. He acted with the senate, Metellus brought forward a bill to
such energy and decision in favour of the arisio- sunimon Pompey, with his army, to Rome, in order
IS
ed the son of Sapiolais
quence Metellus Pins RIU
9. 64; Appian, B. Com
103, 108–115 ; due: F2
isF. 18, 28; Plat Hata
-27; Liv. Ep 84, 55, 56;
-30; Dion Case ;
pro Arci, 4, 5, 10 pro Plan
to Balb. 2,9; Ascia i la
relli)
Q. F. Q. x.
bers of his family. The character of Metellus the sixth time. Saturninus forth with proposed an
stood very high among his contemporarics ; in an agrarian law, to which he added the clause, that
age of growing corruption his personal integrity the senate should swear obedience to it within five
remained unsullied ; and he was distinguished for days after its enactment, and that whosoever should
his abilities in war and peace. He was one of the refuse to do so should be expelled from the senate,
chief leaders of the aristocratical party at Rome, and pay a fine of twenty talents. In order to
and displayed the usual arrogance and contempt for entrap his enemy, Marius got up in the senate and
all those who did not belong to his order, which asserted that he would never take the oath ; and
distinguished the Roman nobles of his time. The Metellus made the same declaration ; but when
year of his praetorship is not stated ; but it was the senators were summoned to the rostra to comply
probably after his return from his praetorian pro- with the law, Marius was the first to swear obes
vince that he was accused of extortion, ou which dience, and Metellus was the only one in the senate
occasion it is related that the judges had such con- who refused to do so. He was therefore expelled
fidence in his integrity that they refused to look at from the senate ; and, not contented with this, the
his accounts when they were produced in court. tribune brought forward a bill to punish him with
Some modern writers, however, suppose that this exile. The friends of Metellus were ready to take
trial took place after his return from Numidia (Cic. up arms, if necessary, to resist the law ; but Me
pro Balb. 5, ail Att. 1, 16 ; Val. Max. ii. 10. § 1). tellus would not avail himself of their assistance,
Metellus obtained the consulship in B. c. 109, with and, in order to avoid a civil commotion, he de-
M. Junius Silanus, and received Numidia as his parted from the city, and retired to Rhodes, where
province, with the conduct of the war against Ju- he bore his loss with great calmness, without
gurtha, who had in the year before inflicted great troubling himself about his return.
In the course
disgrace upon the Roman arms. Their honour, of the same year, however, the mad schemes of
however, was fully retrieved by Metellus, who Saturninus occasioned his own ruin and that of his
gained a great victory over Jugurtha near the river friends; and the popular party received such a
Muthul. It is unnecessary to enter here into the severe blow in consequence of their death, that
details of the war, as they are given in the life of very little opposition was offered to the recall of
JUGURTHA. Metellus remained in Numidia during Metellus, which was proposed in the following year
the following year as proconsul, but as he was (B. C. 99) by the tribune Q. Calidius. The son of
chiefly occupied in the siege of towns, and was un- Metellus exerted himself so strongly in support of
able to bring the war to a conclusion, his legate the rogation of Calidius, that he obtained from his
C. Marius, whom he had grossly affronted (see conteniporaries the surname of Pius. According to
above
P. 954, a. ), industriously circulated reports a tale preserved by Cicero (de Nat. Deor. iii. 33),
in the camp and the city that Metellus designedly Q. Varius, who was tribune of the plebs B. c. 91,
protracted the war, for the purpose of continuing in and a violent enemy of the aristocracy, poisoned a
the command. These rumours had the desired Metellus, and as Cicero mentions him without any
effect. Marius was raised to the consulship, Nu- surname, he probably means the great Metellus
midia was assigned to him as his province, and Numidicus. The tale, however, may have been
Metellus saw the honour of finishing the war invented by the hatred of party.
snatched from his grasp.
The blow was all the The general character of Metellus has been al-
heavier, since his successor had sprung from the ready pourtrayed. He was certainly one of the
lower classes, and had at the commencement of his best specimens of his class, and probably one of
political career been assisted by Metellus himself the most virtuous citizens of his time. He was
(see p. 952, a. ). So bitter were his feelings that not ignorant of literature and art, and was a gene-
he could not brook the sight of Marius, and rous patron of both. In his youth he had heard
accordingly left the army in charge of his legate Carneades in Rome ; he was a friend and patron
P. Rutilius, who was to hand it over to Marius. of the poet Archias ; and when he went into exile
;
On his arrival at Rome, Metellus was, contrary to he took with him the rhetorician L. Aelius Prae-
his expectation, received with the utmost respect coninus or Stilo, and occupied his time in reading
and applause. The people probably felt that in the works and hearing the lectures of the philoso-
justice had been done him : he celebrated a splendid phers. His powers of oratory are spoken of with
triumph in B. c. 107, received the honorary surname praise by Cicero, and his orations continued to be
of Numidicus, and retired into private life, full of read with admiration in the time of Fronto. (Sall.
glory and honour.
Jug. 43–88 ; Plut. Marius; Liv. Epit. 65, 69;
In B. C. 102 Metellus was censor with his cousin Vell. Pat. ii. ll; Aurel. Vic. de Vir. IU. 62;
Metellus Caprarius. He attempted to expel from Flor. iii. 1 ; Eutrop. iv. 27 ; Oros. v. 15; Appian,
the senate L. Appuleius Saturninus and Servilius B. C. i. 28, 30—33 ; Val. Max. ii. 10. § 1, ix. 7
Glaucia, two of the greatest enemies of the aristo- $ 2 ; Gell. i. 6, xvii. 2 ; Fronto, p. 15; the pas-
cracy, but was prevented by the interposition of his sages of Cicero in Orelli's Onom. Tull. vol. ii. p.
colleague from carrying his desig into effect. He | 103, &c. ; Meyer, Orator. Roman. Fragm. p. 272,
refused to allow the name of L. Equitius, who pre &c. 2nd ed. )
tended to be a son of Gracchus, to stand upon the 15. CAECILIA (METELLA), sister of the two
list of citizens, notwithstanding the popular tumult preceding, and daughter of No. 6, married Lucul-
which this refusal occasioned. Saturninus and his lus, the father of the conqueror of Mithridates.
party resolved in revenge to ruin Metellus, and (CAECILIA, No. 3. ]
were supported in their design by Marius, who 16. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. Q. N. METELLUS Ne-
hated Metellus both on personal and political Pos, son of Balearicus [No. 7), and grandson of
grounds. By the murder of A. Nonius, who was the celebrated Macedonicus (No. 5), appeurs lu
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1060
METELLUS.
METELLUS.
have received the surname of Nepos, because he only was he obliged to call to his aid the armies in
was the eldest grandson of the latter ; for the Nearer Spain and in Gaul, but the Romans also sent
Metelli were so numerous that it became neces- to his assistance Pompey with proconsular power
sary, for the sake of distinction, that each member and another army. Sertorius, however, was
of the family should have some personal desig- match for them both; and when Metellus, after
nation. This surname of Nepos was also borne by frequent disasters, at length gained a victory over
one of his children (No. 21). Metellus Nepos Sertorius, he was so elated with his õuccess, that
exerted himself in obtaining the recall of his king he allowed himself to be saluted imperator, and
man Metellus Numidicus from banishment in B. C. celebrated his conquest with the greatest splendour.
99, and was consul the following year, B. c. 93, But Sertorius soon recovered from this defeat, and
with T. Didius. In this year the two consuls would probably have continued to defy all the
carried the lex Caecilia Didia. (Cic. post Rei, in efforts of Metellus and Pompey, if he had not been
Sen. 15, pro Dom. 20, ad Att. ii. 9 ; Schol. Bob. murdered by Perperna and his friends in B. c. 72.
pro Sext. p. 310, ed. Orelli ; Obsequ. 107. ) (SERTORIUS. ] Metellus returned to Rome in the
17. CAECILIA (METELLA), sister of the pre- following year, and triumphed on the 30th of
ceding, and daughter of Balearicus, married App. December.
Claudius, consul in B. c. 79. [CAECILIA, No. 4. ] In B. c. 65, Metellus was one of those who sup-
18. CAECILIA (METELLA), daughter of Dalma- ported the accusation against C. Cornelius. He
ticus (No. 13), married first Scaurus, consul in was pontifex maximus, and, as he was succeeded
B. c. 115, and afterwards the dictator Sulla (Cae- in this dignity by C. Caesar in B. c. 63, he must
CILIA, No. 5. )
have died either in this year or at the end of the
19. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. L. N. METELLUS Pivo, preceding. Metellus Pius followed closely in the
son of Numidicus (No. 14), received the surname footsteps of his father. Like him, he was a steady
of Pius on account of the love which he displayed and unwavering supporter of the aristocracy ; like
for his father when he besought the people to re- him, his military abilities were very considerable,
call himn from banishment, in B. c. 99. He was but not those of a first-rate general, and he was
about twenty years of age when he accompanied unable to adapt himself or his troops to the guerilla-
his father to Numidia in B. C. 109. He obtained warfare which had to be carried on in Spain ; like
the praetorship in B. c. 89, and was one of the his father, again, his personal character contrasted
commanders in the Marsic or Social war, which most favourably with the general dissoluteness of
had broken out in the preceding year. He de his contemporaries ; and lastly, he imitated his
feated and slew in battle Q. Pompaedius, the leader father in the patronage which he bestowed upon
of the Marsians in B. C. 88. He was still in arms Archias and other poets. His conduct at the time
in B. C. 87, prosecuting the war against the Sam- of his father's banishment, and the gratitude which
nites, when Marius landed in Italy and joined the he showed to Q. Calidius, are especially deserving
consul Cinna The senate, in alarm, summoned of praise.
He adopted the son of Scipio Nasia,
Metellus to Rome ; and, as the soldiers placed who is called in consequence Metellus Pius Scipio
more confidence in him than in the consul Octavius, (No. 22). (Sall. Jug. 64 ; Appian, B. C. i. 33,
they entreated him to take the supreme command 53, 68, 80-91, 97, 103, 108-115 ; Aurel. Vic.
shortly after his arrival in the city. As he refused de Vir. IU. 63 ; Oros. v. 18, 28 : Plut. Mar. 42,
to comply with their request, numbers deserted to Crass. 6, Sertor. 12—27; Liv. Epit. 84, 91, 92 ;
the enemy ; and finding it impossible to hold out Vell. Pat. ii. 15, 28—30 ; Dion Cass. xxvii. 37 ;
against Marius and Cinna, he left the city and Plut. Caes. 7 ; Cic. pro Arch. 4, 5, 10, pro Planc.
went to Africa. Here he collected a considerable 29, pro Cluent. 8, pro Balb. 2, 22 ; Ascon. in Cic.
force and was joined by Crassus, who had also fied Corn. p. 60, ed. Orelli. )
thither from Spain, but they quarrelled and sepa- 20. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. Q. n. METELLUS CELER,
rated shortly afterwards. In B. C. 84 Metellus consul B. C. 60, was son of Nepos, consul B. c. 98.
was defeated by C. Fabius, one of the Marian (No. 16. ] The latter was most probably his father,
party. He therefore returned to Italy, and re- but his descent has given rise to much dispute.
mained in Liguria ; but hearing of the return of Cicero and Asconius both call Metellus Celer the
Sulla from Asia in the following year (B. C. 83), he frater of the younger Metellus Nepos (No. 21),
hastened to meet him at Brundisium, and was one and Asconius states that the latter was the son of
of the first of the nobles who joined him. In the the elder Nepos (No. 16), the grandson of Balea-
war which followed against the Marian party, ricus (No. 7), and the great-grandson of Macedo-
Metellus was one of the most successful of Sulla's nicus (No. 5]. (Cic. ad Fam. v. 1, 2; Ascon. in
generals. Early in B. c. 82, Metellus gained a Cornel. p. 63. ) From the way in which Celer
victory over Carrinas, near the river Aesis in speaks of Nepos, as well as from other circum-
Umbria, defeated shortly afterwards another divi- stances, we are led to conclude that they were
sion of Carbo's army, and finally gained a decisive brothers and not first-cousins. The only difficulty
victory over Carbo and Norbanus, near Faventia in this supposition is, that they both bear the prae-
in Cisalpine Gaul.
nomen Quintus ; but the ingenious hypothesis of
In B. c. 80, Metellus was consul with Sulla Manutius (at Cic. l. c. ) removes this difficulty.
himself. In this year he rewarded the services of He supposes that the elder Nepos (No. 16) may
Calidius, in obtaining the recall of his father fronı have had two sons, one called Quintus and the
banishment, by using his influence to obtain for other perhaps Lucius : that the latter, the subject of
him the praetorship. In the following year (B. C. this notice, was adopted by the Q. Metellus Celer,
79), Metellus went as proconsul into Spain, in who is mentioned by Cicero as one of the orators
order to prosecute the war against Sertorius, who in B. c. 90, and that he received in consequence the
adhered to the Marian party. Here he remained praenomen Quintus and the cognomen Celer. Ma-
for the next eight years, and found it so difficult nutius further supposes that after the death of the
to obtain any advantages over Sertorius, that not | elder son Quintus, the wife of Nepos bore him is
## p. 1061 (#1077) ##########################################
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METELLUS.
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third son, to whom he again gave the names of cracy that Cicero calls him “egregius consul" ;
Quintus and Nepos. This supposition accounts and although he did not at first oppose the adop-
not only for the two brothers bearing the same tion of Clodius into a plebeian family, apparently
praenomen, but also for the younger, and not the not attaching much importance to the matter, yet
elder, having the cognomen of his father.
as soon as he perceived that Clodius was resolved
In B. C. 66, Metellus Celer served as legate in to favour the views of the democratical party, Me-
the army of Pompey in Asia, and distinguished tellus opposed his plans to the utmost of his power.
himself by repulsing an attack which Oroeses, king Clodius was the first-cousin of Metellus, being the
of the Albanians, made upon his winter-quarters. son of his father's sister, and likewise the brother
He returned to Rome before Pompey, and was of his own wife ; but he did not allow this family
praetor in B. C. 63, the year in which Cicero was connection to produce any change in his political
consul. Like the other members of his family he conduct. As a war threatened to break out in
distinguished himself during his year of office by a Gnul, the senate determined that the consuls should
warm support of the aristocratical party. He pre- draw lots for the provinces of the Gauls; but Me
vented the condemnation of C. Rabirius by re- tellus did not leave Rome this year, nor apparently
moving the military flag from the Janiculum, as the next. In B. C. 59, the year of Caesar's consul-
has been already narrated in the life of Caesar ship, he took a leading part in the opposition to
(Vol. I. p. 541). He co-operated with Cicero in the agrarian law of Caesar, but in vain. He died
opposing the schemes of Catiline ; and, when the in the course of the same year, so unexpectedly,
latter left the city to make war upon the republic, that it was suspected that he had been poisoned by
Metellus had the charge of the Picentine and Se- his wife Clodia, with whom he lived on the most
nonian districts. By blocking up the passes he unhappy terms, and who was a woman of the ut-
prevented Catiline from crossing the Apennines most profligacy. The character of Metellus has
and penetrating into Gaul, and thus compelled him been sufficiently indicated in the preceding sketch
to turn round and face Antonius, who was march- of his life : he was one of the great leaders of the
ing against him from Etruria In the following aristocracy, but did not possess either sufficient in-
year, B. C. 62, Metellus went with the title of pro- fluence or sufficient genius to cope with such men
consul into the province of Cisalpine Gaul, which as Caesar and Pompey. His oratory is spoken of
Cicero had relinquished because he was unwilling favourably by Cicero, and was more adapted to the
to leave the city. Although Metellus and Cicero popular assemblies than to the courts. (Dion Cass.
had been thus closely connected, yet he was ex- xxxvi. 37, and libb. xxxvii. xxxviii ; Sall. Cut.
ceedingly angry when the orator attacked his 57 ; the passages of Cicero in Orelli's Onom. Tull.
brother Nepos, who had given him, however, abun- vol ii. p. 107. )
dant provocation. (See below, No. 21. ) The 21. Q. METELLUS, Q. F. Q. N. METELLUS
letter which Celer wrote to Cicero on this occasion Nepos, brother of the preceding, and son of the
is still preserved, and is very characteristic of the elder Nepos (No. 16). In B. C. 67 he served as
haughty aristocratical spirit of the family. Cicero's legate of Pompey in the war against the pirates,
reply is very clever. (Cic. ad Fam. v. 1, 2. ) and was still with him in Asia in B. C. 64. In
In B. C. 61, Metellus was consul elect, and by B. C. 63 he returned to Rome, in order to become a
his personal influence prevented the celebration of candidate for the tribunate, that he might thereby
the Compitalia, which a tribune of the plebs was favour the views of Pompey. The aristocracy,
preparing to celebrate in opposition to a senatus- who now dreaded Pompey more than any one else
consultum. Towards the end of the year he took in the state, were in the utmost consternation. They
an active part in conjunction with M. Cato, and brought forward M. Cato as a rival candidate, and
others of the aristocracy, in resisting the demands succeeded in carrying his election, but were unable
of the publicani, who petitioned the senate to to prevent the election of Metellus likewise. Me-
allow them to pay a smaller sum for the farm- tellus entered upon his office on the 10th of De-
ing of the taxes in Asia than they had agreed to cember, B. C. 63, and commenced his official career
give. Their request was accordingly refused, but by a violent attack upon Cicero, whom he looked
was subsequently granted, in B. C. 59, by Caesar, upon as the main support of the existing order of
who brought forward a bill in the comitia for the things. He openly asserted that he who had con-
purpose. In B. C. 60, Metellus was consul with demned Roman citizens without a hearing ought
L. Afranius, who was a creature of Pompey, and not to be heard himself, and accordingly prevented
had been raised to this dignity by Pompey's in- Cicero from addressing the people on the last day
fluence. Pompey was anxious to obtain the ratio of his consulship, when he had to lay down his
fication of his acts in Asia, and an assignment of office, and only allowed him to take the usual oath,
lands for his soldiers ; but Afranius was not a man whereupon Cicero swore that he had saved the
of sufficient ability and energy to be of much ser- On the 1st of January, B. C. 62, Cicero at-
vice to him, and Metellus thwarted all his plans, tacked Metellus with great bitterness in the senate,
since Pompey, and not Caesar, was generally re- and two days afterwards Metellus replied to hin
garded at that time as the most formidable enemy with equal bitterness, upbraiding him with his low
of the aristocracy. It was this opposition which origin, denouncing him as a tyrant for condemning
drove Pompey into the arms of Caesar, and thus Roman citizens to death unheard, and threatening
prepared the downfall of the republic. So resolute him with an impeachment. Stung to the quick,
was the opposition of Metellus to the agrarian law Cicero published an oration against him, entitled
of the tribune L. Flavius, which he brought for- “Metellina,” of the nature of which the second
ward in order to provide for Pompey's veterans, Philippic will probably give us the best idea. Sup-
that the tribune had him dragged to prison ; but ported by Caesar, who was anxious, above all
even this did not frighten Metellus, and the law things, to drive Pompey to an open rupture with
was in consequence abandoned. He acted with the senate, Metellus brought forward a bill to
such energy and decision in favour of the arisio- sunimon Pompey, with his army, to Rome, in order
IS
ed the son of Sapiolais
quence Metellus Pins RIU
9. 64; Appian, B. Com
103, 108–115 ; due: F2
isF. 18, 28; Plat Hata
-27; Liv. Ep 84, 55, 56;
-30; Dion Case ;
pro Arci, 4, 5, 10 pro Plan
to Balb. 2,9; Ascia i la
relli)
Q. F. Q. x.
