63, the year in which Cicero was
connection
to produce any change in his political
consul.
consul.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
]
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
SEK
ܪ
KA #
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.
the aria i
opslar mitt
Meie es at
3 vittat et
in gerak, de
eatest ceados
this defeat, an
to defy L. 12
ke bad act be
Tiends in 2. 272
ed to Rome in the
on the other
of those who
C. Corse. He
be ras secrete
in & C. 63. dan
or at the end of the
Godowed closely in the
ve him, be was a seat
of the aristocet;
were very conscada
ale general, and he was
bis troops tə the
carried on in Spain ;
sonal character cette
de general disse repeater
nd astr, he iniuud bis
which he bestowed pe
& His conduct a de
ent, and the statisde ha
dius, are especial, desert
i
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. METELLES CILIK
is son of Nepos
, consul 36
ter was most probably is de
Das given rise to Each dinote,
ius both call Metellus Cesare
anger Metelius Nepos (Nacy
les that the latter was de
(No. 16), the grandson of list
id the great-grandson of Vance
(Cic as Fan. r. I. :); 46L
From the way in whic: la
s, as well as from other att
led to conclude that aber is
& first-cousins. The only ceny
ion is that they both bear the past
1; but the ingenious branches de
Cic
. Lc. ) remores this erat
that the elder Vepos (Na 11
3 y 3
state.
sons, one called Quinta sody
Lucius: that the latter
, the sale or
as adopted by the 4. Meteiglect
tioned by Cicero as obe af te
und that he received in ceaseplats
Quintus and the cognomen led by
ler supposes that after the deatz des
uintus, the wife of Nepos ben biztos
## p. 1062 (#1078) ##########################################
1062
METELLUS.
METELLUS.
Berate;
of which the
tending there
for
1
preserve the i
Kcandalous ta
1. $ 8) is a s
(E. c. 51) &
of Septen. ber
sideration that
in the follow
considered ra
against Caesi
provinces in
liate on
were resolver
appeared for
warm. y seci
proposed in
26 +9, tha:
certain das,
state ; and
Q. Cassius,
Scipio urged
refused to i
cotisequence
the city, ai
kenate. In
was made a
lot of Scipio
His conduct
the blackest
be suffered
inhabitants
title of imp
to restore peace and protect the citizens from arbi- | little more than a servant of Pompey, and according
trary punishment. Parties were in the state of the to his bidding at one time opposed, and at another
highest exasperation : on the day on which the bill supported Cicero. (App. Mithr. 95; Flor. iii. 6;
was to be brought forward, Cato attempted to pre-Joseph. Ant. iv. 2. § 3, B. J. i. 6. & 2 ; Plut. Cat.
vent its being read, but was driven out of the Min. 20 ; Dion Cass. xxxvii. 38–51, xxxix. 1-7,
forum by force. He soon, however, returned, sup- 54; Plut. Caes. 21; the passages of Cicero in
ported by a large body of the aristocracy; and this Orelli's Onom. Tull. vol. ii. p. 107, &c. )
time the victory remained in their hands. Metellus 22. Q. CAECILIUS, Q. F. METELLUS Pius
was obliged to take to flight, and repaired to Scipio, the adopted son of Metellus Pius (No. 19).
l'ompey : the senate proposed to deprive him of He was the son of P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica,
liis office, and according to some accounts actually practor B. c. 94, and Licinia, a daughter of the
did so.
orator L. Crassus, and was a grandson of P. Corne-
Metellus returned to Rome with Pompey, and lius Scipio Nasica, consul B. c. lll, and Caecilia, a
was raised to the practorship in B. C. 60. " In this daughter of Metellus Macedonicus. Through his
year he brought forward a law for the abolition of grandmother he was therefore descended from the
the vectigalia in Italy; and the senate, out of hatred family of the Metelli, into which he was subse
to Metellus, attenipted to call the law by the name quently adopted. Before his adoption he bore the
of some other person. In the following year he names of P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica, and hence his
appears not to have gone to a province, but to have name is given in various forms. Sometimes he is
remained in Rome. In B. c. 57 he was consul called P. Scipio Nasica, sometimes Q. Metellus
with P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther. Cicero, Scipio, and sometimes simply Scipio or Metellus.
who had been banished in the preceding year, and His full legal name. as it appears in a senatus con-
whose friends were now exerting themselves to sultum (Cic. ad Fam. viii. 8), is the one given at
obtain his recall, was greatly alarmed at the elec- the commencement of this notice. Appian erro-
tion of Metellus, since he was one of his bit-neously gives him the praenomen Lucius. (B. C.
tercst personal enemies. But since Clodius had | ii. 24. )
offended both Pompey and Caesar, and the latter Metellus is first mentioned in B. c. 63, when he
was anxious to mortify and weaken the power of is said to have come to Cicero by night, along with
the demagogue, Metellus, out of respect to them, M. Crassus and Marcellus, bringing with them
suppressed his feelings towards Cicero, and an- letters relating to the conspiracy of Catiline. In
nounced in the senate on the 1st of January, that B. C. 60 he was elected tribune of the plebs, but
he should not oppose his recall from exile. Cicero was accused of bribery by M. Favonius, who had
wrote to him to express his gratitude (ad Fam. v. failed in his election, and was defended by Cicero.
4), and in subsequent speeches he frequently He was tribune in B. c. 59, and was one of the
praises his moderation and magnanimity. At the college of pontiffs before whom Cicero spoke re-
same time the friends of Cicero at Rome seem to specting his house in B. c. 57. In the latter year
have had some suspicions of Metellus ; but he was he exhibited gladiatorial games in honour of his
eventually induced, very much by the influence of deceased father, Metellus Pius. In B. c. 53 Scipio
his relative, P.
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
SEK
ܪ
KA #
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.
the aria i
opslar mitt
Meie es at
3 vittat et
in gerak, de
eatest ceados
this defeat, an
to defy L. 12
ke bad act be
Tiends in 2. 272
ed to Rome in the
on the other
of those who
C. Corse. He
be ras secrete
in & C. 63. dan
or at the end of the
Godowed closely in the
ve him, be was a seat
of the aristocet;
were very conscada
ale general, and he was
bis troops tə the
carried on in Spain ;
sonal character cette
de general disse repeater
nd astr, he iniuud bis
which he bestowed pe
& His conduct a de
ent, and the statisde ha
dius, are especial, desert
i
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. METELLES CILIK
is son of Nepos
, consul 36
ter was most probably is de
Das given rise to Each dinote,
ius both call Metellus Cesare
anger Metelius Nepos (Nacy
les that the latter was de
(No. 16), the grandson of list
id the great-grandson of Vance
(Cic as Fan. r. I. :); 46L
From the way in whic: la
s, as well as from other att
led to conclude that aber is
& first-cousins. The only ceny
ion is that they both bear the past
1; but the ingenious branches de
Cic
. Lc. ) remores this erat
that the elder Vepos (Na 11
3 y 3
state.
sons, one called Quinta sody
Lucius: that the latter
, the sale or
as adopted by the 4. Meteiglect
tioned by Cicero as obe af te
und that he received in ceaseplats
Quintus and the cognomen led by
ler supposes that after the deatz des
uintus, the wife of Nepos ben biztos
## p. 1062 (#1078) ##########################################
1062
METELLUS.
METELLUS.
Berate;
of which the
tending there
for
1
preserve the i
Kcandalous ta
1. $ 8) is a s
(E. c. 51) &
of Septen. ber
sideration that
in the follow
considered ra
against Caesi
provinces in
liate on
were resolver
appeared for
warm. y seci
proposed in
26 +9, tha:
certain das,
state ; and
Q. Cassius,
Scipio urged
refused to i
cotisequence
the city, ai
kenate. In
was made a
lot of Scipio
His conduct
the blackest
be suffered
inhabitants
title of imp
to restore peace and protect the citizens from arbi- | little more than a servant of Pompey, and according
trary punishment. Parties were in the state of the to his bidding at one time opposed, and at another
highest exasperation : on the day on which the bill supported Cicero. (App. Mithr. 95; Flor. iii. 6;
was to be brought forward, Cato attempted to pre-Joseph. Ant. iv. 2. § 3, B. J. i. 6. & 2 ; Plut. Cat.
vent its being read, but was driven out of the Min. 20 ; Dion Cass. xxxvii. 38–51, xxxix. 1-7,
forum by force. He soon, however, returned, sup- 54; Plut. Caes. 21; the passages of Cicero in
ported by a large body of the aristocracy; and this Orelli's Onom. Tull. vol. ii. p. 107, &c. )
time the victory remained in their hands. Metellus 22. Q. CAECILIUS, Q. F. METELLUS Pius
was obliged to take to flight, and repaired to Scipio, the adopted son of Metellus Pius (No. 19).
l'ompey : the senate proposed to deprive him of He was the son of P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica,
liis office, and according to some accounts actually practor B. c. 94, and Licinia, a daughter of the
did so.
orator L. Crassus, and was a grandson of P. Corne-
Metellus returned to Rome with Pompey, and lius Scipio Nasica, consul B. c. lll, and Caecilia, a
was raised to the practorship in B. C. 60. " In this daughter of Metellus Macedonicus. Through his
year he brought forward a law for the abolition of grandmother he was therefore descended from the
the vectigalia in Italy; and the senate, out of hatred family of the Metelli, into which he was subse
to Metellus, attenipted to call the law by the name quently adopted. Before his adoption he bore the
of some other person. In the following year he names of P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica, and hence his
appears not to have gone to a province, but to have name is given in various forms. Sometimes he is
remained in Rome. In B. c. 57 he was consul called P. Scipio Nasica, sometimes Q. Metellus
with P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther. Cicero, Scipio, and sometimes simply Scipio or Metellus.
who had been banished in the preceding year, and His full legal name. as it appears in a senatus con-
whose friends were now exerting themselves to sultum (Cic. ad Fam. viii. 8), is the one given at
obtain his recall, was greatly alarmed at the elec- the commencement of this notice. Appian erro-
tion of Metellus, since he was one of his bit-neously gives him the praenomen Lucius. (B. C.
tercst personal enemies. But since Clodius had | ii. 24. )
offended both Pompey and Caesar, and the latter Metellus is first mentioned in B. c. 63, when he
was anxious to mortify and weaken the power of is said to have come to Cicero by night, along with
the demagogue, Metellus, out of respect to them, M. Crassus and Marcellus, bringing with them
suppressed his feelings towards Cicero, and an- letters relating to the conspiracy of Catiline. In
nounced in the senate on the 1st of January, that B. C. 60 he was elected tribune of the plebs, but
he should not oppose his recall from exile. Cicero was accused of bribery by M. Favonius, who had
wrote to him to express his gratitude (ad Fam. v. failed in his election, and was defended by Cicero.
4), and in subsequent speeches he frequently He was tribune in B. c. 59, and was one of the
praises his moderation and magnanimity. At the college of pontiffs before whom Cicero spoke re-
same time the friends of Cicero at Rome seem to specting his house in B. c. 57. In the latter year
have had some suspicions of Metellus ; but he was he exhibited gladiatorial games in honour of his
eventually induced, very much by the influence of deceased father, Metellus Pius. In B. c. 53 Scipio
his relative, P.
