) On the
breaking
[No.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
Byz.
s.
vv.
by the glad tidings of the destruction of Maximin,
"Αμολβος, Όλβηλος, Δυρράχιον. )
and all parties joined in welcoming with the most
BAʼLANUS, a Gaulish prince beyond the Alps, lively demonstrations of joy the united armies and
who sent ambassadors offering to assist the Romans their triumphant chief. But the calm was of short
in their Macedonian war, B. c. 169. (Liv. xliv. 14. ) duration. The hatred existing between the prae-
BALAS. (ALEXANDER Balas, p. 114. ] torians and the populace had been only smothered
BALBI'LIUS, who was in Spain, B. C. 44 for a while, not extinguished; the soldiers of all
(Cic. ad Att. xv. 13), is conjectured by Mongault ranks openly lamented that they had lost a prince
to be only a diminutive of Cornelius Balbus, the chosen by themselves, and were obliged to submit
younger, a friend of Cicero's, but this is very im- to those nominated by the civil power. A conspi-
probable.
racy was soon organized by the guards. On a day
C. BALBILLUS, governor of Egypt in the when public attention was engrossed by the exhi-
reign of Nero, A. D. 55 (Tac. Ann. xiii
. 22), and bition of the Capitoline games, a strong band of
a man of great learning, wrote a work respecting soldiers forced their way into the palace, seized
Aegypt and his journeys in that country. (Senec. the two emperors, stripped them of their royal
Quaest. Nat. iv. 2 ; Plin. H. N. xix. pröoem. ) robes, dragged them through the streets, and finally
BALBI'NUS, was proscribed by the triumvirs put them to death.
in B. C. 43, but restored with Sex. Pompeius in The chronology of this brief reign is involved in
B. C. 39, and subsequently advanced to the con- much difficulty, and different historians have con-
sulship. (Appian, iv. 50. ) No other author but tracted or extended it to periods varying from
Appian, and none of the Fasti, mention a consul of twenty-two days to two years. The statements of
this name; but as we learn from Appian that Bal- ancient writers are so irreconcileable, that we have
binus was consul in the year in which the con- no sure resource except medals; but, by studying
spiracy of the younger Aemilius Lepidus was carefully the evidence which these afford, we may
detected by Maecenas, that is B. c. 30, it is con- repose with considerable confidence on the conclu-
jectured that Balbinus may be the cognomen of sion of Eckhel, that the accession of Balbinus and
L. Saenius, who was consul suffectus in that year. Maximus took place about the end of April, a. D.
BALBI’NUS. When intelligence reached Rome 238, and their death before the beginning of Au.
that the elder Gordian and his son had both pe- gust in the same year.
rished in Africa, and that the savage Maximin, We ought to notice here a remarkable innova-
thirsting for vengeance, was advancing towards Italy tion which was introduced in consequence of the
at the head of a powerful army, the senate resolved circumstances attending the election of these princes
## p. 455 (#475) ############################################
BALBUS.
455
BALBUS.
a
Up to this period, although several individuals had | money by plundering the temple of Diana in Ephe
enjoyed at the same time the appellation of Au- sus, which he was prevented from doing only by
gustus, it had been held as an inviolable maxim of the arrival of Caesar. (Caes. B. C. iii. 105. ) Bai-
the constitution, that the office of chief pontiff did bus was one of those who was banished by Caesar;
not admit of division, and could be vacated by but he afterwards obtained his pardon through the
death only. But the senate, in this case, anxious intercession of his friend Cicero (comp. Cic. ad
to preserve perfect equality between the two em- Fam. xii. 70), who wrote him a letter on the oc-
perors, departed from a rule scrupulously observed casion, B. C. 46. (Ad Fum. vi. 12. )
from the earliest ages, and invested both with the Balbus appears to have written some work on
office and appellation of Pontifex Maximus. The the history of his times; for Suetonius (Caes. 77)
precedent thas established was afterwards gene- quotes some remarks of Caesar's from a work of
rally followed ; colleagues in the empire became T. Ampius. Balbus was also mentioned in the
generally, as a matter of course, colleagues in the fourth book of Varro “De Vita Populi Romani. ”
chief priesthood ; and when pretenders to the pur- (Varr. Fragm. p. 249, ed. Bip. )
ple arose at the same time in different parts of the III. R. Antonius Balbus, plebeian,
world, they all assumed the title among their other is supposed to be the same as Q. Antonius who
designations.
[W. R. ] was praetor in Sicily in B. c. 82 and was killed by
L. Philippus, the legate of Sulla. (Liv. Epit. 86. )
The annexed coin was struck either by, or in
honour of, this Balbus. The obverse represents
the head of Jupiter; the reverse is Q. A(N)TU.
BA(L)B. PR. with Victory in a quadriga.
gou
SATTA
du wa
oceanood
COIN OP BALBINUS.
BALBUS, a family-name in several gentes. It
was originally a surname given to some one who
had an impediment in his speech.
I. Acilü Balbi, plebeians.
IV. M. Atius Balbus, plebeian,
1. M'. Acilius L. f. K. N. BALBUS, consul of Aricia, married Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar,
B. c. 150. (Cic. de Senect. 5, ad Att. xii. 5; Plin. who bore him a daughter, Atia, the mother of Au-
H. N. vii. 36. )
gustus Caesar. [Aria. ] He was praetor in B. C.
2. M. Acilius M. f. L. n. Balbus, consul 62, and obtained the government of Sardinia, as
B. c. 114. (Obsequ. 97; Plin. H. N. Ü. 29, 56. we learn from the annexed coin (copied from the
6. 57. ) It is doubtful to which of the Acilii Balbi | Thesaur. Morell. ), of which the reverse is Atius
the annexed coin is to be referred. The obverse BALBUS PR. , with the head of Balbus ; and the
has the inscription BA(L)Bvs, with the head of obverse, Sard. Pater, with the head of Sardus,
Pallas, before which is Ž. and beneath Roma, the father or mythical ancestor of the island. In
the whole within a laurel garland. On the reverse
we have MV. ACILI, with Jupiter and Victory in
a quadriga
BAL
ca
SAL
क्षार
B. c. 59, Balbus was appointed one of the vigintiviri
II. T. Ampius Balbus, plebeian, under the Julian law for the division of the land
tribune the plebs B. c. 63, proposed, in conjunc- in Campania ; and, as Pompey was a member of
tion with his colleague T. Labienus, that Pompey, the same board, Balbus, who was not a person of
who was then absent from Rome, should, on ac- any importance, was called by Cicero in joke
count of his Asiatic victories, be allowed to wear Pompey's colleague. (Suet. Oct. 4, Pul. iii. 6,
a laurel-crown and all the insignia of a triumph in ad Att. ii. 4. )
the Circensian games, and also a laurel crown and
V. Cornelii Balbi, plebeians.
the praetexta in the scenic games. (Vell. Pat. ii. The Cornelii Balbi were, properly speaking, no part
40. ) He failed in his first attempt to obtain the of the Cornelia gens. The first of this name was
aedileship, although he was supported by Pompey not a Roman; he was a native of Gades; and his
(Schol. Bob. pro Planc. p. 257, ed. Orelli); but he original name probably bore some resemblance in
appears to have been praetor in B. c. 59, as we find sound to the Latin Balbus. The reason why he
that he was governor of Cilicia in the following assumed the name of Cornelius is mentioned below.
year. (Comp. Cic. ad Fam. i. 3.
) On the breaking [No. 1. ]
out of the civil war in B. C. 49, he sided with the 1. L. CORNELIUS Balbus, sometimes called
Pompeian party, and took an active part in the Major to distinguish him from his nephew [No. 3),
levy of troops at Capua. (Ad Att. viii. 11, b. ) He was a native of Gades, and descended from an illus-
no doubt left Italy with the rest of his party, for trious family in that town. Gades, being one of
we find him in the next year endeavouring to obtain the federate cities, supported the Romans in their
## p. 456 (#476) ############################################
456
BALBUS.
BALBUS.
war against Sertorius in Spain, and Balbus thus | Rome, and endeavoured to some extent to keep up
had an opportunity of distinguishing himself. He the semblance of neutrality. Thus he looked after
served under the Roman generals, Q. Metellus the pecuniary affairs of his friend, the consul Cor-
Pius, C. Memmius, and Pompey, and was present nelius Lentulus, who was one of Pompey's parti-
at the battles of Turia and Sucro. He distin- zans; but his neutrality was scarcely disguised.
guished himself so much throughout the war, that It is true that he did not appear against Pompey
Pompey conferred the Roman citizenship upon in the field, but all his exertions were employed to
him, his brother, and his brother's sons; and this promote Caesar's interests. He was especially
act of Pompey's was ratified by the law of the con- anxious to gain over Cicero, with whom he bad
suls, Cn. Cornelius Lentulus and L. Gellius, B. c. corresponded before the breaking out of the civil
72. (Cic. pro Balb. 8. ) It was probably in honour war. Knowing the weak side of Cicero, he had
of these consuls that Balbus took the gentile name first requested him to act the mediator between
of the one and the praenomen of the other ; though Caesar and Pompey, and afterwards pressed him
some modern writers suppose that he derived his to come to Rome, which would have been tanta-
name from L. Cornelius, consul in B. c. 199, who mount to a declaration in Caesar's favour. Cicero,
was the hospes of the inhabitants of Gades. (Pro after a good deal of hesitation, eventually left
Balb. 18. )
Italy, but returned after the battle of Pharsalia
At the conclusion of the war with Sertorius, (B. C. 48), when he re-opened his correspondence
B. c. 72, Balbus removed to Rome. He obtained with Balhus, and requested him to use his good
admission into the Crustuminian tribe by accusing offices to obtain Caesar's pardon for him. During all
a member of this tribe of bribery, and thus gaining this time, Balbus, in conjunction with Oppius, had
the place which the guilty party forfeited on con- the entire management of Caesar's affairs at Rome;
viction. Balbus had doubtless brought with him and we see, from Cicero's letters, that Balbus was
considerable wealth from Gades, and supported by now regarded as one of the chief men in the state.
the powerful interest of Pompey, whose friendship He seems, however, to have used his good fortune
he assiduously cultivated, he soon became a man of with moderation, and never to have been deserted
great influence and importance. One of Pompey's by the prudence which had always been one of his
intimate friends, the Greek Theophanes of Myti- chief characteristics. We are therefore disposed to
lene, adopted him ; and Pompey himself shewed reject the tale, which is related only by Suetonius
him marks of favour, which not a little offended (Caes. 78) and Plutarch (Caes. 60), that Balbus
the Roman nobles, who were indignant that a man prevented Caesar from rising to receive the senate
of Gades should be preferred to them. Among on his return from the Spanish war, in B. C. 45.
other presents which Pompey made him, we read of On the murder of Caesar in March, 44, Balbus
a grant of land for the purpose of pleasure-grounds. was placed in a somewhat critical position. He
But Balbus was too prudent to confine himself to retired from the city, and spent two months in the
only one patron; he early paid court to Caesar, country, and was one of the first who hastened
and seems to have entirely ingratiated himself into to meet young Octavianus at Neapolis. During
his favour during Pompey's absence in Asia in this time, he frequently saw Cicero, who believed
prosecution of the Mithridatic war. From this that his professions to Octavianus were hollow,
time, he became one of Caesar's most intimate and that he was in reality the friend of Antony.
friends, and accompanied him to Spain in B. c. 61, In this, however, Cicero was mistaken ; Balbus,
in the capacity of praefectus fabrum, when Caesar whose good fortune it always was to attach himself
went into that province after his praetorship. Soon to the winning party, accompanied Octavianus to
after his return to Rome, the first triumvirate was Rome, and was subsequently advanced by him to
formed, B. C. 60; and though he was ostensibly the the highest offices in the state. It is uncertain in
friend both of Pompey and Caesar, he seems to have what year he was praetor ; but his propraetorship
attached himself more closely to the interests of the is commemorated in the annexed coin of Octavi-
latter than of the former. On Caesar's departure anus (copied from the Thesaur. Morell. ), which
to Gaul in B. c. 58, Balbus again received the ap- contains on the obverse C. CAESAR. IIIVIR. R.
pointment of praefectus fabrum, and from this time P. C. with the head of Octavianus, and on the
to the breaking out of the civil war, he passed his
time alternately in Gaul and at Rome, but princi-
pally at the latter. He was the manager and
steward of Caesar's private property in the city,
and a great part of the Gallic booty passed through
his hands. But his increasing wealth and influence
raised him many enemies among the nobles, who
were still more anxious to ruin him, as he was
the favourite of the triumvirs. They accordingly
induced an inhabitant of Gades to accuse him of
having illegally assumed the rights and privileges reverse Balbus Pro PR. He obtained the con-
of a Roman citizen. The cause came on for trial sulship in B. c. 40, the first instance, according to
probably in B. c. 55; and as there was yet no Pliny (H. N. vii. 43. s. 44), in which this honour
breach between Pompey and Caesar, Balbus was had been conferred upon one who was not born a
defended by Pompey and Crassus, and also by Roman citizen. The year of his death is unknown.
Cicero, who undertook the defence at Pompey's In his will he left every Roman citizen twenty
request, and whose speech on the occasion has denarii apiece (Dion Cass. xlviii. 32), which would
come down to us. Balbus was acquitted, and seem to shew that he had no children, and that
justly, as is shewn in the article Foederatae Civi- consequently the emperor Balbinus could not be,
tates in the Dict, of Ant.
as he pretended, a lineal descendant from him.
In the civil war, in B. c. 49, Balbus remained at Balbus was the author of a diary (Ephemeris)
SAR
PRO PR
BALBVS.
P.
a
## p. 457 (#477) ############################################
BALBUS.
457
BALBUS.
which has not come down to us, of the most re- involved Valerius in many law-suits, and had at last
markable occurrences in his own and Caesar's life. brought a capital charge against him. (Val. Max.
(Sidon. Apoll. Ep. ix. 14; Suet. Caes. 81; Capi- vii. 8. $ 7. ).
tolin. Balbin. 2. ) He took care that Caesar's Com- (For further information respecting the Cornelii
mentaries on the Gallic war should be continued ; Balbi, sce Orelli's Onomasticon Tullianum and
and we accordingly find the eighth book dedicated Drumann's Rom, vol. ii. p. 594, &c. )
to him. There does not, however, appear to be
VI. Domilius Balbus,
sufficient grounds for the conjecture of some mo- a wealthy man of praetorian rank, whose will was
dern writers, that Balbus was the author of the forged in A. D. 61. (Tac. Ann. xiv. 40. )
History of the Spanish war. In the collection of
VII. Laclii Balli.
Cicero's letters we find four from Balbus. (Ad 1. D. Laelius D. F. D. N. BALBUS, one of the
Att. viii. 15, ix. 6, 13. )
quindecemviri who superintended the celebration
2. P. CORNELIUS BALBUS, brother of the pre- of the saecular games in B. c. 17 (Fast. Capitol. ),
ceding, received the Roman franchise at the same and consul in B. c. 6. (Dion Cass. lv. 9. )
time as his brother; but appears to have died soon 2. Laelius BALBUS, accused Acutia, formerly
afterwards, either in Gades or Rome.
the wife of P. Vitellius, of treason (majestas), but
3. L. CORNELIUS Balbus, P. F. , son of the pre- was unable to obtain the visual reward after her
ceding (No. 2], and frequently called Minor, to condemnation, in consequence of the intercession
distinguish him from his uncle [No. 1], was born of the tribune Junius Otho. He was condemned
at Gades, and received the Roman franchise along in A. D. 37 as one of the paramours of Albucilla,
with his father and uncle. On the breaking out deprived of his senatorial rank, and banished to an
of the civil war (B. C. 49) he served under Caesar, island : his condemnation gave general satisfaction,
and was sent by him to the consul L. Cornelius as he had been ever ready to accuse the innocent.
Lentulus, who was an old friend of his uncle's, to (Tac. Ann. vi. 47, 48. )
persuade him to return to Rome. Balbus under-
VIII. Lucilii Balbi.
took the same dangerous commission in the follow- 1. L. Lucilius Balbus, the jurist. See below.
ing year, and paid Lentulus a visit in the Pompeian 2. Q. LUCILIUS BALBUS, probably the brother
camp at Dyrrhachium, but he was not successful of the preceding, a Stoic philosopher, and a pupil
either time. Balbus served under Caesar in the of Panaetius, had made such progress in the Stoic
Alexandrian and Spanish wars, during which time philosophy, that he appeared io Cicero comparabile
he kept up a correspondence with Cicero, with whom to the best Greek philosophers. (De Nat. Deor. i. 6. )
he had become acquainted through his uncle. In He is introduced by Cicero in his dialogue “ On
return for his services in these wars, Caesar made the Nature of the Gods” as the expositor of the
him pontiff; and it is therefore probably this Cor- opinions of the Stoics on that subject, and his ar-
nelius Balbus who wrote a work on the Roman guments are represented as of considerable weight.
sacra, of which the eighteenth book is quoted by De Nat. Deor. iii.
"Αμολβος, Όλβηλος, Δυρράχιον. )
and all parties joined in welcoming with the most
BAʼLANUS, a Gaulish prince beyond the Alps, lively demonstrations of joy the united armies and
who sent ambassadors offering to assist the Romans their triumphant chief. But the calm was of short
in their Macedonian war, B. c. 169. (Liv. xliv. 14. ) duration. The hatred existing between the prae-
BALAS. (ALEXANDER Balas, p. 114. ] torians and the populace had been only smothered
BALBI'LIUS, who was in Spain, B. C. 44 for a while, not extinguished; the soldiers of all
(Cic. ad Att. xv. 13), is conjectured by Mongault ranks openly lamented that they had lost a prince
to be only a diminutive of Cornelius Balbus, the chosen by themselves, and were obliged to submit
younger, a friend of Cicero's, but this is very im- to those nominated by the civil power. A conspi-
probable.
racy was soon organized by the guards. On a day
C. BALBILLUS, governor of Egypt in the when public attention was engrossed by the exhi-
reign of Nero, A. D. 55 (Tac. Ann. xiii
. 22), and bition of the Capitoline games, a strong band of
a man of great learning, wrote a work respecting soldiers forced their way into the palace, seized
Aegypt and his journeys in that country. (Senec. the two emperors, stripped them of their royal
Quaest. Nat. iv. 2 ; Plin. H. N. xix. pröoem. ) robes, dragged them through the streets, and finally
BALBI'NUS, was proscribed by the triumvirs put them to death.
in B. C. 43, but restored with Sex. Pompeius in The chronology of this brief reign is involved in
B. C. 39, and subsequently advanced to the con- much difficulty, and different historians have con-
sulship. (Appian, iv. 50. ) No other author but tracted or extended it to periods varying from
Appian, and none of the Fasti, mention a consul of twenty-two days to two years. The statements of
this name; but as we learn from Appian that Bal- ancient writers are so irreconcileable, that we have
binus was consul in the year in which the con- no sure resource except medals; but, by studying
spiracy of the younger Aemilius Lepidus was carefully the evidence which these afford, we may
detected by Maecenas, that is B. c. 30, it is con- repose with considerable confidence on the conclu-
jectured that Balbinus may be the cognomen of sion of Eckhel, that the accession of Balbinus and
L. Saenius, who was consul suffectus in that year. Maximus took place about the end of April, a. D.
BALBI’NUS. When intelligence reached Rome 238, and their death before the beginning of Au.
that the elder Gordian and his son had both pe- gust in the same year.
rished in Africa, and that the savage Maximin, We ought to notice here a remarkable innova-
thirsting for vengeance, was advancing towards Italy tion which was introduced in consequence of the
at the head of a powerful army, the senate resolved circumstances attending the election of these princes
## p. 455 (#475) ############################################
BALBUS.
455
BALBUS.
a
Up to this period, although several individuals had | money by plundering the temple of Diana in Ephe
enjoyed at the same time the appellation of Au- sus, which he was prevented from doing only by
gustus, it had been held as an inviolable maxim of the arrival of Caesar. (Caes. B. C. iii. 105. ) Bai-
the constitution, that the office of chief pontiff did bus was one of those who was banished by Caesar;
not admit of division, and could be vacated by but he afterwards obtained his pardon through the
death only. But the senate, in this case, anxious intercession of his friend Cicero (comp. Cic. ad
to preserve perfect equality between the two em- Fam. xii. 70), who wrote him a letter on the oc-
perors, departed from a rule scrupulously observed casion, B. C. 46. (Ad Fum. vi. 12. )
from the earliest ages, and invested both with the Balbus appears to have written some work on
office and appellation of Pontifex Maximus. The the history of his times; for Suetonius (Caes. 77)
precedent thas established was afterwards gene- quotes some remarks of Caesar's from a work of
rally followed ; colleagues in the empire became T. Ampius. Balbus was also mentioned in the
generally, as a matter of course, colleagues in the fourth book of Varro “De Vita Populi Romani. ”
chief priesthood ; and when pretenders to the pur- (Varr. Fragm. p. 249, ed. Bip. )
ple arose at the same time in different parts of the III. R. Antonius Balbus, plebeian,
world, they all assumed the title among their other is supposed to be the same as Q. Antonius who
designations.
[W. R. ] was praetor in Sicily in B. c. 82 and was killed by
L. Philippus, the legate of Sulla. (Liv. Epit. 86. )
The annexed coin was struck either by, or in
honour of, this Balbus. The obverse represents
the head of Jupiter; the reverse is Q. A(N)TU.
BA(L)B. PR. with Victory in a quadriga.
gou
SATTA
du wa
oceanood
COIN OP BALBINUS.
BALBUS, a family-name in several gentes. It
was originally a surname given to some one who
had an impediment in his speech.
I. Acilü Balbi, plebeians.
IV. M. Atius Balbus, plebeian,
1. M'. Acilius L. f. K. N. BALBUS, consul of Aricia, married Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar,
B. c. 150. (Cic. de Senect. 5, ad Att. xii. 5; Plin. who bore him a daughter, Atia, the mother of Au-
H. N. vii. 36. )
gustus Caesar. [Aria. ] He was praetor in B. C.
2. M. Acilius M. f. L. n. Balbus, consul 62, and obtained the government of Sardinia, as
B. c. 114. (Obsequ. 97; Plin. H. N. Ü. 29, 56. we learn from the annexed coin (copied from the
6. 57. ) It is doubtful to which of the Acilii Balbi | Thesaur. Morell. ), of which the reverse is Atius
the annexed coin is to be referred. The obverse BALBUS PR. , with the head of Balbus ; and the
has the inscription BA(L)Bvs, with the head of obverse, Sard. Pater, with the head of Sardus,
Pallas, before which is Ž. and beneath Roma, the father or mythical ancestor of the island. In
the whole within a laurel garland. On the reverse
we have MV. ACILI, with Jupiter and Victory in
a quadriga
BAL
ca
SAL
क्षार
B. c. 59, Balbus was appointed one of the vigintiviri
II. T. Ampius Balbus, plebeian, under the Julian law for the division of the land
tribune the plebs B. c. 63, proposed, in conjunc- in Campania ; and, as Pompey was a member of
tion with his colleague T. Labienus, that Pompey, the same board, Balbus, who was not a person of
who was then absent from Rome, should, on ac- any importance, was called by Cicero in joke
count of his Asiatic victories, be allowed to wear Pompey's colleague. (Suet. Oct. 4, Pul. iii. 6,
a laurel-crown and all the insignia of a triumph in ad Att. ii. 4. )
the Circensian games, and also a laurel crown and
V. Cornelii Balbi, plebeians.
the praetexta in the scenic games. (Vell. Pat. ii. The Cornelii Balbi were, properly speaking, no part
40. ) He failed in his first attempt to obtain the of the Cornelia gens. The first of this name was
aedileship, although he was supported by Pompey not a Roman; he was a native of Gades; and his
(Schol. Bob. pro Planc. p. 257, ed. Orelli); but he original name probably bore some resemblance in
appears to have been praetor in B. c. 59, as we find sound to the Latin Balbus. The reason why he
that he was governor of Cilicia in the following assumed the name of Cornelius is mentioned below.
year. (Comp. Cic. ad Fam. i. 3.
) On the breaking [No. 1. ]
out of the civil war in B. C. 49, he sided with the 1. L. CORNELIUS Balbus, sometimes called
Pompeian party, and took an active part in the Major to distinguish him from his nephew [No. 3),
levy of troops at Capua. (Ad Att. viii. 11, b. ) He was a native of Gades, and descended from an illus-
no doubt left Italy with the rest of his party, for trious family in that town. Gades, being one of
we find him in the next year endeavouring to obtain the federate cities, supported the Romans in their
## p. 456 (#476) ############################################
456
BALBUS.
BALBUS.
war against Sertorius in Spain, and Balbus thus | Rome, and endeavoured to some extent to keep up
had an opportunity of distinguishing himself. He the semblance of neutrality. Thus he looked after
served under the Roman generals, Q. Metellus the pecuniary affairs of his friend, the consul Cor-
Pius, C. Memmius, and Pompey, and was present nelius Lentulus, who was one of Pompey's parti-
at the battles of Turia and Sucro. He distin- zans; but his neutrality was scarcely disguised.
guished himself so much throughout the war, that It is true that he did not appear against Pompey
Pompey conferred the Roman citizenship upon in the field, but all his exertions were employed to
him, his brother, and his brother's sons; and this promote Caesar's interests. He was especially
act of Pompey's was ratified by the law of the con- anxious to gain over Cicero, with whom he bad
suls, Cn. Cornelius Lentulus and L. Gellius, B. c. corresponded before the breaking out of the civil
72. (Cic. pro Balb. 8. ) It was probably in honour war. Knowing the weak side of Cicero, he had
of these consuls that Balbus took the gentile name first requested him to act the mediator between
of the one and the praenomen of the other ; though Caesar and Pompey, and afterwards pressed him
some modern writers suppose that he derived his to come to Rome, which would have been tanta-
name from L. Cornelius, consul in B. c. 199, who mount to a declaration in Caesar's favour. Cicero,
was the hospes of the inhabitants of Gades. (Pro after a good deal of hesitation, eventually left
Balb. 18. )
Italy, but returned after the battle of Pharsalia
At the conclusion of the war with Sertorius, (B. C. 48), when he re-opened his correspondence
B. c. 72, Balbus removed to Rome. He obtained with Balhus, and requested him to use his good
admission into the Crustuminian tribe by accusing offices to obtain Caesar's pardon for him. During all
a member of this tribe of bribery, and thus gaining this time, Balbus, in conjunction with Oppius, had
the place which the guilty party forfeited on con- the entire management of Caesar's affairs at Rome;
viction. Balbus had doubtless brought with him and we see, from Cicero's letters, that Balbus was
considerable wealth from Gades, and supported by now regarded as one of the chief men in the state.
the powerful interest of Pompey, whose friendship He seems, however, to have used his good fortune
he assiduously cultivated, he soon became a man of with moderation, and never to have been deserted
great influence and importance. One of Pompey's by the prudence which had always been one of his
intimate friends, the Greek Theophanes of Myti- chief characteristics. We are therefore disposed to
lene, adopted him ; and Pompey himself shewed reject the tale, which is related only by Suetonius
him marks of favour, which not a little offended (Caes. 78) and Plutarch (Caes. 60), that Balbus
the Roman nobles, who were indignant that a man prevented Caesar from rising to receive the senate
of Gades should be preferred to them. Among on his return from the Spanish war, in B. C. 45.
other presents which Pompey made him, we read of On the murder of Caesar in March, 44, Balbus
a grant of land for the purpose of pleasure-grounds. was placed in a somewhat critical position. He
But Balbus was too prudent to confine himself to retired from the city, and spent two months in the
only one patron; he early paid court to Caesar, country, and was one of the first who hastened
and seems to have entirely ingratiated himself into to meet young Octavianus at Neapolis. During
his favour during Pompey's absence in Asia in this time, he frequently saw Cicero, who believed
prosecution of the Mithridatic war. From this that his professions to Octavianus were hollow,
time, he became one of Caesar's most intimate and that he was in reality the friend of Antony.
friends, and accompanied him to Spain in B. c. 61, In this, however, Cicero was mistaken ; Balbus,
in the capacity of praefectus fabrum, when Caesar whose good fortune it always was to attach himself
went into that province after his praetorship. Soon to the winning party, accompanied Octavianus to
after his return to Rome, the first triumvirate was Rome, and was subsequently advanced by him to
formed, B. C. 60; and though he was ostensibly the the highest offices in the state. It is uncertain in
friend both of Pompey and Caesar, he seems to have what year he was praetor ; but his propraetorship
attached himself more closely to the interests of the is commemorated in the annexed coin of Octavi-
latter than of the former. On Caesar's departure anus (copied from the Thesaur. Morell. ), which
to Gaul in B. c. 58, Balbus again received the ap- contains on the obverse C. CAESAR. IIIVIR. R.
pointment of praefectus fabrum, and from this time P. C. with the head of Octavianus, and on the
to the breaking out of the civil war, he passed his
time alternately in Gaul and at Rome, but princi-
pally at the latter. He was the manager and
steward of Caesar's private property in the city,
and a great part of the Gallic booty passed through
his hands. But his increasing wealth and influence
raised him many enemies among the nobles, who
were still more anxious to ruin him, as he was
the favourite of the triumvirs. They accordingly
induced an inhabitant of Gades to accuse him of
having illegally assumed the rights and privileges reverse Balbus Pro PR. He obtained the con-
of a Roman citizen. The cause came on for trial sulship in B. c. 40, the first instance, according to
probably in B. c. 55; and as there was yet no Pliny (H. N. vii. 43. s. 44), in which this honour
breach between Pompey and Caesar, Balbus was had been conferred upon one who was not born a
defended by Pompey and Crassus, and also by Roman citizen. The year of his death is unknown.
Cicero, who undertook the defence at Pompey's In his will he left every Roman citizen twenty
request, and whose speech on the occasion has denarii apiece (Dion Cass. xlviii. 32), which would
come down to us. Balbus was acquitted, and seem to shew that he had no children, and that
justly, as is shewn in the article Foederatae Civi- consequently the emperor Balbinus could not be,
tates in the Dict, of Ant.
as he pretended, a lineal descendant from him.
In the civil war, in B. c. 49, Balbus remained at Balbus was the author of a diary (Ephemeris)
SAR
PRO PR
BALBVS.
P.
a
## p. 457 (#477) ############################################
BALBUS.
457
BALBUS.
which has not come down to us, of the most re- involved Valerius in many law-suits, and had at last
markable occurrences in his own and Caesar's life. brought a capital charge against him. (Val. Max.
(Sidon. Apoll. Ep. ix. 14; Suet. Caes. 81; Capi- vii. 8. $ 7. ).
tolin. Balbin. 2. ) He took care that Caesar's Com- (For further information respecting the Cornelii
mentaries on the Gallic war should be continued ; Balbi, sce Orelli's Onomasticon Tullianum and
and we accordingly find the eighth book dedicated Drumann's Rom, vol. ii. p. 594, &c. )
to him. There does not, however, appear to be
VI. Domilius Balbus,
sufficient grounds for the conjecture of some mo- a wealthy man of praetorian rank, whose will was
dern writers, that Balbus was the author of the forged in A. D. 61. (Tac. Ann. xiv. 40. )
History of the Spanish war. In the collection of
VII. Laclii Balli.
Cicero's letters we find four from Balbus. (Ad 1. D. Laelius D. F. D. N. BALBUS, one of the
Att. viii. 15, ix. 6, 13. )
quindecemviri who superintended the celebration
2. P. CORNELIUS BALBUS, brother of the pre- of the saecular games in B. c. 17 (Fast. Capitol. ),
ceding, received the Roman franchise at the same and consul in B. c. 6. (Dion Cass. lv. 9. )
time as his brother; but appears to have died soon 2. Laelius BALBUS, accused Acutia, formerly
afterwards, either in Gades or Rome.
the wife of P. Vitellius, of treason (majestas), but
3. L. CORNELIUS Balbus, P. F. , son of the pre- was unable to obtain the visual reward after her
ceding (No. 2], and frequently called Minor, to condemnation, in consequence of the intercession
distinguish him from his uncle [No. 1], was born of the tribune Junius Otho. He was condemned
at Gades, and received the Roman franchise along in A. D. 37 as one of the paramours of Albucilla,
with his father and uncle. On the breaking out deprived of his senatorial rank, and banished to an
of the civil war (B. C. 49) he served under Caesar, island : his condemnation gave general satisfaction,
and was sent by him to the consul L. Cornelius as he had been ever ready to accuse the innocent.
Lentulus, who was an old friend of his uncle's, to (Tac. Ann. vi. 47, 48. )
persuade him to return to Rome. Balbus under-
VIII. Lucilii Balbi.
took the same dangerous commission in the follow- 1. L. Lucilius Balbus, the jurist. See below.
ing year, and paid Lentulus a visit in the Pompeian 2. Q. LUCILIUS BALBUS, probably the brother
camp at Dyrrhachium, but he was not successful of the preceding, a Stoic philosopher, and a pupil
either time. Balbus served under Caesar in the of Panaetius, had made such progress in the Stoic
Alexandrian and Spanish wars, during which time philosophy, that he appeared io Cicero comparabile
he kept up a correspondence with Cicero, with whom to the best Greek philosophers. (De Nat. Deor. i. 6. )
he had become acquainted through his uncle. In He is introduced by Cicero in his dialogue “ On
return for his services in these wars, Caesar made the Nature of the Gods” as the expositor of the
him pontiff; and it is therefore probably this Cor- opinions of the Stoics on that subject, and his ar-
nelius Balbus who wrote a work on the Roman guments are represented as of considerable weight.
sacra, of which the eighteenth book is quoted by De Nat. Deor. iii.
