Lucius Marcius Philippus (consul 91 BCE)
Encyclopedia
Lucius Marcius Philippus (c.141–c.73 BCE) was a Roman
orator and one of the most important politicians of the late Roman Republic
. His strenuous opposition to the reforms of Marcus Livius Drusus
during his consulate of 91 BCE, in defense of the "collusionist policy" of the governing class with the publicani chiefs, was instrumental to the outbreak of the disastrous bellum Italicum, the Social War
. This should have made him a natural Marian
during the violent politics and civil wars of the 80s BCE, and he did well under the Marian government, holding high office. But he was more of an individualist and survivor than committed to any cause, and took advantage of the political amnesty offered by Sulla
in 83 BCE to change sides, along with other Marians of later importance, such as Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
(cos.78) and Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder
(tr.pl.83), P. Cethegus, and Pompey
Magnus. He had backed the winner and enjoyed a special eminence in the first decade after the civil wars as one of the few surviving men of consular rank, and Rome's pre-eminent orator since the death of Marcus Antonius Orator
(late 87 BCE). Following Sulla's death (78 BCE) he played a key role in the suppression of the Lepidan rebellion (78–77) and, shortly before his own death, in the rapid restoration of the public finances in the mid 70s. His political career and character were typified by the harshly cynical but effective measures which he successfully advocated in that grave crisis.
in 104 BCE, during which time he brought forward an agrarian law
, of the details of which we are not informed, but which is chiefly memorable for the statement he made in recommending the measure, that there were not two thousand men in the state who possessed property. He seems to have brought forward this measure chiefly with the view of acquiring popularity, and he quietly dropped it when he found there was no hope of carrying it. In 100 BCE, he defended the state along with other distinguished statesmen to protect it from Lucius Appuleius Saturninus
.
ship in 93 BCE to Marcus Herennius, but did reach the office in 91 BCE with Sextus Julius Caesar
as his colleague. This was a very turbulent year in Rome for Marcus Livius Drusus
, a tribune of the plebs, brought forward laws concerning the distribution of corn, assignation of public land, and the creation on colonies in Italy and Sicily. It is sufficient to state here that Drusus at first enjoyed the full confidence of the senate
, especially as he was passing many laws beneficial to the people, and so endeavoured by his measures to reconcile the people to the senatorial party.
Philippus, on the other hand, belonged to the popular party, and he offered a vigorous opposition to the tribune, and thus came into open conflict with the senate. At times there were scenes of quarrelling and turbulence arising from the objection of populares to the designs of Drusus. On one occasion Philippus declared in the senate that he could no longer carry on the government with such a body, and that there was need of a new senate. This roused the great orator L. Licinius Crassus, who asserted in the course of his speech, in which he is said to have surpassed his usual eloquence, that that man could not be his consul who refused to recognise him as senator. This violence spilled out into the forum at other times. In an attempt to prevent Drusus from passing his laws, Philippus interrupted him. This caused Drusus to order his clients to drag Philippus to prison. The order was executed with such violence that the blood started from the nostrils of the consul, as he was dragged away by the throat. Nevertheless, Drusus successfully passed his laws in the assemblies.
Philippus reconciled himself with the senate, when members previously supportive of Drusus began to mistrust him. He, as an augur, convinced the senate to declare the laws of Drusus to be null and void because they were carried against the auspices. Nothing else is recorded of the consulship of Philippus, except that he recommended the senate to lay claim to Egypt, in. consequence of its having been left to them by the will of Alexander.
with Marcus Perperna
in 86 BCE and he is said to have expelled his own uncle Appius Claudius from the senate.
After Sulla's death he resisted attempts to change the constitution Sulla left in place. But he soon gave his support to Gnaeus Pompeius
, by whose means the people eventually regained most of their former political power.
Cicero says that Philippus was decidedly inferior as an orator to his two great contemporaries Crassus and Antonius, but was without question next to them. In speaking he possessed much freedom and wit; he was fertile in invention, and clear in the development of his ideas; and in altercation he was witty and sarcastic. He was also well acquainted with Greek literature for that time. He was accustomed to speak extempore, and, when he rose to speak, he frequently did not know with what word he should begin: hence in his old age it was with both contempt and anger that he used to listen to the studied periods of Hortensius.
Philippus was a man of luxurious habits, which his wealth enabled him to gratify: his fish-ponds were particularly celebrated for their magnificence and extent, and are mentioned by the ancients along with those of Lucullus and Hortensius.
He had two sons: Lucius Marcius Philippus
and a stepson Gellius Publicola.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
orator and one of the most important politicians of the late Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. His strenuous opposition to the reforms of Marcus Livius Drusus
Marcus Livius Drusus (tribune)
The younger Marcus Livius Drusus, son of Marcus Livius Drusus, was tribune of the plebeians in 91 BC. In the manner of Gaius Gracchus, he set out with comprehensive plans, but his aim was to strengthen senatorial rule...
during his consulate of 91 BCE, in defense of the "collusionist policy" of the governing class with the publicani chiefs, was instrumental to the outbreak of the disastrous bellum Italicum, the Social War
Social War
The Allied War was a war waged from 91 to 88 BC between the Roman Republic and several of the other cities in Italy, which prior to the war had been Roman allies for centuries.-Origins:The Early Italian campaigns saw the Roman conquest of Italy...
. This should have made him a natural Marian
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
during the violent politics and civil wars of the 80s BCE, and he did well under the Marian government, holding high office. But he was more of an individualist and survivor than committed to any cause, and took advantage of the political amnesty offered by Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
in 83 BCE to change sides, along with other Marians of later importance, such as Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (120-77 BC)
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was a Roman statesman. He was the father of the triumvir Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and of the consul of 50 BC Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus.-Biography:...
(cos.78) and Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder
Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder
Marcus Junius Brutus, sometimes referred to by modern historians as Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder to distinguish him from his more famous son, was a tribune of the Roman Republic in 83 BC and the founder of the colony in Capua. He was the first husband to Servilia Caepionis, the elder half-sister...
(tr.pl.83), P. Cethegus, and Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
Magnus. He had backed the winner and enjoyed a special eminence in the first decade after the civil wars as one of the few surviving men of consular rank, and Rome's pre-eminent orator since the death of Marcus Antonius Orator
Marcus Antonius Orator
Marcus Antonius Orator was a Roman politician of the Antonius family and one of the most distinguished Roman orators of his time. He was also the grandfather of the famous general and triumvir, Mark Antony.-Career:...
(late 87 BCE). Following Sulla's death (78 BCE) he played a key role in the suppression of the Lepidan rebellion (78–77) and, shortly before his own death, in the rapid restoration of the public finances in the mid 70s. His political career and character were typified by the harshly cynical but effective measures which he successfully advocated in that grave crisis.
Tribunate
Marcius Philippus was tribune of the plebsTribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
in 104 BCE, during which time he brought forward an agrarian law
Agrarian law
Agrarian laws were laws among the Romans regulating the division of the public lands, or ager publicus.There existed three types of land in ancient Rome: private land, common pasture, and public land...
, of the details of which we are not informed, but which is chiefly memorable for the statement he made in recommending the measure, that there were not two thousand men in the state who possessed property. He seems to have brought forward this measure chiefly with the view of acquiring popularity, and he quietly dropped it when he found there was no hope of carrying it. In 100 BCE, he defended the state along with other distinguished statesmen to protect it from Lucius Appuleius Saturninus
Lucius Appuleius Saturninus
Lucius Appuleius Saturninus was a Roman popularist and tribune; he was a political ally of Gaius Marius, and his downfall caused a great deal of political embarrassment for Marius, who absented himself from public life until he returned to take up a command in the Social War of 91 to 88...
.
Consulship
He lost in a campaign for the consulConsul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
ship in 93 BCE to Marcus Herennius, but did reach the office in 91 BCE with Sextus Julius Caesar
Sextus Julius Caesar
Sextus Julius Caesar was the name of several men of the Julii Caesares family in ancient Rome.-Sextus Julius Caesar I:Lived circa 200 BC. Son of Lucius Julius Caesar I and grandson of Numerius Julius Caesar. Sextus was a military tribune under Lucius Aemilius Paullus, as well as a governor of Liguria...
as his colleague. This was a very turbulent year in Rome for Marcus Livius Drusus
Marcus Livius Drusus (tribune)
The younger Marcus Livius Drusus, son of Marcus Livius Drusus, was tribune of the plebeians in 91 BC. In the manner of Gaius Gracchus, he set out with comprehensive plans, but his aim was to strengthen senatorial rule...
, a tribune of the plebs, brought forward laws concerning the distribution of corn, assignation of public land, and the creation on colonies in Italy and Sicily. It is sufficient to state here that Drusus at first enjoyed the full confidence of the senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, especially as he was passing many laws beneficial to the people, and so endeavoured by his measures to reconcile the people to the senatorial party.
Philippus, on the other hand, belonged to the popular party, and he offered a vigorous opposition to the tribune, and thus came into open conflict with the senate. At times there were scenes of quarrelling and turbulence arising from the objection of populares to the designs of Drusus. On one occasion Philippus declared in the senate that he could no longer carry on the government with such a body, and that there was need of a new senate. This roused the great orator L. Licinius Crassus, who asserted in the course of his speech, in which he is said to have surpassed his usual eloquence, that that man could not be his consul who refused to recognise him as senator. This violence spilled out into the forum at other times. In an attempt to prevent Drusus from passing his laws, Philippus interrupted him. This caused Drusus to order his clients to drag Philippus to prison. The order was executed with such violence that the blood started from the nostrils of the consul, as he was dragged away by the throat. Nevertheless, Drusus successfully passed his laws in the assemblies.
Philippus reconciled himself with the senate, when members previously supportive of Drusus began to mistrust him. He, as an augur, convinced the senate to declare the laws of Drusus to be null and void because they were carried against the auspices. Nothing else is recorded of the consulship of Philippus, except that he recommended the senate to lay claim to Egypt, in. consequence of its having been left to them by the will of Alexander.
The Civil Wars
Philippus did not play much of a part in the Civil Wars. While Cicero mentions that he was in Sulla's party, he remained in Rome unmolested during Cinna's time in power. He even became censorCensor (ancient Rome)
The censor was an officer in ancient Rome who was responsible for maintaining the census, supervising public morality, and overseeing certain aspects of the government's finances....
with Marcus Perperna
Marcus Perperna (consul 92 BCE)
Marcus Perperna was the son of a previous consul, Marcus Perperna.Marcus Perperna became consul in 92 BC with Gaius Claudius Pulcher, and censor in 86 BC with Lucius Marcius Philippus...
in 86 BCE and he is said to have expelled his own uncle Appius Claudius from the senate.
After Sulla's death he resisted attempts to change the constitution Sulla left in place. But he soon gave his support to Gnaeus Pompeius
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
, by whose means the people eventually regained most of their former political power.
Legacy as an orator
Philippus was one of the most distinguished orators of his time. His reputation continued even to the Augustan age, whence we read in Horace: —-
- Strenuus et fortis causisque Philippus agendis Clarus.
Cicero says that Philippus was decidedly inferior as an orator to his two great contemporaries Crassus and Antonius, but was without question next to them. In speaking he possessed much freedom and wit; he was fertile in invention, and clear in the development of his ideas; and in altercation he was witty and sarcastic. He was also well acquainted with Greek literature for that time. He was accustomed to speak extempore, and, when he rose to speak, he frequently did not know with what word he should begin: hence in his old age it was with both contempt and anger that he used to listen to the studied periods of Hortensius.
Philippus was a man of luxurious habits, which his wealth enabled him to gratify: his fish-ponds were particularly celebrated for their magnificence and extent, and are mentioned by the ancients along with those of Lucullus and Hortensius.
He had two sons: Lucius Marcius Philippus
Lucius Marcius Philippus
Lucius Marcius Philippus was a member of a Roman senatorial family. He was a descendant of Roman King Ancus Marcius and the son of the consul and censor Lucius Marcius Philippus. He was a praetor in 60 BC, and became propraetor of Syria in 59 BC, although Appian records that he was...
and a stepson Gellius Publicola.