Gaius Trebonius

Gaius Trebonius (c. 92 BC – January 43 BC) was a military commander and politician of the late Roman Republic, who became suffect consul in 45 BC. He was an associate of Julius Caesar, having served as his legate and having fought on his side during the civil war, and was among the conspirators of his assassination.

Early career Born c. 92 BC,Based upon Sulla’s reforms, where plebeians were to be at least 32 years of age for election as Quaestor. Trebonius' father was an eques,Syme, pg. 95 but had not been a magistrate, and the son was considered a novus homo ("new man"), one of several in Caesar's circle.Syme, pg. 94 He served as quaestor around 60 BC,Broughton, pg. 184 during which he attempted to prevent the adoption of Publius Clodius Pulcher into a plebeian family, against the wishes of the triumvirs.Smith, pg. 1171 However, by the time Trebonius was elected plebeian tribune in 55 BC, he had become one of their supporters.

During that year, Trebonius proposed a Lex Trebonia to the Tribal Assembly that the consuls Pompey and Crassus receive the provinces of Syria, Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior. Further, that their commands would last for five years, and that the proconsuls would possess the right of making war or peace at their discretion. Cato, a noted opponent of Pompey, spoke against the bill, attempting to filibuster the motion, causing Trebonius to firstly expel him from the Forum, before ordering him to be taken to prison. However, the large crowd which accompanied Cato caused Trebonius to change his mind and order his release.Holmes II, pg. 87 Eventually the law was passed, with the five-year commands to Pompey, who received the two Spanish provinces, and Marcus Licinius Crassus, who obtained Syria.Broughton, pg. 217

Caesar’s legate As a reward for his service to the triumvirs, in 54 BC, he was made one of Julius Caesar's legates, with whom he served for the next five years during Caesar's campaigns in Gaul, with Caesar commenting favourably on his performance during those years. In 54 BC he accompanied Caesar during his second expedition to Britain, where he was placed in charge of three legions who successfully defeated a concerted attack by the forces of Cassivellaunus.Holmes II, pg. 115 Upon Caesar's return to Gaul, Trebonius, along with one legion, was stationed for the winter with the Belgae at Samarobriva.Holmes II, pg. 123 From here he accompanied Caesar in coming to the aid of Quintus Cicero who was besieged during the beginning of Ambiorix's revolt against Roman control of Gaul.Broughton, -pg. 226Holmes II, pg. 132

In 53 BC, Trebonius was given a special command against the Eburones,Broughton, pg.232 specifically to harass the area in the vicinity of Huy.Holmes II, pg. 139 After the defeat of Ambiorix, he continued to serve Caesar; in 50 BC he was placed in charge of the winter quarters in Belgic Gaul, in command of four legions while Caesar was in Ravenna, preparing to confront Pompey and his enemies in the Senate.Broughton, pg. 253Holmes II, pg. 253 When Caesar heard that the consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus had asked Pompey to defend the state against Caesar, he ordered Trebonius on 20 October 50 BC to take three legions and move to Matisco, where he was to wait for further instructions.Holmes II, pg. 255 These arrived in April 49 BC, where Caesar instructed him to travel down to Massilia to take command of three newly recruited legions from Northern Italy and begin the siege of Massilia.Broughton, pg. 269; Holmes III, pg. 50 Arriving around April 3, 49 BC, Trebonius began preparing for the siege under Caesar's eye, before the latter left Trebonius on April 14 in charge of the land assaults, while Decimus Brutus Albinus commanded the naval forces.Holmes III, pg. 50 Before he commenced the siege, Trebonius collected labourers and cattle from the Province, ordered timber and wood suitable for wattle-work to be brought up, and then proceeded to construct the principal terrace.Holmes III, pg. 413

The siege lasted from April 19 to September 6, as Trebonius erected a contravallation to blockade the town by land. He also constructed terraces to directly assault the walls, and used battering rams and mines to try to breach the walls.Holmes III, pgs. 80-82 Eventually, in early July, Trebonius's men broke through the wall, and the Massiliots approached Trebonius and begged him to stop operations until the arrival of Caesar, where they would agree to capitulate to him. Trebonius, after conferring with his fellow officers, agreed to suspend the attack, as Caesar had told him under no circumstances was he to storm the town.Holmes III, pgs. 89-90 This led to his soldiers becoming disgruntled, as they were hoping to sack the town and they blamed Trebonius for halting the attack, and they were only kept under control with great difficulty.Holmes III, pg. 90 Then in late August, Trebonius was surprised when the Massiliots burst out of the town, took advantage of the lack of guards posted around, and destroyed the siege equipment which had breached the walls. Trebonius therefore resumed the siege, and proceeded to weaken their defences.Holmes III, pgs. 91-92 The Massiliots, hearing word of Caesar's victories in Spain, again offered to surrender, and asked Trebonius to again wait for Caesar. He agreed, although this time he insisted that the defenders should surrender their weapons, their treasure and their ships, thereby bringing the siege to an end.Holmes III, pgs. 92-93

Assassin of Caesar and Liberator

Following Caesar into Italy, Trebonius was elected urban praetor in 48 BC, and was given the task of administering Caesar's debt laws. In this, he had to deal with the ambitions of Marcus Caelius Rufus, the Praetor peregrinus, who had turned against Caesar as he had been hoping for the post of Urban Praetor.Holmes III, pg. 223 Caesar's debt laws robbed him of the chance to clear his enormous debts, and so he was determined to obstruct Trebonius's administration of the law and to court popularity by siding with the debtors.Smith, pg. 672 He set up his chair next to Trebonius and brazenly declared that if anyone felt cheated by Trebonius, he would listen to their case favourably.Holmes III, pgs. 223-224 When no-one took him up on his offer, Rufus proposed instead to cancel all debts, and instigated a mob to attack Trebonius, driving Trebonius from his tribunal. Trebonius continued to oppose Rufus's debt relief measures, until Rufus fled Rome.Holmes III, pg. 224 During that year, Trebonius also helped Cicero after Cicero's return to Italy.Broughton, pg. 273

At the end of the year he was given a proconsular command and sent to govern Hispania Ulterior, replacing Quintus Cassius Longinus, who was accused of mismanaging the province.Broughton, pg. 275; Holmes III, pg. 295 He held this position until 46 BC, where he was confronted by rebellious legions, and the resurgence of Pompey’s forces.Broughton, pg. 289 They drove him out of his province by the summer of 46,Holmes III, pg. 295 with Trebonius returning at the end of the year accompanied by Caesar. It was during this year that Trebonius approached Marcus Antonius, bringing up the notion of a plot to assassinate Caesar but was put down.Broughton, pg. 299Bringmann, pg. 272 Cicero later claimed that Trebonius and Marcus Antonius conspired to send an assassin to murder Caesar in 45 BC.Holmes III, pg. 317

Caesar appointed Trebonius as consul on 1 October 45 BC, with Trebonius actively continuing to plot against him.Broughton, pg. 330; Holmes III, pg. 340 According to Cicero, Trebonius preferred the liberty of the Roman people over his friendship for Caesar.Holmes III, pg. 341 In early 44 BC, he dared to protest to Caesar for his refusal to stand when the members of the Senate came to inform him of the honors the Senate had conferred upon him; Caesar apparently simply stared back at him without making a comment.Holmes III, pg. 333

On March 15, 44 BC, the day marked for the assassination of Caesar, Trebonius was the person who distracted Mark Antony by pulling him aside for a conversation, to keep him outside the Theatre of Pompey while Caesar was being attacked.Broughton, pg. 315; Holmes III, pg. 343 Having been nominated by Caesar for the position of proconsul for Asia,Bringmann, pg. 285Holmes III, pg. 331 he immediately left for the province during 44 BC.Syme, pg. 103 While there, he raised money and troops for Brutus and Cassius.Smith, pg. 1172 He also helped Cassius on his way to Syria later in the year.Broughton, pg. 330 Later, he attempted to fast-track Publius Cornelius Dolabella in his passage through Asia by providing whatever supplies he needed, as well as refusing to open cities for Dolabella. However, Dolabella took Smyrna in Asia Minor, where he captured Trebonius in the process. In January 43 BC, Dolabella put Trebonius on trial for treasonSyme, pg. 172 before proceeding to torture him and then behead him.Broughton, pg. 349; Syme, pg. 172; Bringmann, pg. 291

Gaius Trebonius

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