Aulus Gabinius facts for kids

Aulus Gabinius (born around 101 BC – died 48 or 47 BC) was an important politician and military leader in the Roman Republic. He had a very successful career, becoming a consul (one of the two highest officials) in 58 BC. This was largely thanks to the support of a powerful general named Pompey. Gabinius is best known for a special law he helped pass in 67 BC. This law, called the lex Gabinia, gave Pompey extraordinary power to fight pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.

Gabinius's Early Career and Key Laws

This coin was made in Syria when Gabinius was governor there.

In 67 BC, Gabinius was a tribune of the plebs. This was an important official who represented the common people of Rome. He proposed a new law that gave Pompey special command over the war against the pirates in the Mediterranean. This law gave Pompey huge control over the sea and the land near the coast.

Gabinius also introduced two other important rules. One rule made it possible to take legal action against foreign ambassadors in Rome who took loans. This was meant to help stop corruption among Roman senators. The other rule made the Senate meet with foreign visitors on specific days each year.

Serving with Pompey and Becoming Consul

Gabinius continued to serve Pompey as a trusted officer during the Third Mithridatic War. In 65 BC, he led two Roman legions (large army units) into northern Mesopotamia. His goal was to convince the Parthian king, Phraates III, to make a peace treaty with Pompey.

In 61 BC, Gabinius was a praetor, another important Roman official. He tried to gain public support by putting on very grand public games. In 59 BC, Gabinius ran for one of the two consul positions for the next year. He was elected, though some people suspected that he had used bribery to win. He served as consul with Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, who was Julius Caesar's father-in-law. During his time as consul, Gabinius helped Publius Clodius Pulcher force the famous speaker Marcus Tullius Cicero into exile. Gabinius also managed to get Syria assigned to him as his next job, where he would be governor.

Governor of Syria and Adventures in Egypt

In 57 BC, Gabinius began his term as the governor of Syria. Soon after he arrived, he helped Hyrcanus II become the high priest in Jerusalem again. He also stopped several rebellions and made important changes to the government of Judaea. He rebuilt several towns too.

Gabinius also supported Mithridates IV in his fight against his brother Orodes. However, Gabinius changed his mind when he received a more profitable offer. He was asked to help restore Ptolemy XII Auletes to the throne of Egypt.

Restoring Ptolemy XII to the Egyptian Throne

In 55 BC, Pompey convinced Gabinius to lead his army to Egypt to put Ptolemy XII back on his throne. Gabinius did this without getting permission from the Roman Senate. He succeeded after a quick and successful military campaign. A young cavalry officer named Mark Antony helped him during this time. Gabinius left some of his troops, known as the Gabiniani, in Egypt to protect Ptolemy XII. These Gabiniani soldiers later fought against rebellious Egyptians and, after the king's death, against Julius Caesar.

While Gabinius was in Egypt, Syria faced many problems from robbers. Also, Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, started another uprising. He wanted to take the high priesthood from Hyrcanus II. Gabinius quickly returned to Judea and defeated Alexander near Mount Tabor, killing many of Alexander's men.

Gabinius worked hard to bring order back to Syria. In 54 BC, he handed over the province to the next governor, Marcus Licinius Crassus.

Challenges and Later Life

Roman businessmen, called equites (knights), who collected taxes, had lost a lot of money during the troubles in Syria. They were very angry with Gabinius. When he returned to the Senate to report on his time as governor, he was put on trial for several serious accusations.

Gabinius was accused of leaving his province for Egypt without the Senate's permission. This was a very serious charge, but he was found not guilty. Some people said the judges were bribed. Even Cicero, who was Gabinius's enemy, was convinced by Pompey to speak as little as possible during the trial.

However, on a second charge, which involved taking money unfairly during his time as governor, Gabinius was found guilty. This was related to a large sum of money (10,000 talents) that Ptolemy XII had paid him to be restored to the throne. Even with Pompey's support and witnesses from Alexandria, and despite Cicero speaking for him, he was convicted. Cicero only agreed to help because he wanted to do a favor for Pompey. Some people thought Cicero's half-hearted defense contributed to Gabinius being found guilty. A third accusation, about illegal actions during his campaign for consul, was then dropped. Gabinius was sent into exile, and his property was taken away.

Return to Rome and Final Years

When Caesar's Civil War began, Gaius Julius Caesar called Gabinius back to Rome in 49 BC. Gabinius joined Caesar's service but did not actively fight against his old friend, Pompey.

After the Battle of Pharsalus, Gabinius was given the task of transporting new troops to Illyricum. On his way, he was attacked by the Dalmatians. He managed to reach Salona (in Dalmatia) with difficulty. There, Gabinius defended himself against attacks from a Pompeian commander named Marcus Octavius. However, a few months later, he became ill and died in 48 BC or early 47 BC.

Family Life

Gabinius married a Roman noblewoman named Lollia. She was from the Lollia family. She might have been the daughter of Marcus Lollius Palicanus, who was a tribune of the plebs in 71 BC. Lollia and Gabinius had a son named Aulus Gabinius Sisenna.

Sources

• Cassius Dio xxxvi. 23–36, xxxviii. 13. 30, xxxix. 55-63
• Plutarch, Pompey, 25. 48
• Josephus, Antiq. xiv. 4-6
• Appian, Illyrica, 12, Bell. Civ. ii. 24. 59
• Cicero, ad Atti. vi. 2, ad Q. Fratrem, ii. 13, Post reditum in senatu, 4–8, Pro lege Manilia, 17, 18, 19
• exhaustive article by Bähr in Ersch and Gruber's Allgemeine Encyclopädie
• Giuseppe Stocchi, Aulo Gabinio e i suoi processi (1892)

See also

In Spanish: Aulo Gabinio para niños