Gaius Furnius (tribune) facts for kids
Gaius Furnius was an important Roman politician who lived around 2,000 years ago. He was a tribune of the plebs in 50 BC. A tribune was a special official who protected the rights of ordinary Roman citizens, called plebians. Furnius was also a good friend and frequent letter-writer with Cicero, a famous Roman speaker and statesman.
Early Career and the Civil War
As a tribune, Gaius Furnius helped Cicero when Cicero wanted to return to Rome after being a governor in a place called Cilicia. Furnius also supported Cicero in getting a special "thanksgiving" ceremony, called a supplicatio, from the Roman Senate.
Furnius was against the demands of the powerful, old Roman families (called the oligarchical party). They wanted Julius Caesar to give up his command in Gaul right away. When the civil war started, Furnius was sent by Caesar to deliver letters to Cicero in 49 BC.
Furnius later worked with Lucius Munatius Plancus, who was a governor in Transalpine Gaul. Furnius was an assistant (called a legate) to Plancus during the first war between Mark Antony and Octavian (who later became Emperor Augustus). This was around the time of the Battle of Mutina and continued until after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. During these wars, Furnius kept Cicero informed about what the Roman armies were doing in Gaul and Spain.
Later Life and Achievements
In a conflict known as the Perusine War (41-40 BC), Furnius sided with Lucius Antonius, who was Mark Antony's brother. Furnius helped defend a city called Sentinum against Octavian's forces. He also went through a very difficult time during a famine in the city of Perusia. Furnius was one of the officers who helped negotiate the surrender of Perusia.
Later, in 35 BC, Furnius was a governor (called a prefect) in Asia Minor under Mark Antony. While there, he captured Sextus Pompeius, who was a son of the famous Pompey the Great. Sextus Pompeius had fled to Asia Minor after being defeated in a naval battle by Agrippa in 36 BC.
After the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, where Octavian defeated Mark Antony, Furnius made peace with Octavian. His own son, also named Gaius Furnius, helped him with this. As a result, Octavian gave Furnius the high rank of a consular senator. This meant he was allowed to be a consul, one of the two highest elected officials in Rome. Furnius became one of the suffect consuls in 29 BC. This was the first time his name appeared on the official list of consuls, called the Fasti Capitolini.
In 21 BC, Furnius served as a governor again, this time in Hispania Tarraconensis, a part of Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Cayo Furnio (tribuno de la plebe) para niños
