Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther facts for kids
Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther (c. 100 BC – 47 BC) was an important Roman politician and general. He came from a noble Roman family called the patrician Cornelii. He helped stop a plot against Rome called the Catilinarian conspiracy in 63 BC. Later, he became a consul in 57 BC, which was a very high position. Even though he couldn't invade Egypt, he won battles in his province of Cilicia. He even celebrated a special parade called a triumph in 51 BC.
When the big Caesar's civil war started, he chose to support Pompey and the Roman Senate. Caesar captured him early in the war but then pardoned him. Spinther then went to Greece to join Pompey's army. We last hear about him in early 47 BC.
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Early Life and First Steps in Politics
Spinther was part of the famous Cornelia family. His father had the same name. People say he got the nickname "Spinther" because he looked like an actor with that name. His younger brother, Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus, also became a consul in 49 BC.
Spinther began his public life in 74 BC. He worked as a quaestor urbanus, which was a financial officer in Rome. During this time, he made denarii coins. These coins showed Genius Populi Romani, the spirit of the Roman people. This was meant to show that the war against Sertorius in Spain was fair.
In 63 BC, he became a curule aedile. This was the same year Cicero was consul and the Catilinarian conspiracy happened. Spinther helped Cicero stop the plot. He held one of the plotters, Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura, before he was executed. Spinther also put on amazing public games. He even used silver to decorate the stage equipment!
After that, he served as an urban praetor in 60 BC. In the same year, he was chosen as one of the pontifices, who were important religious leaders. After being a praetor, he became governor of Hispania Citerior (a part of Spain). He likely had proconsular status, meaning he had the power of a consul. He governed there in 59 BC.
Becoming a Leader: Consul and Governor
In 58 BC, Spinther ran to become a consul for the next year. He had the support of both Julius Caesar and Pompey. Caesar had been friends with Spinther for a while. He had helped Spinther become a pontiff and get his assignment in Spain. Spinther was elected first. Then, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos, who was an enemy of Pompey, joined him as consul.
On January 1, 57 BC, the new consular year began. Spinther successfully asked the senate to bring Cicero back from exile. His fellow consul, Nepos, had been against it but Spinther convinced him. Spinther then passed a law to bring Cicero back. He also helped Cicero get his house back, which had been taken during his exile.
Later that year, news came to Rome about a fight for power in Egypt. This situation promised great wealth and fame for any Roman general who could help. Spinther and Nepos managed to give Pompey a less important job. Pompey was interested in the Egyptian command, but they gave him a job managing Rome's grain supply instead. Spinther's actions showed he wasn't fully loyal to Caesar. Also, Pompey's support didn't stop problems when they tried to restore Ptolemy XII Auletes to the Egyptian throne.
Spinther became the proconsul (governor) of Cilicia, a province that also included Cyprus. The senate told him to help in the Egyptian power struggle. He was supposed to put Ptolemy XII Auletes back on the throne. However, he stopped when a Sibylline oracle (a prophecy) said not to use an army. Cicero wrote about the debate in the senate on January 13, 56 BC:
- The senate voted strongly against using military force.
- Publius Servilius Isauricus suggested not restoring Ptolemy XII at all.
- Bibulus suggested sending three senators without military power to help. This would keep Pompey out.
- Crassus suggested sending three senators with military power.
- Quintus Hortensius, Cicero, and Marcus Lucullus suggested sending Spinther.
- Lucius Volcacius Tullus, with support from Lucius Afranius and Pompey's friends, suggested sending Pompey.
In the end, Bibulus's idea was defeated. A tribune (a public official), vetoed Hortensius's idea. After some delays, another tribune, Gaius Porcius Cato, suggested calling Spinther back. He was already in Cilicia. Another tribune, Lucius Caninius Gallus, suggested sending Pompey. Supporters of Publius Clodius Pulcher then suggested sending Marcus Licinius Crassus. The consul Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus stopped all these ideas by declaring public holidays. Gaius Cato then threatened to stop the elections. Finally, Isauricus's idea was approved by the senate, but then it was vetoed.
All the different plans by Pompey, Crassus, and their opponents canceled each other out. Nothing was done. The actions of the consuls and the different goals of Pompey and Crassus showed that their alliance, the First Triumvirate, was falling apart.
Spinther governed Cilicia from 56 to 54 BC. During this time, he was called imperator, a title for a successful general. He also made large silver coins called Cistophoric tetradrachms. These coins were made in Apameia in Phrygia and had his name on them: P LENTVLVS P F IMPERATOR. He returned to Italy in 53 BC. He stayed outside the pomerium (the sacred boundary of Rome) for two years. He was hoping to celebrate a triumph, which he finally did in late 51 BC.
The Great Roman Civil War
Before Caesar's civil war began, Spinther played a part in stopping Caesar. According to Cassius Dio, Spinther voted against extending Caesar's term in 50 BC. He was joined by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and a young Marcus Junius Brutus.
When the war started in 49 BC, Spinther quickly sided with Pompey. He joined Domitius Ahenobarbus in trying to fight Caesar at Corfinium. They had three legions, but Caesar surrounded them. Spinther and Domitius, along with others, were forced to surrender. Caesar spared their lives. He even gave Domitius back a lot of money. However, Caesar took all their soldiers and sent them to take Sicily.
After some thought, Spinther rejoined Pompey and his army in Greece. Cicero wrote a letter to Caesar, thanking him for being kind to Spinther. But it seems Spinther privately thought Caesar's kindness was just a trick. He believed it would disappear if Caesar lost public support.
In 48 BC, Pompey's main army faced Julius Caesar's army at the Battle of Pharsalus. Spinther fought in this battle. It was a huge defeat for Pompey's forces. Pompey himself fled to Egypt, where he was killed. Spinther escaped to Rhodes. At first, they wouldn't let him in, but then they gave him a safe place.
Death and Family
Some sources suggest Spinther died in 48 BC. However, Cicero's writings suggest he lived until early 47 BC. Some historians think Caesar might have been responsible for Spinther's death. This could explain why Spinther's son, who had the same name, joined Caesar's killers, Brutus and Cassius. His son even made coins for them during their civil war against Mark Antony and Octavian.[speculation?] Like his father, the younger Spinther put his own name and nickname "Spinther" on his coins. The other side of these coins showed the head of 'Liberty'.
His wife was likely Caecilia Metella.
See also
In Spanish: Publio Cornelio Léntulo Espínter para niños
- List of Roman consuls
