Titus Annius Milo facts for kids

Titus Annius Milo (died 48 BC) was a Roman politician who was involved in many conflicts during his time. He was the son of Gaius Papius Celsus, but was adopted by his grandfather, Titus Annius Luscus. In 52 BC, he was accused of being involved in the death of Publius Clodius Pulcher and was sent away from Rome. His friend, Marcus Tullius Cicero, tried to defend him in a famous speech called Pro Milone, but it was not enough.

Milo's Political Life

Milo was a supporter of Pompey, a very important Roman leader. He was also part of a political group called the Optimates. This group believed that the Roman Senate should have more power. Milo often used groups of armed people, including former gladiators, to oppose another politician named Clodius. Clodius supported Pompey's rival, Julius Caesar, and a different political group called the Populares, who wanted more power for the common people. These two groups often fought in the streets of Rome between 57 BC and 52 BC.

Becoming a Roman Official

Milo became a tribune of the plebs in 57 BC. A tribune was an important official who protected the rights of the common people. In this role, Milo played a big part in helping Cicero return to Rome. Cicero had been forced to leave the city by Clodius the year before.

In 56 BC, Clodius accused Milo of using illegal force. Cicero and Pompey, among others, defended Milo in court. This trial caused more street fights between Milo's and Clodius's supporters in the Roman Forum. People who were against Pompey supported Clodius because they wanted to make Pompey weaker. In the end, Milo was found not guilty.

On January 23, 57 BC, Clodius tried to stop Cicero from returning to Rome using a group of gladiators. But Milo arrested Clodius's gladiators. After this, Clodius's groups attacked Milo. Milo tried to accuse Clodius of violence, but he was not successful. Later that year, he tried again, but Clodius avoided being charged by becoming an aedile in 56 BC. An aedile was another Roman official, and this position gave him protection from prosecution.

Milo became a praetor in 54 BC. A praetor was a high-ranking judge and military commander. In that same year, he married Fausta Cornelia. She was the daughter of the famous Roman leader Lucius Cornelius Sulla and had been married before to Gaius Memmius.

In 53 BC, Milo wanted to become one of the consuls for the next year. A consul was the highest elected official in the Roman Republic. He was running against Quintus Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Publius Plautius Hypsaeus. Milo was a strong candidate because he had gained public support by spending a lot of money and putting on exciting games. He also had the support of the Optimates. However, Pompey supported Milo's opponents. Plautius had worked for Pompey before, and Scipio was Pompey's father-in-law. Meanwhile, Clodius worried that he would not be able to do much as praetor if Milo became consul. The supporters of Milo and Clodius continued to fight in the streets of Rome, which led to a breakdown of order. Because of all the fighting and political disagreements, the elections were cancelled. This meant that 52 BC started without any consuls in charge.

The Death of Clodius

On January 18, 52 BC, Milo and Clodius, each with their own armed groups, met on the Appian Way near Bovillae. Milo was on his way to Lanuvium to appoint a priest. There are different stories about why Clodius was there. Some say he was peacefully going to Rome, while others say he was waiting to ambush Milo. Whatever the reason, a small argument quickly turned into a big fight between the two groups. Clodius was hurt by one of Milo's men, a former gladiator named Birria. Clodius ran into an inn, but Milo ordered his men to bring him out, and Clodius was killed.

Milo's Trial

After Clodius died, his followers carried his body to the Senate House, the Curia Hostilia, and set it on fire. Milo returned to Rome and, with the help of the tribune Marcus Caelius Rufus, tried to get public opinion back on his side. On January 22, Milo tried to meet with Pompey to suggest a way to calm things down, perhaps by giving up his plan to become consul. But Pompey refused to see him.

The Senate took action and passed a special decree, urging the temporary leader, the tribunes, and Pompey to protect the Republic. Because of the ongoing unrest, the Senate asked Pompey to become the only consul. He gathered soldiers and began to restore order, using both force and new laws. He passed a law about illegal election practices and violence, and he charged Milo under this new law. Pompey's actions might have been meant to calm Clodius's supporters, who were still very angry even after burning down the Senate House. Pompey carefully chose the people who would be on Milo's jury, and the judge, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, was a supporter of Pompey.

Milo was defended by Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus Caelius Rufus, and Marcus Marcellus. Under Pompey's new rules, the trial was supposed to last five days. However, on the first day, a witness named Gaius Causinius Schola described Clodius's death in a way that made Milo seem like a cold-blooded killer. This made Clodius's supporters in the crowd very angry, and they scared Milo's lawyer, Marcus Marcellus. When he started questioning witnesses, the crowd was so loud that he could not be heard. On the following days, Pompey brought in armed men to keep order.

On the last day of the trial, Cicero was supposed to give a final speech to try to save Milo from being found guilty. But he became too scared by the angry crowd and either did not finish his speech or did not present it well. Milo was found guilty by a vote of 38 to 13.

Life in Exile

After being found guilty, Milo left Rome and went to live in exile in Massilia (which is now Marseille, France). All of his property was sold. While he was away, Milo was also found guilty of bribery, illegal groups, and violence.

It is said that when Cicero finished writing his famous speech for Milo, he sent a copy to Milo in exile. Milo wrote back that it was lucky for him that the same speech had not been given in court. He joked that if it had, he would "not now be enjoying the delicious red mullet of Massilia," meaning he would not be free to enjoy his new life.

Milo's Death

In 48 BC, Milo joined Marcus Caelius Rufus in a rebellion against Caesar. However, he died that same year during a siege of Compsa, a town near Thurii in Lucania. He was killed by a stone thrown from the city walls.