Lucius Valerius Flaccus (praetor 63 BC)

Lucius Valery belonged to one of the most noble patrician families of Rome. The legendary ancestor Valeriyev was a Sabine and moved to Rome with the co-ruler of Romulus Titus Tatsiy ^[1] . His descendant Publius Valery Publikola became one of the founders of the Roman Republic and consul in the first year of its existence, and later Valeria regularly appeared in Capitoline fasts ^[2] .

The carriers of the Flaccus cognomogen were from the middle of the 3rd to the middle of the 1st century. BC e. the most powerful branch of Valeriyev (along with Messals ). They reached consulate in each of the six generations. Great-grandfather Lucius was the consul of 152 BC. e. , the father - the consul-suffix of 86 BC. e. Uncle Consul 93 BC e. ^[3] Mother Lucius allegedly belonged to the Saufey family ^[4] .

Given the requirements of the Cornelian Law and the chronology of the career of Lucius Valerius, researchers date the birth of the latter about 103 BC. e. Thus, he began adulthood during his father’s eastern campaign in the framework of the First Mithridates War (86 BC) and could well participate in this campaign. Flaccus Sr. in 85 BC e. was killed by rebellious soldiers; After that, Flaccus the Younger took refuge with his uncle Guy Valery, the governor of Gaul ^[5] (83–81 years BC) ^[6] .

In 78 BC e. Lucius as a military tribune again went to the East with Publius Servilius Vatius (later Isavrik ), the governor of Cilicia , who was then at war with the pirates ^[7] . Vatia returned to Rome in 74 BC. e., but Flaccus was already in the capital by the year 76, when he, together with Publius Gabinius and Mania Otacilius, was sent to Greece - for the books of Sibyl for the new temple of Jupiter of Capitoline . Presumably, all participants in this mission were Quindecevir priests ^[8] . In 71 ^[9] or no later than 70 BC. e. Lucius served as a quaestor under Marc Pupia Pison Fruga Calpurnian , governor of one of the two Spanish provinces . From there he returned with Pison in 69 BC. e., to take part in his triumph ^[10] .

In 68 BC e. Flaccus was a legate under the Quintus of Cecilia Metella (later Cretan ), who began a war with pirates in the Aegean Sea ^[11] . It is known that Lucius ruled on behalf of Metella Achaea , Boeotia , Thessaly ^[12] ; he played an important role in the fighting of 68-67 years BC. e., when the Romans established control of the island of Crete ^[13] . In 66 BC e. Flaccus already commanded part of the army of Gnei Pompey the Great in Transcaucasia ^[14] . Its units camped during a campaign in Albania and were attacked by local residents. Lucius, unable to defend the entire perimeter of the fortifications, retreated to the center of the camp and, when the enemy already believed in his victory, suddenly counterattacked. As a result, the Albanians had to flee ^[15] .

Bypassing the edilite , Flaccus won his election by praetor for 63 BC. e. ^[16] In this capacity, he participated in the process of Guy of Rabirius ^[17] , and later supported the consul Mark Tullius Cicero in his fight against the plot of Catilina . In particular, on the night of December 3, it was he, together with his colleague, Guy Pomptin, who arrested the allobrog ambassadors on the Mulvian bridge, in which the most important evidence was found - a letter from the Catilinaries, which revealed their plans ^{[18] [19]} . Thanks to this, Cicero was able to obtain from the Senate a decision on the immediate execution of the conspirators ^[20] .

After the praeture, Lucius Valerius ruled the province of Asia (62 BC) ^[21] . Immediately upon his return to Rome, he was brought to trial by Decimus Lelius , because of which he could not run for consul. In 60 BC e. Flaccus traveled to Transalpine Gaul as part of the embassy, ​​and in 59 BC. e. appeared in court. He was accused of abuse of power, and Lelius, preparing for the process, showed tremendous energy and perseverance (Cicero speaks of an “unusual addiction” ^[22] ): he conducted a large-scale and costly investigation, brought many witnesses from Asia. Flacca was defended by the best speakers of the era, Quintus Hydrangeas Gortal and Cicero. Apparently, Gortal spoke first and tried to refute the allegations in essence. Cicero, in his speech, most of which has survived, dwelled on the political side of things. He stated that Lelius brought Flaccus to trial at the request of Gnei Pompey the Great, who had his own interests in Asia, and that this accusation was revenge on Lucius Valery for his participation in the defeat of the Catilina conspiracy; the defendant, on his part, received all kinds of praises. As a result, the jury passed a acquittal ^{[23] [24]} .

Despite a positive outcome, Lucius Valery could not take the next step in his career - to become a consul. In 57 BC e. he went to Macedonia as a legate under the proconsul of Lucius Calpurnia Pison Caesonin ^[25] ; in 55 BC e. Flaccus returned to Rome and was mentioned by Cicero in his speech "Against Piso", but only in connection with the long-standing joint struggle against Catilina. In September 54 BC e. Lucius gave testimony in court, at the trial of Gnei Plantation . Shortly thereafter, he apparently died ^[26] . Valery Maxim reports that Flucius made Lucius Cornelius Balba , with whom he had an unfriendly relationship, without mentioning his former defenders Cicero and Gortal in the document ^[27] . This story appears to be presented with rhetorical exaggeration; in any case, Balb was not the only heir in general, but the only heir outside the family ^[26] .

Lucius Valerius had at least one son, Guy . This noble died in 48 BC. e. in the battle of Dyrrachius very young and became the last of the Valerius Flaccus ^[28] .

Sources

1. Valery Maxim . Memorable deeds and sayings . - SPb. , 1772. - T. 2. - 520 s.
2. Dion Cassius . Roman history (neopr.) . Date of treatment January 8, 2019.
3. Guy Sallust Crisp . About the Catilina conspiracy // Caesar. Sallust. - M .: Ladomir, 2001 .-- S. 445-487. - ISBN 5-86218-361-2 .
4. Mark Tullius Cicero . Speech. - M .: Nauka, 1993 .-- ISBN 5-02-011169-4 .
5. Mark Tullius Cicero. Speech in defense of Lucius Valerius Flaccus (neopr.) . Date of treatment January 8, 2019.

Literature

1. Grimal P. Cicero. - M .: Young Guard, 1991 .-- 544 p. - ISBN 5-235-01060-4 .
2. Broughton R. Magistrates of the Roman Republic. - New York, 1952. - Vol. II. - P. 558.
3. Münzer F. Valerius 162ff // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1955. - Bd. VIII A, 1. - Kol. 3-5.
4. Münzer F. Valerius 169 // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1955. - Bd. VIII A, 1. - Kol. 9.
5. Münzer F. Valerius 179 // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1955. - Bd. VIII A, 1. - Kol. 30-36.
6. Volkmann H. Valerius // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1948. - Bd. VII A, 1. - Kol. 2292-2296.
7. Volkmann H. Valerius 89 // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft . - 1948. - Bd. VII A, 1. - Kol. 2311.