Roman Civilization

CMS 206 /History 206

Considerable violence and electoral corruption marked Roman political life during the years of Pompey's departure and absence from Rome. Cornelius and Gabinius, supporters of Pompey had been elected tribune for the 67 B.C.E.. Calpurnius Piso, an opponent of Pompey and defender of Senatorial privilege, was consul. Piso's colleague, M'. Acilius Glabrio was an ally of Pompey, but not the sort of man in whom anyone would rest much confidence. [Gruen, p. 131, quoting Cicero, Brutus, 239: "M'. Glabrionem...socors ipsius natura neglegensque tardaverat.]

Gabinius proposed that Pompey be awarded the command against pirates in the Mediterranean. Piso led a vigorous opposition in the Senate which led to a mob attack on the curia and almost to Piso's death. Gabinius eventual passed his proposal, although not without threatening to depose the tribune Trebellius who had threatened his veto. In the same year, Cornelius and Piso competed bitterly to have their name attached to electoral reform legislation. Piso eventually won the struggle, which was marked by the spectacle of Cornelius ignoring another tribune's veto against the reading of a procedural bill designed to block Piso's legislation, mob violence against Piso, and a bodyguard voted by the Senate to protect the consul. Elections were twice interrupted in 67 (Cicero, Pro Lege Manilia, 2.1, Ad Att. I.11, Val. Max. 3.8.3), in part because of the violence associated with the contest between Piso and Cornelius and in part because Piso's hostility to Pompey was so great that he had refused the candidacy of one of Pompey's men for consulship, M. Lollius Palicanus.