A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

was tribune of the people in B. C. 55, and with his colleague, Aquillius Gallus, opposed Pompey and Crassus, who were consuls that year. Capito in particular opposed a bill, which the tribune Trebonius brought forward, concerning the distribution of the provinces, but in vain. Capito and Gallus afterwards endeavoured to stop the levy of the troops and to render the campaigns, which the consuls wished to undertake, impossible; and when Crassus, nevertheless, continued to make preparations for an expedition against the Parthians, Capito announced awful prodigies which were disregarded by Crassus. Appius, the censor, afterwards punished Capito with a nota censoria, as he was charged with having fabricated the prodigies by which he had attempted to deter Crassus from his undertaking. Dio Cassius (39.34) says, that Capito, as tribune, also counteracted the measures adopted by the consuls in favour of Caesar; but some time afterwards Cicero (ad Famil. 13.29), who speaks of hint as his friend, says that he favoured the party of Caesar, though it may be inferred from the whole tone of the letter of Cicero just referred to, that Capito had made no public declaration in favour of Caesar, as Cicero is at so much pains to induce Plancus to interfere with Caesar on behalf of Capito. It is not improbable that our Capito, whom Tacitus (Tac. Ann. 3.45) calls a praetorian, is the same as the one whom Appian (App. BC 5.33, 50) mentions as a legate of Antony. (Comp. D. C. 31.42, 39.33_39; Appian, App. BC 2.18; Plut. Crass. 19; Cic. de Divinat. 1.16.)

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