A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

15. L.ValeriusFlaccus, a son of No. 11, served in Cilicia as tribune of the soldiers, under P. Servilius, in B. C. 78, and afterwards as quaestor, under M. Calpurnius Piso, in Spain. (Cic. pro FLacc. 3.) He was praetor in B. C. 63, the year of Cicero's consulship, who through his assistance got possession of the documents which the Allobrogian ambassadors had received from the accomplices of Catiline. In the year after his praetorship he had the administration of Asia, in which he was succeeded by Q. Cicero. (Cic. pro Flacc. 13, 14, 21, 40.) In B. C. 59 he was accused by D. Laelius of having been guilty of extortion in his province of Asia; but Flaccus, although he was undoubtedly guilty, was defended by Cicero (in the oration pro Flacco, which is still extant) and Q. Hortensius, and was acquitted. (Comp. Cic. in Cut. 3.2, 6 ; ad Att. 1.19, 2.25, in Pison, 23; the oration pro Flacco; pro Planc. 11; Schol. Bob. p. Flacc. p.228 ; Sallust, Sal. Cat. 45.)