A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

a Roman annalist whom Cicero pronounces far superior to any of his predecessors, and whose name Varro prefixed to his own work upon history, is said by Velleius to have been a young man (juvenis) at the period of the Numantine war, the contemporary of Rutilius' Rufus, Claudius Quadrigarius, and Valerius Antias. The date thus indicated will by no means agree with the statements contained in Cicero's Brutus (64, 68), that he was intermediate between Hortensius and Sulpicius, of whom the former was born in B. C. 114, the latter in B. C. 124. The account here given is confirmed by the fact, which seems to be clearly established, that he was praetor in the year when Sulla died (B. C. 78), for supposing him to have obtained the office " suo anno," his birth would thus be fixed to B. C. 118 or 119. He probably obtained Sicily for his province, in B. C. 77, and from the local knowledge thus acquired was enabled to render good service to Verres, whose cause he espoused (Cic. Ver. 2.45, 4.20). During the piratical war (B. C. 67) he acted as the legatus of Pompeius, and having been despatched to Crete in command of an army, died in that island at the age of about fifty-two.

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