A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

13. M.Titius, the son of the preceding, raised a fleet on his own account during the civil wars which followed the death of Caesar, but was taken prisoner in B. C. 40 off the coast of Gallia Narbonensis by Menas, the admiral of Sex. Pompeius. He was, however, spared by Sex. Pompeius, chiefly for the sake of his father, who was then living with Pompeius in Sicily. By the peace of Misenum, concluded in the following year (B. C. 39) between Pompeius and the triumvirs, Titius returned to Italy (D. C. 48.30). Titius now entered the service of Antonius and served as his quaestor in the campaign against the Parthians in B. C. 36 (Plut. Ant. 42). In the following year (B. C. 35), Titius received the command of some troops from L. Munatius Plancus, the governor of Syria, in order to oppose Sex. Pompeius, who had fled from Sicily to Asia. Pompeius was shortly after taken prisoner and brought to Miletus, where he was murdered by Titius, although the latter owed his life to him. Titius, however, had probably received orders from Plancus or Antonius to put him to death [POMPEIUS, p. 491a]. (Appian, App. BC 5.134, 136, 140, 142, 144; D. C. 49.18 ; Vell. 2.79). This, however, was not the only act of ingratitude committed by Titius, for in B. C. 32 he deserted Antonius, and went over to Octavianus along with his uncle Plancus. He was rewarded for his treachery by being made one of the consuls (suffecti) in B. C. 31. He served under Octavianus in the war against his former patron, and, along with Statilius Taurus, had the command of the land forces. Shortly before the battle of Actium he put Antony's cavalry to the rout. (D. C. 1. 3, 13; Plut. Ant. 58 ; Vell. 2.83.)