A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

tribune of the plebs, B. C. 56, was a warm friend of Cicero and of Lentulus Spinther. Cicero had returned from exile in the preceding year, and Racilius had then distinguished himself by his exertions to obtain the recall of the orator. In his tribuneship he attacked Clodius in the senate, with the utmost severity; and he allowed Cicero to publish, under his name, an edict against his great enemy. This document, which is cited by an ancient scholiast under the name of Edictum L. Racilii Tribuni Plebi, is now lost (Cic. pro Planc. 32, ad Q. Fr. 2.1.2, 2.6.5, ad Fam. 1.7.2; Schol. Bob. pro Planc. p. 268, ed. Orelli). In the civil war Racilius espoused Caesar's party, and was with his army in Spain in B. C. 48. There he entered into the conspiracy formed against the life of Q. Cassius Longinus, the governor of that province, and was put to death with the other conspirators, by Longinus. [LONGINUS, No. 15.] (Hirt. B. Alex. 52, 55.)