Publius Cornelius Cethegus (public enemy)

Publius Cornelius Cethegus, was a Roman politician active in the time of Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Cicero credits Cethegus with knowing the res Publicus inside and out.[1]

Not to be confused with Publius Cornelius Cethegus (consul 181 BC).

Ronald Syme notes "what is known about his career furnishes a commentary".[2] Cethegus was first a supporter of Marius, being among those whom Sulla declared public enemies in 88 BC after his first march on Rome.[3] When Sulla returned from the East after having defeated Mithridates Eupator, Cethegus deserted the cause of the populares and joined him.[4]

Cethegus was known for a notorious bad life and for untrustworthiness but nonetheless he managed to accumulate great power and influence after Sulla's death, to the amount that even Lucius Licinius Lucullus was forced to sue Cethegus' concubine to use her interest in his favour, when he sought the command against Mithridates.[5] Symes believes Cethegus died not longer after 74 BC.[2]

See also

References
  1. Cicero, Brutus 178
  2. Syme, "Missing Senators", Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 4 (1955), p. 60
  3. Arthur Keaveney, Sulla: The Last Republican, p. 110
  4. Appian, Bellum Civilis i. 60, 62, 80.
  5. Cicero, Paradoxa Stoicorum v.3; Plutarch, Lucullus 5, 6; cf. Cicero, Pro Cluentio 31.
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