Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 2.djvu/815

Rh LONGINUS. now been fissigiied to Dolabella and Antony-re- spectively. Resolving to make a final effort to regain the popular favour, Brutus celebrated the Ludi Apollinares with extraordinary splendour in the month of July ; but as this was not followed by the expected results, they resolved to leave Italy. Tiiey accordingly published a decree, in which they resigned their office as praetors, and declared that they would for the future live in banishment, in order to preserve the harmony of the state. This, however, was only done to excite odium against Antony. Instead of going to the provinces which had been assigned to them by the senate, Brutus went into Macedonia, and Cassius hastened to take possession of Syria before Dolabella could arrive there. In Asia Cassius received the support of the proconsul L. Trebonius, and of the quaestor P. Lentulus Spinther, who supplied him with money. On his arrival in Syria, where his former victories over the Parthians had gained him a great reputa- tion, Cassius soon collected a considerable army, lie was joined by the troops of Caecilius Bassus, the Pompeian, as well as by those of the Caesarian generals, who had for some years been carrying on war against one another. [Bassus, Cakcilius.] His army was still further strengthened by the addition of four legions, commanded by A. Allienus, the legate of Dolabella, and Avhich went over to Cassius in Judea, at the beginning of B.C. 43. Cassius was now prepared to meet Dolabella ; he was at the head of twelve legions, besides the troops which he had brought with him into Sy- ria. The senate, meantime, who had come to an open rupture with Antony, confirmed Cassius in his province, and entrusted to him the conduct of the war against Dolabella. The latter, after he had killed Trebonius in Smyrna, entered Syria in the month of April. After an unsuccessful attack upon Antioch, he obtained possession of Laodiceia, Avhere he maintained himself for a short time ; but the town was soon afterwards betrayed to Cassius, and Dolabella, to avoid falling into the hands of his enemies, ordered one of his soldiers to put him to death. The inhabitants of Laodiceia, as well as those of Tarsus, which had also submitted to Dola- bella, were obliged to purchase their pardon by large contributions. Cassius now proposed to march against Cleopatra in Egypt ; but Brutus summoned him to his ansistaTice, in consequence of the formation of the celebrated triumvirate, in the month of October, by Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus. After appoint- ing his brother's son, L. Cassius Longinus, governor of Syria, and leaving him one legion, he set out with the rest of his forces to join Brutus. They met at Smyrna, and there concerted measures for the prosecution of the war. Brutus was anxious to proceed at once into Macedonia, but Cassius was of opinion that tiiey should first put down all the friends of the triumvirs in Asia, and not proceed further till they had increased their army and fleet, and obtained further resources by plundering the provinces. The hitler plan was resolved upon, and Rhodes, which had assisted Dolabella, was first destined to feel the vengeance of Cassius. After conquering the Rhodians in a sea-fight, he cbtained possession of their city by treacherj', executed fifty of the leading inhabitants, and plundered them so unmercifully that the booty was said to amoimt to 8500 talents. This immense sum only whetted still more the appetite of Cassius, and 70L. II. LONGINUS. 801 accordingly, on his return to Asia, he imposed wmn the province a ten years' tribute, which was to le raised immediately. Meanwhile, the colleague of Cassius, M. Brutus, was employed in the same way in robbing the towns of Lycia ; and the liberators of the Roman world made it pay very dearly for its freedom. At the beginning of the following year, b. c. 42, Brutus and Cassius met again at Sardis, where their armies greeted them with the title of impe- rators. Here they had some serious diiferences, and were nearly coming to an open rupture ; but the common danger to which they were exposed produced a reconciliation between them. They crossed over the Hellespont, marched through Thrace, and finally took up their position near Philippi in Macedonia. Here Antony also soon appeared with his army, and Octavian followed ten days afterwards. Brutus and Cassius, whose position was far more favourable than that of the enemy, resolved to avoid a battle, and to subdue them by hunger. But this plan was frustrated by the bold manoeuvres of Antony, who forced them into a general engagement. The left wing, com- manded by Brutus, conquered Octavian 's forces, and took his camp ; but Antony, who conmianded the other wing, defeated Cassius and obtained pos- session of his camp. Cassius himself, supposing all was lost, and ignorant of the success of Brutus, commanded his freedman Pindarus to put an end to his life. Brutus mourned over his companion, calling him the last of the Romans, and caused him to be buried in Thasos. Cassius was married to Junia Tertia or Tertulla, half-sister of his confederate, M. Brutus : she sur- vived him upwards of sixty years, and did not die till the reign of Tiberius, a. d. 22. [Jukia, No. 3.] Only one of his children is mentioned [See No. 1 3 J, and we do not know whether he had any more. Cassius was a man of literary tastes and habits. He received instruction in the Greek language and literature from Archelaus of Rhodes, and he both wrote and spoke Greek with facility. He was a follower of the Epicurean philosophy ; but was ab- stemious and simple in his mode of life. His abilities were considerable ; and though he would certainly have been incapable, like Caesar or Au- gustus, of governing the Roman world, yet he ex- celled the rest of the conspirators in prudence, reso- lution, and power of ruling. His campaigns against the Parthians had early gained for him a military reputation, and he was always respected and cheerfully obeyed by his soldiers. But with all this he had a mean soul. He was a lover of money, and a lover of self of the worst kind. In his first government of Syria he was notorious for his ra- pacity ; and when a second time in Asia, he availed himself of the pretext of liberating his country, ia order to increase his private fortune by plundering the provincials. It was his high estimate of himself, his envy of Caesar's position, and mor- tification at becoming an inferior and a subject, which led him to become a murderer of the greatest man that Rome ever produced. (Cicero, in the passages collected in Orelli's Onomast. Tull. vol. ii. p. 134, &c.; Pint. Crass, 18. 20, 22, 24, 27, Brut. 39—44 ; Appian, B. C. ii. 88, iv. 114 ; Dion Cass. lib. xl. — xlvii. All the authorities are collected in Drumann, Gesch. Boms, vol. ii. pp. 117 — 152.) 12. L. Cassius Longinus, brother of No. 1 1, assisted M. Latcrensis in accusing Cn. Plancius, in 3 P