Gaius Avienus

Gaius Avienus was an Equites of the Aviena gens of ancient Rome who lived in the 1st century BCE.

He served as the military tribune of the tenth legion, probably an appointee of Julius Caesar. He was in active service from at least 47 BCE.^[1] In 46 BCE, he sailed from Lilybaeum to the African town of Uzita, where Caesar's camp was located, commandeering a vessel of the convoy for his own private use. When he arrived, Caesar realized Avienus's ship had brought only his own personal slaves and pack animals, and not one single Roman soldier.^[2]^[3]

The next day, Caesar called an assembly of legionnaires and publicly, dishonorably discharged (ignominiosa missio) Avienus from service. This was a severe disgrace, which disentitled a soldier from all benefits and rewards, and classed the offender as infames: they were still technically Roman citizens, but they were stigmatized and excluded from civic life.^[4]^[5]

This was also intended to punish Avienus for an incident in 47 BCE in which, Caesar believed, Avienus had incited soldiers of the tenth legion to mutiny.^[1]^[6]

He was probably from Campania.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Łuć, Ireneusz (2024). Roman Military Tribunes (First Century BC to Third Century AD): A Historical and Prosopographical Study. Vol. 1. Archaeopress Publishing Limited. p. 52. ISBN 9781803278544. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
^ Julius Caesar, De Bello Africo 46
^ Roth, Jonathan P. (1999). The logistics of the Roman army at war (264 B.C.-A.D. 235). Brill Publishers. p. 90. ISBN 9789004112711. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
^ Caesar, Julius (2019) [1st century BCE]. Raaflaub, Kurt A.; Strassler, Robert B. (eds.). The Landmark Julius Caesar: The Complete Works. Translated by Raaflaub, Kurt A. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 578. ISBN 9780307455444. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
^ Augier, Bertrand (2024). "The Changing Face of the Command Structure During the Civil Wars (49-30 BCE)". In Cornwell, Hannah; Westall, Richard (eds.). New Perspectives on the Roman Civil Wars of 49–30 BCE. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781350272491. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
^ Jimenez, Ramon (2008). Caesar Against Rome: The Great Roman Civil War. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 201. ISBN 9780275966201. Retrieved 2025-01-18.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William (1870). "Avianus, Marcus Aemilius". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 1. p. 431.

[tribunes-1] Łuć, Ireneusz (2024). Roman Military Tribunes (First Century BC to Third Century AD): A Historical and Prosopographical Study. Vol. 1. Archaeopress Publishing Limited. p. 52. ISBN 9781803278544. Retrieved 2025-01-18.

[2] Julius Caesar, De Bello Africo 46

[3] Roth, Jonathan P. (1999). The logistics of the Roman army at war (264 B.C.-A.D. 235). Brill Publishers. p. 90. ISBN 9789004112711. Retrieved 2025-01-18.

[4] Caesar, Julius (2019) [1st century BCE]. Raaflaub, Kurt A.; Strassler, Robert B. (eds.). The Landmark Julius Caesar: The Complete Works. Translated by Raaflaub, Kurt A. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 578. ISBN 9780307455444. Retrieved 2025-01-18.

[5] Augier, Bertrand (2024). "The Changing Face of the Command Structure During the Civil Wars (49-30 BCE)". In Cornwell, Hannah; Westall, Richard (eds.). New Perspectives on the Roman Civil Wars of 49–30 BCE. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781350272491. Retrieved 2025-01-18.

[6] Jimenez, Ramon (2008). Caesar Against Rome: The Great Roman Civil War. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 201. ISBN 9780275966201. Retrieved 2025-01-18.

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Gaius Avienus

References

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