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== Early life == |
== Early life == |
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=== From birth to the Gallic Wars === |
=== From birth to the Gallic Wars === |
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Publius Ventidius{{efn|Some Ancient sources infrequently give him the ”[[cognomen]]” “Bassus” or the ”[[praenomen]]” “Lucius”.{{sfn|Rohr Vio|2009|p=6}} However, no official or contemporary source calls him that, leading modern authors to avoid it as well.{{sfn|Wylie|1993|p= |
Publius Ventidius{{efn|Some Ancient sources infrequently give him the ”[[cognomen]]” “Bassus” or the ”[[praenomen]]” “Lucius”.{{sfn|Rohr Vio|2009|p=6}} However, no official or contemporary source calls him that, leading modern authors to avoid it as well.{{sfn|Wylie|1993|p=|loc=note 1}}}} was born in [[91 BC|91]]/[[90 BC]] in [[Ascoli Piceno|Asculum]], modern-day [[Italy]].{{sfn|Seaver|1952|p=275}} He and his mother were captured during the [[Siege of Asculum (90–89 BC)|Siege of Asculum]] of the [[Social War (91–87 BC)|Social War]], a war between Romans and Italian rebels.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohr Vio|2009|p=7}}. According to ancient sources, Ventidius sided with the rebels.</ref> On December 25, [[89 BC]], he participated in [[Pompeius Strabo]]’s ”[[Roman triumph|triumph]]” following the successful siege, with Ancient sources recording that he was carried on his mothers’ lap.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohr Vio|2009|pp=5, 7}}; {{harvnb|Seaver|1952|p=275}}.</ref> |
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As Ventidius grew up, [[Aulus Gellius|Gellius]] relates, he earned a meager living by undertaking to furnish [[mule]]s and [[wagon]]s for [[Roman magistrate|magistrate]]s departing Rome to administer the provinces. This was undoubtedly a dirty and laborious occupation, and one that his political enemies never allowed him to forget in later years. The Roman nobility, as is well known, looked down upon all manual labor, and so they mocked the former mule-driver with derisive scorn. Yet it seems doubtful that he personally drove mules for very long, and was perhaps like [[Mamurra]], an army [[Mercenary|contractor]].{{sfn|Seaver|1952|p=275}} [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] writes that he also served as a common soldier in the ranks. Whether as soldier or contractor, he became known to [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]], whom he accompanied across the [[Alps]] when Caesar began his [[Gallic Wars|campaign]] against the [[Gauls]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rohr Vio|2009|p=7}}; {{harvnb|Seaver|1952|pp=275–76}}.</ref> |
As Ventidius grew up, [[Aulus Gellius|Gellius]] relates, he earned a meager living by undertaking to furnish [[mule]]s and [[wagon]]s for [[Roman magistrate|magistrate]]s departing Rome to administer the provinces. This was undoubtedly a dirty and laborious occupation, and one that his political enemies never allowed him to forget in later years. The Roman nobility, as is well known, looked down upon all manual labor, and so they mocked the former mule-driver with derisive scorn. Yet it seems doubtful that he personally drove mules for very long, and was perhaps like [[Mamurra]], an army [[Mercenary|contractor]].{{sfn|Seaver|1952|p=275}} [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] writes that he also served as a common soldier in the ranks. Whether as soldier or contractor, he became known to [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]], whom he accompanied across the [[Alps]] when Caesar began his [[Gallic Wars|campaign]] against the [[Gauls]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rohr Vio|2009|p=7}}; {{harvnb|Seaver|1952|pp=275–76}}.</ref> |
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Revision as of 16:27, 17 December 2025
Early life
From birth to the Gallic Wars
Publius Ventidius[a] was born in 91/90 BC in Asculum, modern-day Italy. He and his mother were captured during the Siege of Asculum of the Social War, a war between Romans and Italian rebels.[4] On December 25, 89 BC, he participated in Pompeius Strabo‘s triumph following the successful siege, with Ancient sources recording that he was carried on his mothers’ lap.[5]
As Ventidius grew up, Gellius relates, he earned a meager living by undertaking to furnish mules and wagons for magistrates departing Rome to administer the provinces. This was undoubtedly a dirty and laborious occupation, and one that his political enemies never allowed him to forget in later years. The Roman nobility, as is well known, looked down upon all manual labor, and so they mocked the former mule-driver with derisive scorn. Yet it seems doubtful that he personally drove mules for very long, and was perhaps like Mamurra, an army contractor. Pliny writes that he also served as a common soldier in the ranks. Whether as soldier or contractor, he became known to Caesar, whom he accompanied across the Alps when Caesar began his campaign against the Gauls.[6]
He is not mentioned in Caesar’s works, and this makes it likely that he didn’t possess a rank above centurion. Nevertheless, he seems to have executed Caesar’s orders, during his campaigns in Gaul and during Caesar’s civil war, to be ome one of Caesar’s favourites.
Notes
References
Bibliography
Books
Research papers
- Seaver, James E. (1952). “Publius Ventidius. Neglected Roman Military Hero”. The Classical Journal. 47 (7). Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press: 275–280. JSTOR 3293406.
- Strugnell, Emma (2006). “Ventidius’ Parthian War: Rome’s Forgotten Eastern Triumph”. Acta Antiqua. 46 (3). Budapest, Hungary: Akadémiai Kiadó: 239–252. doi:10.1556/AAnt.46.2006.3.3.
- Wylie, G. L. (1993). “P. Ventidius—From “Novus Homo” to ‘Military Hero’“. Acta Classica. 36. Cape Town, South Africa: Classical Association of South Africa: 129–141. JSTOR 24594909.
