Aulus Allienus

Aulus Allienus was the name of two ancient Romans who lived roughly around the 1st century BC, and who may have been the same person:

  • Aulus Allienus was a politician and general of ancient Rome. He was a friend of Cicero's, who spoke of him in high terms.[1] He was the legate of Cicero's brother Quintus Tullius Cicero in the Roman province of Asia in 60 BC,[2] and praetor in 49.[3] In the following year, he had the province of Sicilia, and sent to Julius Caesar, who was then in the province of Africa, a large body of troops. He continued in Sicilia until 47, and received the title of proconsul. Two of Cicero's letters are addressed to him.[4][5] His name occurs on a coin, which has on one side C. CAES. IMP. COS. ITER., and on the other A. ALLIENVS PROCOS.
  • Aulus Allienus was a Roman politician who in 43 BC was sent by the general Publius Cornelius Dolabella to bring to him the legions which were in the Roman province of Egypt.[6] On his return from Egypt with four legions, he was surprised by Cassius Longinus in Judea, who was at the head of eight legions. As he was outnumbered, Allienus joined Cassius.[7][8][9] This Allienus may be the same person as the one listed above.
  1. ^ Smith, William (1867). "A. Allienus (1)". In William Smith (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 1. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. p. 132.
  2. ^ Cicero, ad Qu. Fr. i. 1. § 3.
  3. ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum x. 15.
  4. ^ Hirt. Bell. Afr. 2, 34
  5. ^ Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares xiii. 78, 79
  6. ^ Smith, William (1867). "A. Allienus (2)". In William Smith (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Vol. 1. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. p. 132.
  7. ^ Appian, Civil Wars iii. 78, iv. 59
  8. ^ Cicero, Philippicae xi. 12, 13
  9. ^ Cassius, ap. Cic. ad Fam. xii. 11, 12