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Lucius Cornelius Cinna (cos. 87)

Four time consul (87-84). His eldest daughter Cornelia married Caesar

🏛️ Career

  1. 90 BCE
    (aged 40)
    Praetor

    Broughton: The latest date possible under the Leges Annales. He was already an ex-Praetor when he served as a Legate in the Social War (a). De Sanotis has shown (b) that Cinna was a patrician, since Caesar when named Flamen Dialis divorced his plebeian wife Cossutia and married Cinna's daughter because the Flaminica had to be a patrician. That Cinna's colleague in the consulship of 86, L. Valerius Flaccus, was also a patrician exemplifies the illegalities of a period when there was neither mos nor ius (c).

    Sources (4)
    • Broughton, MRR2
      • Cic. Font. 43; Liv. Per. 76.
      • (a) Cic; Liv.; see 88, Legates
      • (b) RFil 62 [1934] 550f.
      • (c) of. Mommsen, RF1. 114, for the opposing view
    Career-overlap (5) Magistrates with the closest career overlap; red font indicates family member

    Cn. Papirius Carbo (2 years; raw 8.00, base 0.571, final 0.571): 85 BCE (Consul) , 84 BCE (Consul)

    Gn. Octavius (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    L. Cornelius Merula (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    M. Marius Gratidianus (3 years; raw 5.00, base 0.357, final 0.357): 87 BCE (Tribune of the Plebs) , 85 BCE (Praetor) , 84 BCE (Praetor)

    C. Marius (1 year; raw 4.00, base 0.286, final 0.286): 86 BCE (Consul)

  2. 87 BCE
    (aged 43)
    Consul · Co-consuls: L. Cornelius Merula, Gn. Octavius

    Broughton: Cinna was elected in Sulla's presence and swore to maintain his measures (a), but in office soon attempted to carry a bill to enroll the new citizens and the freedmen in all the tribes (b), and one to recall Marius and the other exiles (c). He was expelled from Rome by his colleague Octavius, and L. Cornelius Merula (see below) was elected in his place. He won the support of the army of Ap. Claudius at Nola, was soon joined by Marius and his partisans, and succeeded in overpowering his colleague, who suffered for his own slowness and lack of co-operation with other leaders (see below, Promagistrates), and occupied Rome (d). The Consul Octavius was killed in office (e), and a reign of terror followed in which many senatorial opponents of Cinna and Marius were murdered (see above; f). The victors repealed the laws of Sulla (g), and reenacted the laws of Sulpicius (h).

    Sources (9)
    • Broughton, MRR2
      • Cic. Har. Resp. 54; Tusc. 5.55; Phil. 13.2; 14.23; Fast. Ant., Degrassi 164f., and Fast. Cap., ibid. 54f., 129f., 482f.; Ascon. 23C; App. BC 1.65-66; Dio 30-35, fr. 102.3; Eutrop. 5.4; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; on Cinna, Cic. Phil. 11.1; Vell. 2.20.3; and on Octavius, Cic. Planc. 51.
      • (a) Plut. Sull. 10.3-4; Dio 30-35, fr. 102.1; Schol. Gron. 286 Stangl; cf. Sall. Hist. 1.26 M
      • (b) Cic. Phil. 8.7; Vell. 2.20.2; App. BC 1.64; Iul. Exup. 4; Schol. Gron. 286 Stangl
      • (c) App.; Flor. 2.9.9; Auct. Fir. Ill. 69.2
      • (d) Cic. Cat. 3.24; Sest. 77; Caecin. 87; Att. 9.10.3; Diod. 38.1-3; Liv. Per. 79, and 80; Vell. 2.20-21; Val. Max. 1.6.10; 4.7.5; Plut. Mar. 41-43; Sert. 4.4-5.4; Pomp. 3.1; 4.1; App. BC 1.64-71; Gran. Lic. 23-29B; Flor. 2.9.10-13; Dio 30-35, fr. 102.1-9; Obseq. 56a; Auct. Vir. Ill. 69.2; Oros. 5.19.8-19; Schol. Gron. 286 Stangl
      • (e) Cic. Cat. 3.24; Har. Resp. 54; Phil. 8.7; 13.1-2; Tusc. 5.55; Fast. Cap., above; Jacoby, FGrH 2B.1151, no. 252; Liv. Per. 80; Vell. 2.22.2; Ascon. 23C; Plut. Mar. 42.4-5; Sull. 12.8; App. BC 1.71; Flor. 2.9.14; Iul. Exup. 4; Auct. Vir. Ill. 69.2; Pacat. Panegyr. Theodos. 46.2; Augustin. CD 3.27; .Ampel. 42.2; Schol. Bob. 109, and 117 Stangl; Schol. Gron. 286 Stangl
      • (f) Sisenna fr. 129 Peter; Cic. Phil. 1.34; 11.1; 14.23; Vat. 23; ND 2.14; 3.80-81; Div. 1.4; Att. 7.7.7; Sall. Hist. 1.77.7 M; Diod. 38.4; Vell. 2.22.1-4; Val. Max. 2.8.7; 4.3.14; 5.3.3, and 6.4; Ascon. 23C; Lucan 4.822; Plin. NH 2.92; Tac. Hist. 3.83; Plut. Mar. 43-45; Sert. 5.1-5; App. BC 1.71-75; Flor. 2.9.13-17; Dio 30-35, fr. 102.8-12; Eutrop. 5.7.3; Obseq. 56a; Auct. Vir. Ill. 67.6; Ampel. 42.2; Oros. 5.19.19 and 23-24; Ammian. 30.8.9
      • (g) App. BC 1.73
      • (h) see 88, Tribunes of the Plebs; Vell. 2.20.2; on the tribes, Plut. Mar. 45.6; and on Marius' command in Asia, App. BC 1.75
    Career-overlap (5) Magistrates with the closest career overlap; red font indicates family member

    Cn. Papirius Carbo (2 years; raw 8.00, base 0.571, final 0.571): 85 BCE (Consul) , 84 BCE (Consul)

    Gn. Octavius (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    L. Cornelius Merula (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    M. Marius Gratidianus (3 years; raw 5.00, base 0.357, final 0.357): 87 BCE (Tribune of the Plebs) , 85 BCE (Praetor) , 84 BCE (Praetor)

    C. Marius (1 year; raw 4.00, base 0.286, final 0.286): 86 BCE (Consul)

  3. 86 BCE
    (aged 44)
    Consul · Co-consuls: C. Marius, L. Valerius Flaccus, M. Perperna, L. Marcius Philippus

    Broughton: Cinna's rule was termed a tyranny (a). Marius died on January 13 (b). See 88, Promagistrates.

    Sources (3)
    • Broughton, MRR2
      • Fast. Cap., Degrassi 54f., 130, 482f.; Liv. Per. 80, without a comitia; Vell. 2.23.1; App. BC 1.75; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; on Cinna, CIL 12.2.713, 891; Auct. Vir. Ill. 69.3; Oros. 5.19.23; Schol. Bob. 109 Stangl; and on Marius, Fast. Ant., Degrassi 164f.; Elogium, Inscr. Ital. 13.3.83-CIL 12.1, p. 195; Val. Max. 8.15.7; 9.15.1; Plin. NH 11.252; Plut. Mar. 45.1; Flor. 2.9.17; Auct. Vir. Ill. 67.6.
      • (a) Cic. Phil. 1.34; 2.108; Brut. 227; ND 3.81; Sall. Hist. 1.64M; Val. Max. 6.9.6; Vell. 2.23.3; Plut. Caes. 1.1; Sull. 22.1; Tac. Ann. 1.1; Auct. Vir. Ill. 67.6
      • (b) Cic. ND 3.81; Rosc. Amer. 33; Liv. Per. 80, with the date; Vell. 2.23.1; Plut. Mar. 45.2-46.5; App. BC 1.75; Flor. 2.9.17; Oros. 5.19.93
    Career-overlap (5) Magistrates with the closest career overlap; red font indicates family member

    Cn. Papirius Carbo (2 years; raw 8.00, base 0.571, final 0.571): 85 BCE (Consul) , 84 BCE (Consul)

    Gn. Octavius (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    L. Cornelius Merula (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    M. Marius Gratidianus (3 years; raw 5.00, base 0.357, final 0.357): 87 BCE (Tribune of the Plebs) , 85 BCE (Praetor) , 84 BCE (Praetor)

    C. Marius (1 year; raw 4.00, base 0.286, final 0.286): 86 BCE (Consul)

  4. 85 BCE
    (aged 45)
    Consul · Co-consul: Cn. Papirius Carbo

    Broughton: In this year the Consuls began some preparations against Sulla's prospective return from the East (a).

    Sources (2)
    • Broughton, MRR2
      • CIL 12 .2.892; Fast. Cap., Degrassi 54f., 130, 482f.; App. BC 1.75; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd.; Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; on Carbo, Fast. Ant., Degrassi 164f.
      • (a) Liv. Per. 83; App. BC 1.76-77; cf. Auct. Vir. Ill. 69.4
    Career-overlap (5) Magistrates with the closest career overlap; red font indicates family member

    Cn. Papirius Carbo (2 years; raw 8.00, base 0.571, final 0.571): 85 BCE (Consul) , 84 BCE (Consul)

    Gn. Octavius (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    L. Cornelius Merula (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    M. Marius Gratidianus (3 years; raw 5.00, base 0.357, final 0.357): 87 BCE (Tribune of the Plebs) , 85 BCE (Praetor) , 84 BCE (Praetor)

    C. Marius (1 year; raw 4.00, base 0.286, final 0.286): 86 BCE (Consul)

  5. 84 BCE
    (aged 46)
    Consul · Co-consul: Cn. Papirius Carbo

    Broughton: Cinna was killed early in the year by mutinous troops at Ancona while arranging passage for his army to Epirus (a). Carbo continued Cinna's preparations against Sulla's return from the East (b), and continued in Picenum and Cisalpine Gaul until checked by Pompey (c). As unfavorable auspices prevented the holding of elections he remained sole Consul throughout the rest of the year (d).

    Sources (5)
    • Broughton, MRR2
      • Fast. Cap., Degrassi 54f., 130, 482f.; Chr. 354; Fast. Hyd. (Carbone II et Scribonio), so also Chr. Pasc.; Cassiod.; on Carbo, CIL 12.2.683; Cic. Verr. 2.1.11 and 34; and on Cinna, Fast. Ant., Degrassi 164f.
      • (a) Liv. Per. 83; Vell. 2.24.5; Plut. Sert. 6.1; Pomp. 5.1-2; App. BC 1.77-78; Iul. Exup. 4; Auct. Vir. Ill. 69.4; Oros. 5.19.24; Zonar. 10.1
      • (b) Liv. Per. 84; App. BC 1.78
      • (c) Plut. Pomp. 5-6
      • (d) Fast. Cap.; Vell. 2.24.5; Plut. Pomp. 5.2
    Career-overlap (5) Magistrates with the closest career overlap; red font indicates family member

    Cn. Papirius Carbo (2 years; raw 8.00, base 0.571, final 0.571): 85 BCE (Consul) , 84 BCE (Consul)

    Gn. Octavius (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    L. Cornelius Merula (2 years; raw 7.00, base 0.500, final 0.500): 90 BCE (Praetor) , 87 BCE (Consul)

    M. Marius Gratidianus (3 years; raw 5.00, base 0.357, final 0.357): 87 BCE (Tribune of the Plebs) , 85 BCE (Praetor) , 84 BCE (Praetor)

    C. Marius (1 year; raw 4.00, base 0.286, final 0.286): 86 BCE (Consul)

🏺 Family

  1. Children
    Lucius Cornelius Cinna (pr. 44)