Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer († early 59 BC ) was a Roman politician of the late Republic.
Metellus Celer was a son of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos, who had been consul in 98 BC, and the Licinia crassa. In the year 78 BC, he led a military command, perhaps as a military tribune. 68 BC Metellus Celer was probably tribune (but it could also have acted to his brother Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos ). 66 BC (maybe even the year before), he served as legate under Pompey in the war against Mithridates of Pontus.
As praetor in 63 BC, Metellus Celer directed the trial of Gaius Rabirius, Titus Labienus struggled to give a political signal to the Senate. Rabirius was convicted. As a judge acted Gaius Julius Caesar and his relative Lucius Julius Caesar. Rabirius ' appeal to the people was interrupted by Metellus Celer, this caught by the military flag on the Janiculum, and thus ended the meeting. This could not be made for a Rabirius probably negative decision. Ever since Metellus Celer this year belonged to the Augurenkollegium.
The following year ( since the late 63 BC) Metellus was governor of the province of Cisalpine Gaul. In this capacity he took part in the suppression of the Catiline conspiracy, by blocking the troops of Catiline their way to Gallia transalpina. For the year 60 BC he was elected consul. During his tenure, he turned against Pompey and his brother Publius Clodius Pulcher, who wanted to appear as patricians to the plebs, to exercise the office of tribune of the people can. Metellus was transferred as proconsular Gallia transalpina. However, he died suddenly at the beginning of 59 BC
Metellus Celer was married to Clodia, sister of Publius Clodius Pulcher and daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher, who was notorious for her extravagant way of life: She was suspected to have driven incest with her brother and poisoned her husband.
Cicero called him a " highly respected, courageous and patriotic man, as soon as he put your foot over the threshold of his house, surpassing almost all his fellow citizens to drive, fame and prestige ".