Quintus Varius Severus

Quintus Varius Severus (* 125-120 BC; † after 90 BC) was a politician in the late Roman Republic. The nickname hibrida or hybrida is probably a mockery or allusion to its origin dar.

Life

Quintus Varius Severus hibrida came from Sucro and was the first senator of the Republic, who came from the Spanish province. In 90 BC he was elected tribune of the people. With a single law, the lex Varia, he turned against the policies of his predecessor, Marcus Livius Drusus. Thus, courts were created, with the task of prosecution and conviction was of those who had instigated the allies to revolt against Rome. It seems that Varius acted on behalf of a knight or at least they were the beneficiaries of the law.

In the vote on the law there were violent actions. As Varius ' counterpart interzedierten, they were threatened by knights, so that voted on the motion and it was adopted. Among the first, which was threatened with prosecution, were Lucius Calpurnius Bestia and Gaius Aurelius Cotta - they went into exile. Soon after, Marcus Antonius Orator and Quintus Pompeius Rufus were indicted. Also, Marcus Aemilius Scaurus was accused, but he won popular support and was discharged. In the following year Varius hibrida itself was tried and convicted, his lex Varia was collected during fights. He went into exile and probably died outside of Rome.

Assessment of the law

The lex Varia is often represented in the research as " revenge of the Knights against the policy of Livius Drusus " or act "in the interest of the Knights [ ... ] against Senate leaders and friends of Livius Drusus ." Ernst Badian and Erich S. Gruen, however, emphasize the hostility between individual statesmen, their supporters and of popular as well as Optimate group. After that Varius was possible to use for the personal needs of Quintus Servilius Caepio against Scaurus and his circle. This he used a populare method. He did not have an overall policy framework. The positive reaction that caused his law at the Knights was not the goal of his actions, but a side effect.

Single Documents

Swell

  • Appian, The Civil Wars, Book 1.37
  • Asconius 22
  • Cicero, Brutus 304-305
  • Valerius Maximus 8,6,4

Secondary literature

  • Ernst Badian: Quaestiones Variae. in: Historia 4, 1969, pp. 447-491.
  • Jochen Martin: The Populares in the history of the late Republic. Dissertation, Freiburg 1965.
  • Lukas Thommen: The tribune of the late Roman Republic. Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 3-515-05187-2.
  • Tribune
  • Roman Senator
  • Politicians ( Roman Republic )
  • Born in the 2nd century BC
  • Died in the 1st century BC
  • Man
Roman aristocracy Quintus Servilius Caepio the Younger Aurelius Victor Christian Meier (historian) Historia (Antiquity journal)
391038
de