Bestia

Lucius Calpurnius Bestia (also: Piso Bestia ) was a Roman politician of the late second century BC

For the first time into the political limelight came Bestia 121 BC, when he stood on the side of the nobility against Gaius Sempronius Gracchus. 111 BC he was elected consul and served during his tenure as commander in Jugurthine war. However, this ended up pretty soon on favorable terms to the Roman enemies as Bestia had to buy from the enemy. Then Gaius Mamilius ordered a legal process against him, in the course of which he was probably banished with some other aristocrats.

In the year 90 BC a Bestia is again mentioned, who, after he wanted to instigate riots in Italy, fled into exile to avoid reprisals against him. However, whether this is identical with the consul, is not clear.

Both Sallust and Cicero later found words of praise for him, because he had a high level of qualification in the political arena in their opinion. However, they criticized his venality, which damaged its morale.