12 Facts About Gaius Norbanus

Gaius Norbanus, nicknamed Balbus was a Roman politician who was elected consul in 83 BC alongside Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus.

Gaius Norbanus committed suicide in exile at Rhodes after being proscribed by Lucius Cornelius Sulla shortly after the latter's victory in the civil war.

Gaius Norbanus achieved notoriety for his prosecution of Quintus Servilius Caepio, where he accused Servilius Caepio of incompetence and dereliction of duty at the catastrophic defeat of the Roman armies by the Cimbri at the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC.

In 101 BC, Gaius Norbanus served as quaestor under Marcus Antonius, grandfather of the triumvir Mark Antony, in his campaign against the pirates in Cilicia.

In 94 BC, Gaius Norbanus was accused of minuta maiestas under the Lex Appuleia by Publius Sulpicius Rufus on account of the disturbances that had taken place at the trial of Caepio, but the eloquence of Marcus Antonius secured his acquittal.

Gaius Norbanus kept the peace in his province, defending it against the Italian socii during the Social War.

Gaius Norbanus managed to capture Rhegium from the Samnites in 88 BC.

Gaius Norbanus was elected consul for 83 BC; at Mount Tifata, near Capua, he intercepted Sulla, who had returned to Italy from Greece.

Sulla sent over some emissaries to discuss coming to terms with Gaius Norbanus, but they were thrown out when it became apparent that they were trying to suborn Gaius Norbanus' men, who were mostly raw recruits.

Gaius Norbanus managed to regroup his shattered army at Capua, whereupon he eventually retreated to Cisalpine Gaul.

Gaius Norbanus was betrayed by one of his legates, Publius Albinovanus, who murdered many of Gaius Norbanus' principal officers after inviting them to dinner before surrendering Ariminium to Metellus Pius.

Gaius Norbanus himself did not attend Albinovanus' invitation, and he managed to evade capture, fleeing to Rhodes.