Aulus Hirtius (ca. 90-43 BC) was one of the
consuls of ancient Rome immediately after the
assassination of Julius Caesar, and a
writer on military subjects.
He was known to have been a legate of Caesar's since about 54 BC,
and served as an envoy to Pompey in 50. During the
Roman Civil Wars he served in Spain, he might have been
a tribune in 48, and in 47 was at
Antioch. He was a praetor in 46
and governor of Transalpine Gaul in
45. Caesar had nominated Hirtius and Pansa for the consulship for 43; after the assassination, Hirtius was deeply involved in
the maneuvering between parties.
Initially a supporter of Mark Antony, Hirtius was successfully lobbied by
Cicero, who was a personal friend, switched his allegiance to the senatorial party, and set out
with an army to attack Antony, who was besieging Mutina.
In concert with Octavian, Hirtius compelled Antony to retire, but in the fighting Hirtius was
slain (around 25 April or 27 April). He was honored with a
public funeral, along with Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus, who had been
killed a few days earlier.
Hirtius added an eighth book to Caesar's De
Bello Gallico, and is the likely author of De Bello Alexandrino.
The ancients thought he also wrote the De Bello Africo and De Bello Hispaniensis, but it is now considered more likely that he acted as an editor.
Hirtius' correspondence with Cicero was published in nine books, but has not survived.
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