Carbo, Cneius Papirius (
nē'əs pəpēr'ēəs kär'bō), d. 82 B.C., Roman political leader. He was consul three times (85 B.C., 84 B.C., 82 B.C.) and one of the leaders of the party of
Marius. After the death of Marius he and his colleague,
Cinna, gathered (84 B.C.) an army to oppose
Sulla in Italy. When Cinna was murdered in a mutiny, Carbo became chief commander. Sulla gathered strength as he moved slowly N through Italy, and much of Carbo's force deserted. He was defeated at Faventia (present-day Faenza) by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius (see under
Metellus) and fled to Africa. He later crossed to Sicily, where he was captured, condemned, and executed by Pompey.