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Gaius Antonius (died 42 BC) was the second son of Marcus Antonius Creticus and Julia Antonia, and thus, younger brother of Mark Antony, triumvir and enemy of Caesar Augustus.
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Life
Early life
Like his brother, Gaius started his life free from paternal guidance, in the midst of scandals, parties and gambling.
Caesar's civil war
During the civil war, Gaius was a legate of Julius Caesar (49 BC), and entrusted, with Publius Cornelius Dolabella, with the defence of Illyricum against the Pompeians. While Dolabella's fleet was destroyed, Antonius was shut up in the island of Curicta and forced to surrender. However, following Caesar's victories, he was released.
Caesar's dictatorship
With all the members of the Antonius family, he was then promoted to high offices of the cursus honorum. In 44 BC, Gaius was urban praetor, while his brothers Mark Antony and Lucius Antonius were consul and tribune respectively.
Caesar's assassination and afterwards
After the assassination of Caesar, Gaius (as a Caesarean) was appointed governor to the Roman province of Macedonia. Marcus Junius Brutus and the other assassins, however, chose Macedonia as refuge from Octavian and - on opposition from Gaius - dispossessed him of his governorship. Brutus at first seemed to treat him generously, but ultimately ordered his death.
References
- Plutarch, Brutus, 28
- Dio Cassius xlvii. 21-24
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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