Licinius Macer
{{Short description|Roman historian and senator (died 66 BC)}}
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C·LICINIUS·L·F / MACER
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ref.: Licinia 16; sear5 #274; Cr354/1; Syd 732
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Gaius Licinius Macer (died 66{{nbsp}}BC) was a Roman annalist and politician.
Life
A member of the ancient plebeian clan Licinia, he was tribune in 73{{nbsp}}BC. Sallust mentions him agitating for the people's rights.Sallust, Histories, [http://www.attalus.org/translate/sallust.html#3.34 3.34]. He became praetor in 68{{nbsp}}BC, but in 66{{nbsp}}BC Cicero succeeded in convicting him of bribery and extortion, upon which Macer committed suicide.Valerius Maximus, 9.12.7.
Work
Macer wrote a history of Rome, in 16 books. The work is now lost, but from Livy and Dionysius who both used it, we know that it began with the founding of the city,For instance, Origo gentis romanae, [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/origo_01_trans.htm#C23 Chapter 23]. and that Pyrrhus appeared in Book II. Livy casts doubt on Macer's reliability, suggesting that he misrepresented events in order to glorify the Licinii,Livy, [http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy07.html#livy.hist.7.9 7.9.5] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130174601/http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy07.html#livy.hist.7.9 |date=2018-11-30 }} but notes that he quotes original sources such as the Linen Rolls.Livy, [http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy04.html#livy.hist.4.7 4.7.12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915013420/http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy04.html#livy.hist.4.7 |date=2012-09-15 }}, [http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy04.html#livy.hist.4.20 4.20.8], [http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy04.html#livy.hist.4.23 4.23.2] . According to Macrobius, he credited Romulus with the introduction of intercalation to the Roman calendar.Macrobius, Saturnalia, Book I, Chapter 13, §20
See also
- Licinius Macer Calvus, his son and a noted poet.
Notes
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References
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Category:1st-century BC Romans
Category:1st-century BC writers
Category:Ancient Roman politicians who died by suicide
Category:Golden Age Latin writers