Marcus Antonius Orator
Marcus Antonius Orator (died 87 BC) was a Roman politician of the Antonius family, and one of the most distinguished Roman orators of his time. He started his cursus honorum as quaestor in 113 BC and in 102 BC he was elected praetor with proconsular powers and the province of Cilicia assigned to him. During his term in the East, Marcus Antonius fought the pirates with such a success that the Senate voted a naval triumph in his honour. He was then elected consul in 99 BC, together with Aulus Postumius Albinus, and in 97 BC, he became censor. During the confrontations between Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Marcus Antonius supported the later. This adherence to the Sullan party cost him his life, since he was put to death by Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna when they obtained possession of Rome in 87 BC.
Throughout his political career he continued to appear as a mediative defender or an acuser in Roman courts of law. Antonius reputation for eloquence rests on the authority of Cicero, since none of his speeches survive. Marcus Antonius Orator had two sons Marcus Antonius Creticus and Gaius Antonius Hybrida, who would not live to his reputation of excellence. The former was the father of the famous general and triumvir, Mark Antony.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
