Publius Cornelius Dolabella (fl. 1st century BC) was a Roman senator who was appointed suffect consul in 35 BC with Titus Peducaeus as his colleague.[1]

Biography

Early life

A member of the patrician Dolabella branch of the gens Cornelia, Dolabella was probably the descendant of Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella, who was Urban praetor in 81 BC.[2] His father may have been Publius Cornelius Dolabella the consul of 44 BC.[3]

He may have been the man who informed Cleopatra of Octavian's plans when he had captured her.[4]

Career

Much of his career is unknown; based on a series of rare and enigmatic bronze coins, it has been postulated that he may have been a triumvir monetalis in Sicily at some early point in his career. Appointed consul suffectus in 35 BC to replace Sextus Pompeius, it is not known whether he was a partisan of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus or Marcus Antonius. He also perhaps may have been the Dolabella who accompanied Augustus to Gaul between 16 – 13 BC.[5]

Personal life

It is speculated that Dolabella married a Quinctilia, a sister of Publius Quinctilius Varus, and that their son was Publius Cornelius Dolabella, who was Roman consul in AD 10.[6]

References

  1. ^ Alison E. Cooley, The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy (Cambridge: University Press, 2012), p. 456
  2. ^ Tansey, pp. 266f
  3. ^ Burr Marsh, Frank (1922). The Founding of the Roman Empire (Second ed.). University of Texas. p. 302. ISBN 0722224311.
  4. ^ Dusgate Selby Bradford, Ernle (1972). Cleopatra. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. p. 277. ISBN 9780151181407.
  5. ^ Tansey, p. 266
  6. ^ Tansey, p. 271

Sources

Political offices Preceded byLucius Cornificius,and Sextus Pompeiusas ordinary consuls Suffect Consul of the Roman Republic 35 BCwith Titus Peducaeus Succeeded byMarcus Antonius II, and Lucius Scribonius Liboas ordinary consuls
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