Marcus Atius
Marcus Atius Balbus (105 BC – 51 BC) was a first-century Roman who served as a praetor in 62 BC and became governor of Sardinia.
Early life
Balbus was born and raised in Aricia into a political family and was the son and heir of the elder Marcus Atius Balbus (148 BC – 87 BC). His mother was Pompeia the sister to consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, father of the triumvir Pompey.
The family of the elder Balbus came from a Roman senatorial family of plebs status from Aricia (modern Ariccia, Italy). "Balbus" in Latin means stammer.
Career
Under Caesar in 59 BC, Balbus was appointed along with Pompey to a board of commissioners under Julian Law to divide estates in Campania among the commoners. Cicero stated that Pompey would say as a joke about Balbus, that he was not a person of any importance.
Personal life
He married Julia Minor, second eldest sister of the dictator Gaius Julius Caesar. Julia bore him three daughters and they were:
- Atia Balba Prima was the mother of Quintus Pedius who served as a general and consul.
- Atia Balba Caesonia became the mother of Octavia Minor who was the fourth wife of triumvir Mark Antony and of the first Emperor Augustus.
- Atia Balba Tertia was the mother of Lucius Pinarius, a political supporter of Mark Antony.
Death
The younger Balbus died in 51 BC.
See also
External links
Sources
- Suetonius, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Augustus
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0464.html