Some Augustan Politicians

MARCUS VALERIUS MESSALLA CORVINUS (born around 64 B. C., died around 13 A.D.)

son of Marcus Valerius Messalla Niger, the consul of 61 B.C.
partisan of Brutus in Macedonia, from 44 B.C.
put on the Proscription List in 42/41 B.C.
became friendly with Marcus Antonius.
back in Rome in 40, he gave a speech for (King) Herod of the Jews.
fought for Octavian against Sextus Pompeius in Sicily in 37 and 36.
November 36, coopted as Augur.
35-33: General in Illyria for Octavian
31 B.C.: Consul Suffectus
fought at Actium, September 2, 31 B. C., in the center line.
fought in Gaul and in Spain, from 30 B.C.
participated in Augustus' three triumphs in August, 29 B.C.
28 B.C.: governor of Syria
27 B.C.: celebrated a triumph, de Gallis, after September (?)
26 B.C.: Praefectus Urbi, for some ten days, while Augustus was on his way to the war in Spain
11 B.C.: first Curator Aquarum
2 B.C.: February 5: Princeps Senatus, he moved the decree for the bestowal of the title Pater Patriae on Augustus
(Suetonius Augustus 58. 1)
committed suicide because of his illness (Pliny Naturalis Historia 7. 90)
his elogium survives (Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum XIII.3. 77)
Panegyricus Messallae
He was reputed one of the best orators of his age (Tacitus Dialogus de oratoribus 18. 2)
He wrote his memoirs, and grammatical works.
He presided over a poetical circle, which included Tibullus, Lygdamis, and Sulpicia; he seems to have filled part of the gap left by the retirement and death of Maecenas (8 B.C) by patronizing Valgius Rufus, Aemilius Macer, and Ovid.

Titus Statilius Taurus (died around 10 B.C. ?)

A senator by 43 B.C. (Cicero ad Familiares 12. 25)
Praetor, around 40 B.C.
Consul suffectus, 37 B.C., with Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Fleet commanded against Sextus Pompeius, 37 and 36 B.C.
Governor of Africa, 36-34 B.C.
Triumph ex Africa
Commanded in Illyricum, 34/33
Actium, September, 31: commander of the Land forces for Caesar Octavianus
On his return, he built an amphitheater on the Campus Martius
(Dio 51. 23 59. 10; Suetonius Augustus 29, Caligula 16 and 29; Strabo 5. 236)
commanded against the Cantabri and the Asturi in Hispania (Dio 51. 20)
appointed Patronus of the Roman Colony of the Ilici (Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae 893)
acclaimed as Imperator three times
Consul II, in 26, with Augustus
Prefect of the City of Rome (Praefectus Urbi) from 16 to 10.

Titus Statilius Taurus (the Younger)

Titus Statilius Taurus (the Even Younger)

elder son of the consul of 11 B.C.
Consul Ordinarius of 44 A.D.
Proconsul of Africa, 51/2 and 52/3
committed suicide when trumped-up charges against him, de repetundis, were preferred by the Empress Agrippina, who coveted his Gardens.