Caelius Rufus, Marcus
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Caelius Rufus, Marcus: (b. Puteoli, on May 2, 82 BC; d. Thurii, 48 BC). Roman politician. A close friend and pupil of the orator Cicero, and a protégé of the triumvir Crassus, he later changed his political beliefs and became influenced by Cicero’s enemy Catiline. Fortunately, he played no role in the latter’s disastrous conspiracy. He seems to have made amends with Cicero who successfully defended him when, in 56 BC, his mistress Clodia (sister of Publius Clodius) accused him of attempted murder (See Cicero, Pro Caelio). In 52 BC, Caelius served as tribune and, in 50 BC, became aedile. In 49 BC, he supported Julius Caesar against Pompey and saw military service during the campaign in Spain. When Caesar rewarded him with the office of praetor peregrinus, Caelius felt that he deserved more. In 47 BC, this resentment led him to join in a conspiracy against Caesar led by Milo in Campania. The plot was exposed before the conspirators could act on their plans. Caelius fled for his life but was captured by Caesar’s troops at Thurii and put to death.