The Trials of Aulus Gabinius
The Trials of Aulus Gabinius

Summary/Abstract: In the autumn of 54 BC, Aulus Gabinius was charged before three different jury courts. The charges of crimen maiestatis and crimen repetundarum were linked to the fact that Gabinius had invaded Egypt with his army as a proconsul of Syria and restored Ptolemy Auletes to his throne. The third charge was that Gabinius had committed crimen ambitus in order to be elected consul. Gabinius was acquitted of crimen maiestatis but found guilty of crimen repetundarum. The charge of ambitus was not investigated due to the accused’s exile. In addition to examining the legal issues, the paper outlines the political background of these criminal cases, the personal relationship of the accused with the leading politicians of the time, the financial interests of senators and knights, and the emotions of the plebs. Meanwhile, the deep corruption of the government and judicial system of the late Roman Republic unfolds before us.

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