Marcus caelius rufus biography for kids

1st century BCE Roman politician

Not to be confused with Marcus Caelius.

Marcus Caelius Rufus (died 48 BC) was an orator and politician in the late Roman Republic.

He was born into a wealthy equestrian family from Interamnia Praetuttiorum, on the central east coast of Italy. He is best known for his prosecution of Gaius Antonius Hybrida in 59 BC. He was also known for his trial for public violence (de vi publica) in March 56 BC, when Cicero defended him in the extant speech Pro Caelio, and as both recipient and author of some of the best-written letters in the ad Familiares corpus of Cicero's extant correspondence (Book 8).^[1] He may be the Rufus named in the poems of Catullus.

Life and career

In his twenties, Caelius became associated with Crassus and Cicero,^[2] while he was also briefly connected to Catiline and his conspiracy. Caelius first achieved fame through his successful prosecution in 59 BC of Gaius Antonius H