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Decimus Laelius (b. late-90s/early 80s BC)〔Late-90s as estimated by Michael Charles Alexander, ''The Case for the Prosecution in the Ciceronian Era'' (University of Michigan Press, 2002), p. 80 (online ), but possibly later, given Cicero's use of the term ''adulescens''.〕 was a tribune of the ''plebs'' of the Roman Republic in 54 BC. In 59 BC, he was the lead prosecutor in the extortion case against L. Valerius Flaccus, who was defended by Cicero in the speech ''Pro Flacco''. Laelius served under Pompeius Magnus as envoy and naval prefect in 49 and 48 BC, during the civil war against Julius Caesar. Cicero accuses him of bringing the case against Flaccus at the instigation of Pompeius.〔Cicero, ''Pro Flacco'' 14.〕 ==Prosecuting Flaccus== Cicero shows perhaps uncharacteristic regard for the opposing counsel by calling him "the son of the best sort of man" and "a good young man, from a respectable background, and eloquent,"〔Cicero, ''Pro Flacco'' 2 (''optimi viri filium'') and 18 (''adulescens bonus, honesto loco natus, disertus'').〕 but emphasizes his youth by repeatedly referring to him as an ''adulescens'', the usual term in the Late Republic for a young man not yet having entered the ''cursus honorum'' or political career track.〔Elizabeth Rawson, “''Crassorum funera'',” ''Latomus'' 41 (1982, p. 545.〕 The implication is that the prosecution is an attempt to boost his career. Laelius appears to have had a strong and well-presented case, and yet: Laelius presented the Greek and Jewish witnesses at the trial, while his co-counsel, C. Appuleius Decianus, handled Roman citizens who had been living abroad. One of the accusations brought by Laelius was that Flaccus had tried to bribe Decianus. Cicero impugns Laelius's witnesses by their ethnicity. Although Macrobius later records Flaccus's guilt, the former governor was acquitted. Flaccus may have won the case because of bias, but a general awareness of his guilt is indicated by his failure to advance to the consulship, an achievement that would have been expected from his family history. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Decimus Laelius」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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