Marcus Porcius Cato (consul 118 BC)
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Marcus Porcius Cato was a member of the Roman plebeian gens Porcii
and consul
in 118 BC.
Marcus Porcius Cato was the elder son of Marcus Porcius Cato Licinianus
and the grandson of the famous conservative Roman politician Cato the Elder
. Nothing is known about his early life. In 121 BC at the latest he was praetor
. In 118 BC he became consul; his colleague was Quintus Marcius Rex
. He went to Africa, perhaps to settle the dispute between the heirs of king Micipsa
of Numidia, the son of Masinissa
. But Cato died during his consulate.
Cato was a powerful orator. He left some posthumous speeches, which were preserved for some time.
Porcii
Porcius, feminine Porcia, masculine plural Porcii, was the name of the gens Porcia, who apparently originated in Tusculum....
and consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
in 118 BC.
Marcus Porcius Cato was the elder son of Marcus Porcius Cato Licinianus
Marcus Porcius Cato Licinianus
Marcus Porcius Cato Licinianus or Cato Licinianus was son of Cato the Elder by his first wife Licinia, and thence called Licinianus, to distinguish him from his half-brother, Marcus Porcius Cato Salonianus, the son of Salonia...
and the grandson of the famous conservative Roman politician Cato the Elder
Cato the Elder
Marcus Porcius Cato was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius , Sapiens , Priscus , or Major, Cato the Elder, or Cato the Censor, to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Cato the Younger.He came of an ancient Plebeian family who all were noted for some...
. Nothing is known about his early life. In 121 BC at the latest he was praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
. In 118 BC he became consul; his colleague was Quintus Marcius Rex
Quintus Marcius Rex
Quintus Marcius Rex was a member of the Marcii Reges, the family founded by the Roman King Ancus Marcius. His father, praetor in 144 BC, built the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, the longest aqueduct of ancient Rome...
. He went to Africa, perhaps to settle the dispute between the heirs of king Micipsa
Micipsa
Micipsa was the eldest legitimate son of Masinissa, the King of Numidia, in the Ancient Algerian Maghreb of North Africa. He became the King of Numidia.-Early life:...
of Numidia, the son of Masinissa
Masinissa
Masinissa — also spelled Massinissa and Massena — was the first King of Numidia, an ancient North African nation of ancient Libyan tribes. As a successful general, Masinissa fought in the Second Punic War , first against the Romans as an ally of Carthage an later switching sides when he saw which...
. But Cato died during his consulate.
Cato was a powerful orator. He left some posthumous speeches, which were preserved for some time.