person
Gaius Attius the Paelignian
Attius
also: C. Atius, C. Atium, Atius, C. Attius Paelignus
A Paelignian officer commanding the Pompeian garrison of five cohorts at Sulmo in February 49 BC; he opened the town's gates to Antony, an early sign of the Pompeian collapse in Italy (Att. 8.4; cf. Caes. BC 1.18).
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 8.4 §3 At Sulmo, Gaius Atius the Paelignian
Sulmo, a town of the Paeligni in central Italy, was held for Pompey but its commander Atius opened the gates to Caesar's lieutenant Antony despite having five cohorts; the easy surrender signals the collapse of the Pompeian position in Italy. Caesar's own account (Civil War 1.18) tells the same episode.