person
Gaius Messius
Messius
also: C. Messius, Messium, Messius
Tribune of the plebs 57 BC and active partisan of Pompey; author of the sweeping 'Messian bill' of September 57 that would have given Pompey control of all moneys, a fleet, an army, and overriding command in the provinces for the corn supply. Later aedile and a legate of Caesar.
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 4.1 §6 the bill of Messius
C. Messius, a tribune of 57 BC, drafted a far more sweeping alternative giving Pompey control of all funds, a fleet, an army, and command outranking the provincial governors. Cicero found the milder consular version, by contrast, 'modest'.
- Ad Atticum 4.15 §9 recalled from his commission
C. Messius had been made a legate of Caesar by the consul Appius; recalled to stand trial, he was prosecuted (probably for bribery) with Cicero as his advocate.