Lucius Marcius Philippus

Lucius Marcius Philippus ( – ) was a Roman orator and an important politician of the late Roman Republic. His strenuous opposition to the reforms of Marcus Livius Drusus during his consulship of 91 BC was instrumental in the outbreak of the disastrous Bellum Italicum, the Social War. He did well under the Marian government during the mid-80s BC, holding the high office of censor in 86 BC. However, he took advantage of the political amnesty offered by Sulla during the civil war of 83 BC and changed sides, along with other Marians of later importance, such as Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (cos. 78) and Marcus Junius Brutus (tr. pl. 83), Publius Cethegus, and Pompey. Philippus had backed the winner in the Civil War, and enjoyed a special eminence in the first decade after as one of the few surviving men of consular rank and as Rome's pre-eminent orator since the death of Marcus Antonius (late 87 BC). Following Sulla's death in 78 BC, he played a key role in the suppression of Lepidus' revolt (78–77 BC). Family Philippus was the son of the Quintus Marcius Philippus who was some time between 134 and 114 BC. His mother was the Claudia who was a daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher, the consul in 143 and censor in 136 BC.