1. Biography Lucius Licinius Murena was born between 130 and 120 BC in Lanuvium in Italy. He was born into one of the aristocratic Roman families who participated directly in the wars and the political events of the era, without, however, playing a key role. He was the son of Licinius Murena, who had served as a general in c. 101 BC, and was possibly the brother of the orator P. Licinius Murena. We know that his son was successfully defended by Cicero.1 Murena apparently passed away in Italy shortly before 63 BC, i.e. before the election of his son, L. Licinius Murena as .2
2. Activity
He was probably a general in 88/87 BC, before following Sulla into Greece and Asia Minor as an ambassador.3 During the First Mithridatic War he distinguished himself during the siege of Piraeus and commanded the left wing of the Roman army at the Battle of Chaeronea, where he faced Taxiles, a general of Mithridates VI. After the end of the war (84 BC), Sulla returned to Rome, leaving Murena to consolidate Roman control over the Province of Asia. Murena gathered warships for a campaign against the pirates of Cilicia, ousted Moagetes the tyrant of Kibyra and annexed Cibyra, Balboura and Boubon in Lycia. His activity during this period is mentioned on inscriptions where he is honoured as an imperator, proxenos and benefactor of the deme.4 In 83 BC, commanding two legions, he invaded the Kingdom of Pontus. The hostilities and diplomatic contacts between Mithridates VI and the Roman state during the years between 83 and 81 BC, for which Murena is considered mainly responsible, caused the Second Mithridatic War. After the end of the war Murena returned to Rome (81 BC). To honour him, the allowed him to celebrate his own triumph.5 Between 70 and 66 BC he was an ambassador in the province of Asia, aiding Lucullus to organize Asia following the end of the Third Mithridatic War, but returned to Rome after the reorganization of Asia Minor by Pompeius. |
1. See Sumner, G.V., "Varrones Murenae", Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 82 (1978), pp. 187-195. 2. Cic., Mur, 41, 56, 90; OCD 2, see under entry L. Licinius Murena (E. Badian); RE XIII1 (1926), columns 446-449, see under entry L. Licinius Murena (123) (F. Münzer). 3. RE XIII1(1926), columns 444-446, see under entry L. Licinius Murena (122) (F. Münzer). 4. Cic, Verr. 1.89; Strabo 13.4.17; ILS 8772; SIG3 745. The Latin term imperator is attested as “ιμπεράτωρ” on Greek inscriptions and signifies a general with extended powers. See REXIII1 (1926), columns 444-446, see under entry L. Licinius Murena (122) (F. Münzer). 5. Cic, Leg. Man. 8; Cic, Mur. 11.15.88. |