CAIUS NORBANUS (83 BC)

"Gaius Norbanus" Gaius Norbanus was a praetor in 89 BCE and governor of Sicily. During the civil war between Marius and Sulla, he sided with Marius. In 83 BCE, the newly elected consuls, Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus and Gaius Norbanus, assembled armies to oppose Sulla. Norbanus was the first to march, intending to block Sulla’s legions at Canusium.

Despite the support of Quintus Sertorius, Norbanus was defeated by Sulla at the Battle of Mount Tifata, losing approximately 6,000 men. He retreated to Capua, where Sulla inflicted another crushing defeat on him. Norbanus managed to evade capture and fled to Rhodes. After Sulla issued a decree against him, Norbanus committed suicide in the middle of the marketplace while the leading citizens of Rhodes deliberated whether to hand him over to Sulla’s agents.