Hirtius

Life

Aulus Hirtius, personal legate to Julius Caesar, was born circa 90 BCE, and died in 43 BCE at the Seige of Mutina.

Aulus Hirtius served with Caesar in Gaul, and was an envoy to Pompey during the Civil War. After the Civil War, Hirtius served in various offices, including tribune in 48, praetor in 46, governor of Transalpine Gaul in 45, and finally, after the death of Caesar, and by Caesar’s own nomination, consul in 43.

After the Second Triumvirate fell apart, Hirtius joined forces with Cicero and Octavian to attack Antony. He was slain at the Siege of Mutina in 43, and was given a public funeral befitting for a consul.

Works

Which exactly are Hirtius’ literary works are still disputed, but there is somewhat of a consensus. He is thought to have finished Caesar’s Bellum Gallicum by adding the eighth and last book, and edited both Bellum Gallicum and Bellum Civile. He most likely wrote Bellum Alexandrinum, though his authorship was doubted even in antiquity, with some thinking that Gaius Oppius wrote it instead. These three works are accompanied in manuscripts by the Bellum Africum and the Bellum Hispaniense, though his authorship of the latter two works are unlikely considering their literary inferiority.

Hirtius also had a large amount of correspondence, especially with Cicero, but all traces of that are now lost save a single letter which survives.

Hirtiu Online

Latin: PHI Latin Texts (Bellum Gallicum VIII · Epistulae · Bellum Alexandrinum)

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