ANTONIUS

antonius, the name of a large number of prominent citizens of ancient rome, of the gens antonia. antonius the triumvir claimed that his family was descended from anton, son of heracles. of the antonii the following are important. 1. marcus antonius (143-87 b.c.), one of the most distinguished roman orators of his time, was quaestor in 113, and praetor in 102 with proconsular powers, the province of cilicia being assigned to him. here he was so successful against the pirates that a naval triumph was awarded him. he was consul in 99, censor 97, and held a command in the marsic war in 90. an adherent of sulla, he was put to death by marius and cinna when they obtained possession of rome (87). antonius's reputation for eloquence rests on the authority of cicero, none of his orations being extant. he is one of the chief speakers in cicero's _de oratore_. velleius paterculus ii. 22; appian, _bell. civ._ i. 72; dio cassius xlv. 47; plutarch, _marius_, 44; cicero, _orator_, 5, _brutus_, 37; quintilian, _instit._ iii. 1, 19; o. enderlein, _de m. antonio oratore_ (leipzig, 1882). 2. marcus antonius, nicknamed creticus in derision, elder son of marcus antonius, the "orator," and father of the triumvir. he was praetor in 74