Rutilius Rufus, Publius
A Roman statesman and orator. He was military tribune under Scipio in the Numantine War,
praetor B.C. 111, consul in 105, and legatus in 95 under Q. Mucius Scaevola, proconsul of
Asia. While acting in this capacity he displayed so much honesty and firmness in repressing
the extortions of the publicani that he became an object of fear and hatred to the whole body.
Accordingly, on his return to Rome, he was impeached of malversation (
de
repetundis), found guilty, and compelled to withdraw into banishment, B.C. 92. He is
said to have written a history of Rome in Greek (
Livy, xxxix. 52;
Gell. vi. 14).