Anto'nius or Anto'nius Hybrida
10. C. ANTONIUS M. F. C. N., surnamed HYBRIDA (
Plin. Nat. 8.53. s. 79, according to Drumann,
Gesch. Roms, i. p. 531, because he was a
homo semiferus, the friend of Catiline and the plunderer of Macedonia), was the second son of Antonius, the orator [No. 8], and the uncle of the triumvir [No. 12].
He accompanied Sulla in his war against Mithridates, and on Sulla's return to Rome, B. C. 83, was left behind in Greece with part of the cavalry and plundered the country.
He was subsequently accused for his oppression of Greece by Julius Caesar (76). Six years afterwards (70), he was expelled the senate by the censors for plundering the allies and wasting his property, but was soon after readmitted.
He celebrated his aedileship with extraordinary splendour.
In his praetorship (65) and consulship (63) he had Cicero as his colleague.
According to most accounts Antony was one of Catiline's conspirators, and his well-known extravagance and rapacity seem to render this probable. Cicero gained him over to his side by promising him the rich province of Macedonia, in which he would have a better opportunity of amassing wealth than in the other consular province of Gaul. Antony had to lead an army against Catiline, but unwilling to fight against his former friend, he gave the command on the day of battle to his legate, M. Petreius.
At the conclusion of the war Antony went into his province, which he plundered so shamefully, that his recall was proposed in the senate in the beginning of 61. Cicero defended him; and it was currently reported at Rome that Cicero had given up the province to Antony on the secret understanding, that the latter should give him part of the plunder. Antony said the same himself ; and Cicero's conduct in defending him in the senate, and also when he was brought to trial subsequently, strengthened the suspicion. In 60, Antony was succeeded in the province by Octavius, the father of Augustus, and on his return to Rome was accused in 59 both of taking part in Catiline's conspiracy and of extortion in his province.
He was defended by Cicero, but was notwithstanding condemned on both charges, and retired to the island of Cephallenia, which he rendered subject to him, as if it were his own; he even commenced building a city in it. (
Strab. x. p.455.)
He was subsequently recalled, probably by Caesar, but at what time is uncertain. We know that he was in Rome at the beginning of 44 (Cic.
Philipp. 2.38), and he probably did not long survive Caesar. (For the ancient authorities, see Orelli's
Onomasticon Tull. and Drumann's
Geschichte Roms, i. p. 31.)
