Cu'rius
3. M'. CURIUS (is in some editions called M'. Curtius), a friend of Cicero and a relation (
consobrinus) of C. Caelius Caldus.
He was quaestor urbanus in B. C. 61, and tribune of the people in 58, when Cicero hoped that Curius would protect him against the machinations of P. Clodius.
At a somewhat later time, he is called in a letter of Cicero's addressed to him (
ad Fam. 13.49) a governor of a Roman province with the title of proconsul, but it is not known of what province he had the administration.
The letter above referred to is the only one extant among the
ad Familiares which is addressed to him.
In the declamation
Post Reditum in Senatu (8) Cicero states, that he had been quaestor to Curius's father, whereas it is a well-known fact, that Cicero had been quaestor to Sex. Peducaeus.
This contradiction is usually solved by the supposition, that Curius was the adoptive son of Peducaeus.
Further Information
Cic. Fam. 2.19,
ad Quint. Frat. 1.4, pro Flacc. 13.
