Pansa, C. Vi'bius
consul B. C. 43 with A. Hirtius. His father and grandfather also bore the praenomen Caius, as we learn from coins in which the consul is designated C. F. C. N. (see below); but we know nothing of the history of his family, save that his father was proscribed by Sulla (
D. C. 45.17), which was probably one reason that led Pansa to espouse the side of Caesar, of whom he was always a faithful adherent, and to whom he was indebted for all the honours he obtained in the state. Pansa was tribune of the plebs B. C. 51, in which year he took an active part, in conjunction with M. Caelius, and some of his other colleagues, in opposing the measures which the consul M. Marcellus and others of the aristocratical party were directing against Caesar. (
Cic. Fam. 8.8. ยงยง 6, 7.) Pansa was not employed by Caesar in any important military command during the civil war, but he continued to enjoy his confidence and esteem, and received from him in B. C. 46 the government of Cisalpine Gaul as successor to M. Brutus. Cicero speaks of his departure from the city at the end of December in that year to take the command of the province, and says "that he was followed by extraordinary good wishes on the part of all good men, because he had relieved many from misery, and had shown great good feeling and kindliness in the recent calamities." (
Cic. Fam. 15.17.) Pansa returned to Rome in B. C. 45; and in B. C. 44 Caesar nominated him and Hirtius, his colleague in the augurate, consuls for B. C. 43. From that time the name of Pansa becomes so closely connected with that of Hirtius, that it is impossible to relate the history of the one without giving that of the other.
The reader is therefore referred to the article HIRTIUS, where he will find an account of the events of the years B. C. 44 and 43, till the fall of both the consuls at Mutina in the month of April in the latter year, together with references to all the ancient authorities.
There is a large number of coins bearing the name of Pansa, of which we give three specimens below.
The first of these has on the obverse the head of Apollo, and on the reverse Pallas in a chariot drawn by four horses; it is supposed by Eckhel more ancient than the time of the consul, and is therefore referred by him to the father or grandfather of the latter.
The next two coins belong to the consul.
The former bears on the obverse the head of Bacchus, and on the reverse Ceres in a chariot drawn by two dragons: the latter has on the obverse a youthful head, and on the reverse Ceres with a torch in each of her hands and with a pig by her side. (Eckhel, vol.v. p. 339.)
