Vatinius
1.
Publius. A political adventurer in the last days of the Republic,
who is described by Cicero as one of the greatest villains that ever lived. Vatinius was
quaestor B.C. 63, and tribune of the plebs in 59, when he sold his services to Caesar, who
was then consul along with Bibulus. In 56 he appeared as a witness against Milo and Sestius,
two of Cicero's friends, in consequence of which the orator made a vehement attack upon the
character of Vatinius, in the speech which has come down to us. Vatinius was praetor in 55,
and in the following year (B.C. 54) he was accused by C. Licinius Calvus of having gained the
praetorship by bribery. He was defended on this occasion by Cicero, in order to please
Caesar, whom Cicero had offended by his former attack upon Vatinius. During the Civil War
Vatinius attached himself to the fortunes of Caesar.
2.
Of Beneventum, one of the vilest and most hateful creatures of Nero's court, equally
deformed in body and in mind, and who, after being a shoemaker's apprentice and a buffoon,
ended by becoming a
delator, or public informer (
Tac. Ann. xv. 34). A variety of drinking-cup bore
his name (
Juv.v. 46).
