Sci'pio
20. L.
Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus, is first mentioned in B. C. 100, when he took up arms with the other members of the senate against Saturninus (Cic.
pro Rabir. Perd. 7).
In the Social War he was stationed with L. Acilius in the town of Aesernia, from which they escaped on the approach of Vettius Scato in the dress of slaves (Appian,
App. BC 1.41).
He belonged to the Marian party in the civil wars, and was appointed consul in B. C. 83 with C. Norbanus.
In this year Sulla returned to Italy, and advanced against the consuls.
He defeated Norbanus in Italy, but seduced the troops of Scipio to desert their general, who was taken prisoner in his camp along with his son Lucius, but was dismissed by Sulla uninjured.
He was, however, included in the proscription in the following year, B. C. 82, whereupon he fled to Massilia, and passed there the remainder of his life. His daughter was married to P. Sestius (Appian,
App. BC 1.82,
85,
86;
Plut. Sull. 28,
Sertor. 6 ; Liv.
Epit. 85 ; Flor. 3.21 ;
Oros. 5.21;
Cic. Phil. 12.11, 13.1; Cic.
pro Sest. 3 ; Schol. Bob.
in Sest. p. 293, ed. Orelli). Cicero speaks favourably of the oratorical powers of this Scipio (
dicebat non imperite, Cic.
Brut. 47).
