Messalla
14. L.
Vipstanus Messalla, was legionary tribune in Vespasian's army, A. D. 70.
He rescued the legatus Aponius Saturninus from the fury of the soldiers who suspected him of corresponding with the Vitellian party. Messalla was brother of Aquilius Regulus, the notorious delator in Domitian's reign (
Plin. Ep. 1.5).
He is one of Tacitus' authorities for the history of the civil wars after Galba's death, and a principal interlocutor in the dialogue
De Oratoribus, ascribed to Tacitus. (
Tac. Hist. 3.9,
11,
18,
25,
28,
4.42,
Dialog. de Orat. 15-25.)
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W.B.D]