Fi'mbria
*fimbri/as.
1. C.
Flavius Fimbria, a
homo novus, who, according to Cicero, rose to the highest honours in the republic through his own merit and talent. In B. C. 105 he was a candidate for the consulship, and the people gave him the preference to his competitor, Q. Lutatius Catulus; and accordingly, Fimbria was the colleague of C. Marius in his second consulship, B. C. 104. Fimbria must have acquired his popularity about that time, for we learn from Cicero (
pro Planc. 21), that previously he had been an unsuccessful candidate for the tribuneship. What province he obtained after his consulship is unknown, but he seems to have been guilty of extortion during his administration, for M. Gratidius brought an action of repetundae against him, and was supported by the evidence of M. Aemilius Scaurus; but Fimbria was nevertheless acquitted. During the revolt of Saturninus, in B. C. 100, Fimbria, with other consulars, took up arms to defend the public good. Cicero describes him as a clever jurist; as an orator he had considerable power, but was bitter and vehement in speaking. Cicero, in his boyhood, read the speeches of Fimbria; but they soon fell into oblivion, for, at a later time, Cicero says that they were scarcely to be found any where. (Cic.
pro Planc. 5, in Verr. 5.70,
Brut. 34, 45,
pro Font. 7, pro Rab. perd. 7, de Off. 3.19,
de Orat. 2.22 ; Ascon.
in Cornel. p. 78;
V. Max. 7.2.4,
8.5.2; J. Obsequ. 103, where he is erroneously called L. Flaccus.)
