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| OSCA behind, head ofHercules right, wearing necklace | DOM. COS. ITER. IMP,simpulum,aspergillum,axe, andapex |
| ARdenarius; 3,78 g. Circa 39–38 BC | |
Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus was aRomangeneral,senator andconsul (both in 53 BC and 40 BC) who was a loyalpartisan ofCaesar andOctavianus.
Domitius Calvinus came from anoble family and waselected consul for 53 BC, despite a notorious electoralscandal. He was on Caesar's side during theCivil War withPompey. During the campaign in Greece, Caesar sent Domitius with two legions to interceptMetellus Scipio who was bringing the Syrian legions to Pompey. At the decisiveBattle of Pharsalus he commanded the centre of Caesar'sarmy. After the battle he becamegovernor ofAsia. He tried to oppose the invasion ofPharnaces, the king ofBosphorus, who had taken the occasion of the Roman civil war to invade the province ofPontus; however, he suffered a crushing defeat at theBattle of Nicopolis inArmenia (December of 48 BC). Direct intervention by Caesar brought a quick end to the conflict, and Pharnaces' army was annihilated atZela in 47 BC. Despite this failure, he remained atrusted friend of Caesar.
Domitius Calvinus's activities immediately after the death of Caesar are unknown, but in 43 BC he was a strong supporter ofOctavianus and participated in the civil war againstBrutus andCassius. During thePhilippi campaign in 42 BC, he had to bring reinforcements fromItalia toGreece forMark Antony and Octavianus' army, however, his fleet was destroyed by the enemy in theIonian Sea with the loss of twolegions. Despite this defeat, he was awarded the honour of a second consulship in 40 BC and was sent by Octavianus as governor toHispania, where he remained for three years (39–36 BC). His military activities in Spain were successful since he was saluted asimperator by his troops and on his return, he was awarded atriumph. He also rebuilt theRegia in theRoman Forum. Although there are not many facts concerning his furtherpolitical activities, an inscription shows that in 20 BC he was still alive and a member of the importantArval Brethrenpriesthood, reserved only for members of the nascent Imperial family and to the emperor's most distinguished supporters.
Although Domitius Calvinus' career does not show any particular ability, either in politics (he obtained his first consulship only after scandalousbribery) or inwar (he suffered two major defeats), he maintained an important political role. This was most probably because he was one of the very fewRoman nobles to support the Caesar/Octavianus party from the very beginning.
Calvinus had a daughter named Domitia Calvina who marriedLucius Calpurnius Bibulus.[1]
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| Preceded by | Consul of theRoman Republic withMarcus Valerius Messalla Rufus 53 BC | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Consul of theRoman Republic withGaius Asinius Pollio 40 BC | Succeeded by |
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