Lucius Caninius Gallus
Lucius Caninius Gallus (died 44 BC) was a Roman politician of the Roman Republic. Gallus was of plebeian status and came from a family of consular rank.[1]
Gallus was a contemporary and friend to dictator Gaius Julius Caesar, also to politicians Marcus Terentius Varro and Marcus Tullius Cicero. Gallus was a man of political talent and acquirements.[1]
Gallus in 59 BC, had accused Quintus Fabius Maximus and Gaius Antonius Hybrida of the Lex Acilia repetundarum, whom Cicero defended the accused.[1] After 58 BC Gallus married Antonia Hybrida Major, the first daughter of Gaius Antonius Hybrida and a paternal cousin to triumvir Mark Antony.[2]
In 56 BC, while tribune of the Roman citizens, Gallus tried to increase the power and influence of Pompey. He prevented Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther from becoming proconsul of Cilicia.[1]
Gallus assisted the Greek Ptolemaic Pharaoh Ptolemy XII Auletes of Egypt to reclaim his throne. He forwarded a suggestion that Pompey, accompanied only by two lictors accompany Ptolemy back to Alexandria for Ptolemy to create a reconciliation with the citizens of Egypt. This was about to happen, but never occurred.[1]
In 55 BC, Gallus was accused, probably by Marcus Colonius, for an unknown transgression. At the request of Pompey, Cicero defended him. Gallus travelled to Greece in 51 BC and became a praetor in Achaea, then travelled to Athens, to visit Cicero. During the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Gallus remained neutral.[1]
Gallus had a son of the same name, who served as a consul with Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 37 BC and a grandson of the same name that served as a suffect consul in 2 BC, along with Marcus Plautius Silvanus. The historian Plutarch erroneously refers to the elder Gallus as Canidius.[1]