Trebatius Testa

Template:Short description Gaius Trebatius Testa (c.84 BC - fl. 1st century BC,) was a jurist of ancient Rome,<ref>J Davie trans., Horace: Satires and Epistles (OUP 2011) p. 144</ref> whose family, and himself, originated from Elea.

Friendship with Cicero and the Caesars

Some twenty years younger than Cicero, Trebatius was both a familiar friend and a protégé of the latter.<ref>D R Shackleton Bailey trans., Cicero's Letters to his Friends (Atlanta 1988) p. xii and p. 828</ref> Cicero dedicated his Topica to Trebatius, and recommended Trebatius as a legal advisor to Julius Caesar, calling him a thorough gentleman and a "leading light in civil law".<ref>D R Shackleton Bailey trans., Cicero's Letters to his Friends (Atlanta 1988) p. 73 ad fam. vii.5</ref> Trebatius enjoyed Caesar's favor, making his fortune alongside him in Gaul, and supporting him in the Civil War.<ref>D R Shackleton Bailey trans., Cicero's Letters to his Friends (Atlanta 1988) p. 85 and p. 828</ref>

Later he also worked closely with Augustus, and was subsequently described in the Institutes of Justinian as being of the greatest authority for Augustan law.<ref> A Bauman, Lawyers in Roman Transitional Politics (1985) p.124 (Inst. 2.25 pr.)</ref>

Character

A good-humoured man - Cicero wrote of sending him "badinage in your own style"<ref>D R Shackleton Bailey trans., Cicero's Letters to his Friends (Atlanta 1988) p. 89 ad fam. vii.14</ref> - Trebatius was featured by Horace as a learned adviser in his Satires.<ref>A Palmer ed., The Satires of Horace (London 1920) p. 242</ref> As well as a fondness for wine, Trebatius also seemed to enjoy swimming as a hobby.<ref>A Palmer ed., The Satires of Horace (London 1920) p. 243</ref>

Legal career and influence

A pupil of Cornelius Maximus, Trebatius played a key part in the transfer of legal authority from the senate to individual jurisconsults under the Principate.<ref> A Bauman, Lawyers in Roman Transitional Politics (1985) p. 2</ref>

An expert on sacral law,<ref> A Bauman, Lawyers in Roman Transitional Politics (1985) p.123</ref> Trebatius' writings included a de religionibus and de iure civili, but not even excerpts of these survive. He was, however, frequently cited by later jurists, and also had a high reputation as the teacher of Marcus Antistius Labeo.

See also

• Aulus Ofilius
• Gaius Matius - friend of Cicero/Trebatius
• Servius Sulpicius Rufus - legal rival