Editing Trebatius Testa

{{Short description|Roman jurist}}
'''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 [[Velia (town)|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 [[Caesar Augustus|Augustus]], and was subsequently described in the [[Institutes (Justinian)|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 (Horace)|''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

==References==
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[[Category:Ancient Roman jurists]]
[[Category:Correspondents of Cicero]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Romans]]

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