Buzz
Exile from Rome served multiple purposes—it was a political strategy, a means of retribution, and a severe punishment that even Rome's most respected individuals endured. With control over vast territories, removing someone from society was a straightforward act. Here are five notable figures expelled by the Romans.
1. Agrippa Postumus
Exiled to: Planasia, 9 CECause: UncertainRecalled: Never
Agrippa Postumus (top), the grandson of Caesar Augustus through his daughter Julia, rose in the line of succession after the deaths of his father and brothers. The alternative heir was Tiberius, a seasoned general aged 44, whom Augustus disliked but deemed more suitable than the unruly 15-year-old Agrippa. In 9 CE, Augustus exiled Agrippa to Planasia (modern Pianosa), a small Tuscan island, where he remained under strict surveillance, cut off from any updates about Rome. Agrippa died around 14 CE, coinciding with Augustus's death, likely assassinated on Tiberius's orders. His mother Julia, also in exile, passed away soon after.
Despite his exile, Agrippa's legacy resurfaced in 16 CE when a man posing as him journeyed to Rome, rallying support from those loyal to Agrippa's family. This imposter was actually Clemens, Agrippa's slave. Though the claim was false, Tiberius, fearing a genuine conspiracy, had Clemens executed later that year.
Agrippa Postumus's banishment may have been driven by political motives or his rebellious behavior. Regardless, his exile and subsequent death (twice over, in a sense) solidified Tiberius's hold on the power Augustus had reluctantly entrusted to him.
2. Metellus Numidicus
2. Metellus Numidicus
Exiled to: Rhodes, 100 BCECause: RevengeRecalled: 99 BCE
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus was widely admired by the Roman populace, despite allegations of war profiteering in Africa, propagated by his subordinate Gaius Marius. Although Marius usurped Metellus's consulship and military command, Metellus returned to Rome in triumph in 107 BCE, his reputation intact.
Elected censor in 102 BCE, Metellus was tasked with overseeing the census, managing government finances, and enforcing public morality. He attempted to expel L. Appuleius Saturninus, a political ally of Marius, from the senate but was unsuccessful.
Marius and Saturninus introduced legislation aimed at antagonizing the aristocracy. Metellus refused to swear allegiance and paid the required fine. When Saturninus accused him of treason, Metellus's supporters armed themselves to defend him. However, Metellus, unwilling to incite civil unrest, urged them to stand down and accepted exile in 100 BCE without resistance.
During his exile in Rhodes, Metellus immersed himself in Greek philosophy and developed a deeper appreciation for war and the arts, far removed from Rome's political intrigues. Saturninus was killed that same year, and Marius's influence couldn't prevent Metellus's return. His son successfully campaigned for his recall, and Metellus Numidicus was welcomed back as a hero, eventually retiring to a peaceful private life. Sometimes, a brief exile can lead to remarkable outcomes.
3. Gaius Marius
Exiled to: Africa, 87 BCECause: SullaRecalled: He marched back in 87 BCE
Gaius Marius, hailed as the '3rd founder of Rome,' rose from humble origins to build a formidable army from Rome's impoverished and landless citizens. His military successes earned him five consulships between 104 and 100 BCE, in addition to his first in 107 BCE. Only one other Roman had achieved six consulships, and Marius, nearing old age, was determined to surpass this record.
In 88 BCE, the command for the war in Asia was awarded to Cornelius Sulla, Marius's former subordinate. At nearly 70 years old, Marius coveted the position. A political clash escalated into street violence, with Sulla initially losing ground. However, Sulla relied on his army's loyalty, and they sided with him, marching into Rome—an unprecedented act that shocked the city.
Marius, unable to fund his own army, sent his son to Africa and fled across Italy. Unfavorable winds prevented his escape by sea. Isolated from allies, he hid in a swamp until captured and detained in a town south of Rome. A German slave was dispatched to execute him, but Marius's lifelong advocacy for the poor and landless saved him. The slave, overcome with emotion, declared, 'I cannot kill Gaius Marius,' and fled. Freed shortly after, Marius reunited with his supporters on an island near Naples.
Their journey to Africa was fraught with peril; half of their group perished in Sicily while stopping for supplies. Upon reaching Africa, they were refused entry. Exhausted and disheveled, Marius and his men took refuge in the ruins of Carthage before eventually reuniting with his son.
Reinvigorated, Marius rallied his former soldiers and began a campaign to reclaim his standing. Along the way, he besieged Roman ports and enlisted freed slaves, steadily growing his army. He joined forces with the deposed consul Cinna, and together they marched on Rome once more.
Marius returned as a victor, yet in a display of passive-aggressive defiance, he claimed he could not legally enter Rome as a fugitive. While the process to revoke his exile began, Marius grew impatient and entered the city anyway. His fervent slave army carried out executions at his slightest command, prompting Cinna to slaughter the Marians in their sleep to halt the carnage.
Remarkably, exile rejuvenated Marius's influence. In 86 BCE, he was elected to his seventh consulship, achieving his long-sought goal. Sulla was exiled, and Marius passed away just weeks later.
4. Cicero
Exiled to: Macedonia, 58 BCECause: Executing citizens without trialRecalled: 57 BCE
Exile varied in severity, with full banishment resulting in the loss of wealth and citizenship—a crushing blow. Cicero experienced this firsthand after failing to convict the noble P. Clodius Pulcher of blasphemy, leading to his own exile.
Cicero was highly esteemed, earning the title 'father of the fatherland' in 63 BCE for exposing a conspiracy against the state.
Leveraging his influence as tribune, Clodius accused Cicero of executing conspirators without a fair trial. Cicero sought support, but the consuls, controlled by Clodius, and violent mobs ensured his conviction. Even Gnaeus Pompey, a powerful ally, chose not to intervene.
Exiled to Macedonia, Cicero's properties were destroyed, and his lands consecrated to the goddess of Liberty. He sank into despair, lamenting in letters to his family the disgrace he had brought upon them. However, public sympathy grew. Pompey, recognizing Cicero's value, supported his return, and the new tribune, Milo, campaigned for his reinstatement. Clodius's supporters resisted, sparking street battles that only ended when Milo's forces protected the senate during the vote for Cicero's recall. Clodius cast the sole dissenting vote.
5. Ovid
Exiled to: Tomis, 8 CECause: He wouldn’t sayRecalled: Never
Being exiled from Rome was a harsh fate, but the destination could make it even more unbearable.
Ovid, a celebrated poet with no political ambitions, adored Rome for its culture and vibrancy. Known for his erotic verses, he clashed with the moral reforms instituted by Augustus. However, this may have been a pretext to punish Ovid for a more ambiguous 'mistake.' Ovid described it as a 'fault' rather than a crime, one that deeply angered Augustus and was too dangerous to discuss openly. Scholars speculate it involved something he witnessed or overheard, possibly linked to Augustus's family.
Tomis, a remote coastal town on the Black Sea, was rugged and uncivilized. For a sophisticated urbanite like Ovid, this rural exile was a cruel punishment. He longed for Rome's lush vineyards and orchards.
Ovid's punishment was technically 'relegation,' not full exile, allowing him to retain his property. He entrusted his wife with managing their estate in Rome while he composed poetry pleading for Augustus's forgiveness. However, Augustus remained unmoved by his appeals.
His earlier works were removed from public libraries, and his exile poetry was shared privately. Among his most renowned works, the Metamorphoses, written during his exile, concludes with the lines, "wherever Roman power reaches ... my fame will endure eternally."
