Manius Aquilius, [Y. R. 654. B. C. 98,] being accused of extortion,
refused to implore the favour of the judges appointed to try him. Marcus
Antonius, his advocate, cut open his vest, and showed the scars of his
honourable wounds; upon sight of which he was clearly acquitted, [Y. R.
655. B. C. 97.] This fact is related upon the authority of Cicero only.
Titus Didius, the proconsul, fought successfully against the
Celtiberians. [Y. R. 656. B. C. 96.] Ptolemy, king of Cyrene, surnamed
Apio, dying, bequeathed his kingdom to the Roman people: and the senate
decreed that the cities in that kingdom should be free. [Y. R. 657. B.
C. 95.] Ariobarzanes was restored to his kingdom of Cappadocia by Lucius
Sylla. Ambassadors from Arsaces, king of Parthia, come to Sylla, to
solicit the friendship of the Roman people, [Y. R. 658. B. C. 94.]
Publius Rutilius, a man of the strictest integrity, because he exerted
himself, when lieutenant-general under Quintus Mucius, the proconsul, to
protect the people of Asia from the oppression of the revenue farmers,
became odious to the equestrian order, who had the cognizance of affairs
of that nature, and being brought to trial, was condemned to exile, [Y.
R. 659. B. C. 93.] Caius Sentius, the prætor, fought unsuccessfully
against the Thracians. [Y. R. 660. B. C. 92.] The senate not being
disposed to tolerate the inefficiency of the equestrian order in the
exercise of their judicial functions, tried, by all its influence, to
have those functions transferred to itself, and Marcus Livius Drusus,
the plebeian tribune, promoting this design, stimulated the people, by
the pernicious hope of bribes, to add their sanction. Moreover a
commotion occurred among the kings of Syria.