Balbus (cognomen)

Balbus, literally "stammerer", was a cognomen of several ancient Roman gentes.

Of the Acilii Balbi, one Manius Acilius Balbus was consul in 150 BC, another in 114 BC. To another family belonged T. Ampius Balbus, a supporter of Pompey, but afterwards pardoned by Julius Caesar.[1] We know also of Q. Antonius Balbus, praetor in Sicily in 82 BC, and Marcus Atius Balbus, who married Julia Minor, a sister of Caesar, and had a daughter Atia, mother of Augustus.[2]

The most important of the name were the two Cornelii Balbi, natives of Gades (Cádiz):

• Lucius Cornelius Balbus (major)
• Lucius Cornelius Balbus (minor)[2]

Others with the cognomen include:

• Marcus Atius Balbus (105 BC-51 BC)
• Decius Laelius Balbus (c. 6 BC)
• Quintus Lucilius Balbus (fl. 100 BC), Stoic philosopher, and spokesman in Cicero's dialogue De Natura Deorum
• Gaius Norbanus Balbus (died c. 81 BC), Roman consul
• Quintus Bruttius Balbus, of the gens Bruttia
• Manius Acilius Balbus, of the gens Acilia
• Lucius Thorius Balbus[3] (c. 111 BC), author of the agrarian law known as the Thoria Lex

References

1. Compare Cicero Epistulae ad Familiares, vi.12; xiii.70
2.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Balbus". Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 242.
3. "Description historique et chronologique des monnaies de la République ... - Ernest Babelon - Google Livres". google.ca.