Gaius Furnius

Who is Gaius Furnius?

Gaius Furnius was tribune of the plebs in 50 BCE, and a friend and correspondent of Cicero.

Cicero trusted to the exertions of Furnius, while tribune, to obtain for him his recall at the end of his first year as proconsul of Cilicia, and, after his return, a supplicatio or thanksgiving. A clause, however, which Furnius inserted in his plebiscite, making the recall dependent on the Parthians remaining quiet until the month of August, 50 BCE, was unsatisfactory to Cicero, since July was the usual season of their inroads. Furnius, as tribune, was opposed to the unreasonable demands of the oligarchical party at Rome, that Julius Caesar should immediately and unconditionally resign his proconsulship of Gaul. After the civil war broke out, he was sent by Caesar with letters to Cicero in March, 49 BC, Cicero recommended Furnius to Lucius Munatius Plancus, at that time, 43 BC, proconsul in Transalpine Gaul, and he was legatus to Plancus during the first war between Antony and Augustus, and until after the Battle of Philippi, 42 BC. During the war between Antony and the senate, Furnius apprised Cicero of the movements and sentiments of the Roman legions and commanders in Gaul and Spain, but his letters have not been preserved.