Messalla Corvinus

Hannah Mitchell (University of St Andrews)

Ed. by William John Dominik, University of Otago
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Dates

Born -64
Died -8
Activity -30--8

Places

Born in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)
Active in Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire)

Activities

Primary

Military commander
Patron

Resources

Corvinus Messala's Works

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Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus was a politician, writer, orator, and patron of poets, active at the time of the late Republic and Augustan Principate. He was reputedly one of the most eloquent men of his day. Descended from an ancient patrician family which could boast many distinguished ancestors, he was thus destined for a prominent political career from the outset. His career was eventful, as it spanned a period of civil war and the creation of the Principate.

Political Career

Both the dates of Messalla’s birth and death have been disputed: most likely he was born in 64 BCE and died in either 8 or 13 CE. His father was M. Valerius Messalla Niger, the consul of 61 BCE, and his mother was Palla. Messalla is first attested in the historical record in a letter of Cicero

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2549 words

Citation: Mitchell, Hannah. "Messalla Corvinus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 January 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12484, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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