Gaius Asinius Pollio emerged from the hills of central Italy, born in the town known today as Chieti. His father bore the name Gnaeus Asinius Pollio, a man whose identity appears on surviving inscriptions. A brother named Asinius Marrucinus existed within this family circle. The poet Catullus once mocked that brother for playing a tasteless practical joke upon him. This familial connection suggests roots among the Marrucini people. Herius Asinius, likely his grandfather, served as a general for the Marrucini during the Social War. He fought on the Italian side against Rome's enemies. Pollio moved into literary circles early, joining the group surrounding Catullus. He entered public life in 56 BC by supporting Lentulus Spinther. An unsuccessful impeachment attempt followed in 54 against Gaius Porcius Cato.
Campaigns Under Caesar And Pompey
Pollio stood at the Rubicon when Julius Caesar deliberated crossing it to begin civil war. Plutarch records this moment of decision. After Pompey and the Senate fled to Greece, Caesar sent Pollio to Sicily. There he relieved Cato of command. He and Gaius Scribonius Curio marched to Africa to fight Publius Attius Varus. Water supplies were poisoned by opponents before Curio defeated Varus at Utica. Curio then faced King Juba of Numidia and was killed along with most men at the Bagradas River. Pollio retreated to Utica with a small force. He served as Caesar's legate at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. Appian notes that Pollio recorded 6,000 Pompeian casualties from that battle. In 47 BC, he likely served as tribune and resisted debt cancellation efforts by Publius Cornelius Dolabella. The following year he returned to Africa with Caesar to pursue Cato and Metellus Scipio.