Lucius Antonius spent his early years roaming through Rome in bad company. Plutarch describes the untamed life of him and his friends. They frequented gambling houses and drank too much. His father was Marcus Antonius Creticus. His mother Julia was a third cousin of Julius Caesar. He was also the grandson of the rhetorician Marcus Antonius Orator. That grandfather had been executed by Gaius Marius' supporters in 86 BC. Lucius earned the nickname Pietas as a young man.
Tribune And Civil War
In 44 BC, Lucius served as tribune of the plebs during the year of Julius Caesar's assassination. He brought forward a law authorizing Caesar to nominate chief magistrates during his absence from Rome. After the murder of Caesar, he supported his brother Marcus. He proposed an agrarian law in favor of the people and Caesar's veterans. He took part in the operations at Mutina in 43 BC. Lucius remained a strong supporter of Mark Antony throughout these turbulent years.The Perusine Campaign
In 41 BC, Lucius held the consulship with Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus as his senior partner. He assisted his sister-in-law Fulvia in raising an eight legion army against Octavian. The distribution of land among Caesar's veterans evoked bitter feelings across Italy. Antonius and Fulvia changed their attitude to become defenders of those who suffered from that operation. Antonius marched on Rome and drove out Lepidus. He promised the people that the triumvirate would be abolished. When Octavian approached, Lucius retired to Perusia in Etruria. Three armies besieged him there during the winter of 41 BC.Surrender And Exile
Lucius was compelled to surrender after the siege at Perusia ended. The city was destroyed by Octavian's forces. His life was spared despite the destruction around him. Octavian sent him to Spain as governor afterward. Nothing is known of the circumstances or date of his death. This exile marked the end of his active political career in Rome. The fate of his brother Mark Antony followed a different path later.Cicero And Historical View
Cicero wrote about Lucius in his Philippics speeches. Those writings were actuated in great measure by personal animosity. Cicero gives a highly unfavorable view of his character. This hostile characterization shaped much of modern historical perception. Appian recorded events in Bellum Civile book five starting at section fourteen. Dio Cassius documented the period in volume forty-eight sections five through fourteen. Suetonius mentioned Lucius in De Vita Caesarum chapters two sections fourteen and fifteen.