Gaius Scribonius Curio (son of Fulvia)


Gaius Scribonius Curio was the son of Gaius Scribonius Curio and Fulvia.

Biography

Curio was born around 50 BC to Gaius Scribonius Curio and Fulvia From his mother he had two older half-siblings, Clodia Pulchra and Publius Claudius Pulcher. When his father died in 49 BC his mother remarried to Mark Antony, from him he gained two more half siblings, Marcus Antonius Antyllus and Iullus Antonius. Curio might also have had a paternal half-brother by the same name whom might have died young, since his brothers full name was reused for him. Reusing names from sons who had died was common in Rome during the Republic. In 40 BC his mother Fulvia also died, meaning that he was now likely under the custody of his step-father Mark Antony whom remarried to Octavia the Younger, sister of the future emperor Augustus. The remainder of his childhood was likely spent either in Rome with Octavia or with Antony on travels trought the Roman Provinces. When the Final War of the Roman Republic broke out Curio sided with his step-father Mark Antony and his next wife Cleopatra over Octavia and Augustus. He and his half brother Antyllus were executed after the Battle of Actium. Despite his father having been a fierce supporter of Augustus adopted father Julius Caesar he was not shown mercy like some others were.
Ronald Syme speculated that the young Curio might have been unwilling to beg for mercy due to being the son of a "loyal and spirited father", and that his mother Fulvia would have been proud of that.

Cultural depictions

Curio is a minor character in the Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough, when he is first introduced he is depicted as being an unruly child whom Octavia does her best raise, he appreciates Octavia as a mother figure but refuses to refer to Octavian as his uncle, in the end he and Antyllus joins Antony's side in the war and are executed. In the novel Antony by Allan Massie he is a supporting character, a follower of Mark Antony whom Antony is attracted to due to him looking like his father. In Steven Saylor's book A Mist of Prophecies he appears as a small and joyful baby whom Antony cares a great deal for.