MESSALLA CORVINUS, MARCUS VALERIUS

born c. 64 BC died AD 13 Roman aristocrat and patron of literature. Messalla was proscribed by the Second Triumvirate in 43, but he escaped to the camp of Brutus and Cassius, and after their defeat at Philippi (42) went over to Mark Antony. Later he joined Octavian and campaigned for him against Sextus Pompeius (36), the Illyrians (3534), and the Alpine Salassi (3433). Elected consul with Octavian, in place of Antony, for 31, he fought against Antony in the Battle of Actium (31). Messalla conquered Aquitania (in modern southwestern France) as proconsul and later held eastern commands. Becoming curator aquarum (superintendent of aqueducts) in 11, he restored the Via Latina between Tusculum and Alba and reconstructed several buildings. As a literary patron Messalla included the poets Albius Tibullus and Sulpicia in his literary circle and was also a patron of Ovid. Messalla's own works are lost. His memoirs of the civil wars after the death of Caesar were used by Suetonius and Plutarch. He also wrote pastoral poems in Greek, translations of Greek speeches, occasional satirical and love poems, and essays on grammar. As an orator he followed Cicero instead of the Atticizing school, but his style was affected. Late in life he (or possibly his relative Messalla Rufus) wrote a work on the great Roman families.