Scribonius Libo

Also known as: Libo · Family: Pompeian · Role: commander · First appears: The Civil War, Book I, 21–26

In Book I of the Civil War, Caesar sent Caninius Rebilus to speak with Scribonius Libo, his friend and relation, and seek peace and an interview with Pompey. Libo returned saying that no treaty could be made while the consuls were absent.

In Book III, Libo joined Marcus Bibulus, commander of the maritime forces. At Oricum, he and Bibulus obtained a truce and told Caesar that Pompey wished for reconciliation, but they lacked authority to negotiate; Caesar’s request to send commissioners to Pompey was refused. Later, at Brundisium, Libo seized an island opposite the harbour with a fleet of fifty ships and claimed he could prevent Caesar receiving auxiliaries. Marcus Antonius’s forces captured one of Libo’s galleys and drove off the rest, and Libo then left Brundisium and abandoned the blockade.

Relationship record

Life events

• Caesar sent Caninius Rebilus to urge Libo to secure peace and an interview with Pompey.(The Civil War, Book I, 21–26)
  • With: Caesar
  • “He therefore sent Caninius Rebilus to have an interview with Scribonius Libo, his intimate friend and relation.”
• Libo reported that no peace treaty could be undertaken while the consuls were absent.(The Civil War, Book I, 21–26)
  • With: Pompey
  • “returns with answer that, as the consuls were absent, no treaty of compositions could be engaged in without them.”
• Bibulus and Libo requested and obtained a truce.(The Civil War, Book III, 15–20 · 📍 Oricum)
  • With: Marcus Bibulus
  • “In the meantime they requested a truce, and obtained it from them”
• Libo told Caesar that Pompey had always wished for reconciliation, but that he and Bibulus could not treat on it, because by order of the council the whole management of the war rested with Pompey.(The Civil War, Book III, 15–20 · 📍 Oricum)
  • With: Caesar
  • “That it now was and ever had been Pompey's most earnest wish, that they should be reconciled, and lay down their arms; but they were not authorized to treat on that subject, because they resigned the whole management of the war, and all other matters, to Pompey, by order of the council.”
• Caesar's request to send commissioners to Pompey was refused.(The Civil War, Book III, 15–20 · 📍 Oricum)
  • With: Caesar
  • “They would neither receive Caesar's commissioners, nor guarantee their safety, but referred the whole to Pompey.”
• Libo seized an island opposite the harbour and reported that his fleet could prevent Caesar from receiving auxiliaries.(The Civil War, Book III, 21–28 · 📍 Brundisium)
  • With: Pompey
  • “Libo having sailed from Oricum, with a fleet of fifty ships, which he commanded, came to Brundisium, and seized an island, which lies opposite to the harbour; judging it better to guard that place, which was our only pass to sea, than to keep all the shores and ports blocked up by a fleet.”
• Antonius’s forces captured one of Libo’s galleys and drove the rest away.(The Civil War, Book III, 21–28 · 📍 Brundisium)
  • With: Marcus Antonius
  • “and at the first charge took one of the four-banked galleys, with the seamen and marines, and forced the rest to flee disgracefully.”
• Libo departed from Brundisium and abandoned the blockade.(The Civil War, Book III, 21–28 · 📍 Brundisium)
  • “Libo, vexed at the distress and disgrace, departed from Brundisium, and abandoned the blockade.”

The Civil War, Book I, 21–26

• friends with Caesar “He therefore sent Caninius Rebilus to have an interview with Scribonius Libo, his intimate friend and relation.”
• with Caesar (They are stated to be relations, but the specific kinship is not given.) “He therefore sent Caninius Rebilus to have an interview with Scribonius Libo, his intimate friend and relation.”

The Civil War, Book III, 1–8

• commander: Marcus Bibulus “But Marcus Bibulus was appointed commander-in-chief of the whole maritime department, and regulated every matter.”

The Civil War, Book III, 15–20

• friends with Marcus Bibulus “and Libo had joined Bibulus”
• enemies with Caesar “and Libo had joined Bibulus, they both called from on ship-board to Marcus Acilius and Statius Marcus”

The Civil War, Book III, 21–28

• enemies with Marcus Antonius “When Libo saw them advancing boldly towards him, he sent five four-banked galleys against them, in hopes of intercepting them. When these came near our ships, our veteran soldiers retreated within the harbour. The enemy, urged by their eagerness to capture them, pursued them unguardedly; for instantly the boats of Antonius, on a certain signal, rowed with great violence from all parts against the enemy; and at the first charge took one of the four-banked galleys, with the seamen and marines, and forced the rest to flee disgracefully.”

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Extracted from the original text of Caesar's Commentaries — The Gallic War and The Civil War. Made with Rho MD.