While history often highlights the names of Brutus and Cassius during the collapse of the Roman Republic, the career of Lucius Staius Murcus offers a fascinating look at the shifting loyalties and military pragmatism of the era. Between 45 and 42 BC, Murcus rose from a trusted lieutenant of Julius Caesar to a pivotal naval commander for his assassins, earning the title of Imperator along the way.
The Rise of a Caesarean Legate
Lucius Staius Murcus began his prominent career as a devoted supporter of Julius Caesar. He served as a legate during Caesar’s grueling campaigns in Gaul and later followed him through the Civil War in Africa.
By 45 BC, his loyalty was rewarded with a Praetorship and subsequently the governorship of Syria. It was during this period that Murcus first truly tested his command. He was tasked with suppressing the rebellion of the pro-Pompeian Q. Caecilius Bassus, who had seized control of the province.
The Siege of Apamea and the Title of Imperator
In early 43 BC, Murcus joined forces with Quintus Marcius Crispus to corner Bassus in the fortified city of Apamea. The siege was long and difficult, involving complex logistics and regional alliances—including reinforcements from Judea sent by Antipater (the father of Herod the Great).
It was during this campaign that Murcus was first hailed as Imperator by his troops. In this transitional era, the title reflected his supreme command and the successful suppression of the Syrian rebels. However, the political landscape was about to shift beneath his feet.
A Turn to the “Liberators”
Despite his history with Caesar, Murcus was not among the assassins, yet he did not oppose them after the Ides of March. When Gaius Cassius Longinus arrived in the East to claim the province of Syria, Murcus made a pragmatic decision: he handed over his legions to Cassius.
Unlike many who were stripped of their rank, Murcus was respected for his military mind. Cassius retained him as a top-tier commander and placed him in charge of the Republican fleet.
Naval Dominance and the Battle of Philippi
As the conflict with the Second Triumvirate (Antony and Octavian) intensified in 42 BC, Murcus became the “Shield of the East.” His naval exploits during this year were his most significant:
• The Blockade of the Peloponnese: He stationed his fleet at the southern tip of Greece to intercept reinforcements.
• The Interception of Cleopatra: He successfully blocked the Egyptian fleet led by Cleopatra VII, which was attempting to bring aid to Antony and Octavian.
• The Ionian Sea Victory: Just as the first Battle of Philippi was beginning on land, Murcus and his co-commander Ahenobarbus achieved a crushing victory at sea, destroying the transports carrying the Triumvirs’ two elite legions and vital supplies.
The Tragic End in Sicily
Following the defeat and suicides of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi, Murcus fled with the remains of the fleet to join Sextus Pompey in Sicily.
Though he brought a formidable naval force, his arrival sparked jealousy and paranoia. Sextus, fearing Murcus’s influence and perhaps his independent spirit, had the veteran commander assassinated in 39 BC. It was a grim end for a man who had been hailed as Imperator by the very legions that once defined the Republic’s power.