Pontius Aquila

Who was Pontius Aquila?

Pontius Aquila was a tribune of the plebs, probably in the year 45 BC. During one of Julius Caesar's triumphs, he did not stand as the procession passed by. This irritated Caesar so much, he cried out "Come then, Aquila, take back the republic from me, you tribune" and for several days he would not make a promise to any one without adding, "That is, if Pontius Aquila will allow me."

This act probably resulted in a feud between the two, as Pontius became one of Caesar's assassins. After the Ides of March, he served Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus as a legate in Cisalpine Gaul. He defeated T. Munatius Plancus, and drove him out of Pollentia. However, he fell in the Battle of Mutina, in which Aulus Hirtius decisively defeated Mark Antony.

Aquila’s anger stemmed from lost land in Naples that Caesar confiscated and gave to Servilla; later Caesar publicly taunted Aquila for not rising in his presence, adding insult to injury.