Publius Cornelius

Publius Cornelius was a kinsman of the dictator Sulla. He became rich on the property confiscated from the victims of the proscriptions. He was prominent in the founding of the colony of Pompeii on the Bay of Naples for Sulla's veterans. On being elected consul for 65 with P. Autronius Paetus, he was expelled from the Senate on being found guilty of bribery of the electorate. In 62 he was prosecuted for having supported Catiline in his conspiracy, and was acquitted by the eloquence of Hortensius and Cicero in the speech For Sulla, the latter of whom he rewarded with a huge loan. In 54 he unsuccessfully prosecuted Aulus Gabinius for the same crime. He fought for Caesar in the Civil War, where he commanded the right wing at the battle of Pharsalus, and was restored by him to the Senate.