Tullus, Volca'tius
1. L.
Volcatius Tullus, consul B. C. 66 with M'. Aemilius Lepidus.
He is mentioned by Cicero in his oration for Plancius (100.21) as one of those distinguished men who had failed when a candidate for the aedileship, but who afterwards obtained the highest honours of the state. Volcatius did not take a prominent part in public affairs, and appears to have been a man of moderate opinions, and fond of quiet.
He approved of Cicero's proceedings in his consulship, and spoke in the debate in the senate on the punishment of the Catilinarian conspirators.
In the discussion in B. C. 56, respecting the restoration of Ptolemy Auletes to his kingdom, he was in favour of intrusting this important commission to Pompey, who had lately returned from the East. In B. C. 54 he was one of the consulars who supported M. Scaurtts, when he was brought to trial in this year. On the breaking out of the civil war, in B. C. 49, he resolved to take no part in the struggle, but remained quietly in Italy all the time.
He is spoken of by Cicero in B. C. 46 as an enemy of M. Marcellus, when the latter was pardoned by Caesar. (Cic.
in Cat. 1.6,
ad Att. 12.21,
Philipp. 2.5,
ad Fam. 1.1, 2, 4,
ad Q. Fr. ii. 1; Ascon.
in Scaur. p. 28, ed. Orelli;
Cic. Att. 7.3,
8,
9,
8.15,
9.10,
19,
10.3,
ad Fam. 4.4.4.)
