Although born into the
plebeian Claudii Marcelli family, Clodianus was adopted into the
patrician Cornelii Lentuli, possibly as the adoptive son of
Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus. A partisan of
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, he possibly served under Pompey during Pompey's special commission in
Hispania. Elected
praetor around 75 BC, his connections with Pompey ensured that he was elected consul in 72 BC . Clodianus soon was involved in protecting Pompey's interests, pushing a bill to validate grants of citizenship by Pompey in Hispania. He and his colleague also ensured that no Roman citizen in the provinces could be tried in absentia on a capital charge – an attempt to restrict the ravages of
Gaius Verres in
Sicily. Finally, Clodianus proposed a bill for recovering payment, which
Lucius Cornelius Sulla had remitted, from those who had bought the confiscated property of those who suffered under the
Sullan proscriptions. However, the major event of his consulship was the revolt of
Spartacus and the eruption of the
Third Servile War. Having won a number of victories against ill-prepared Roman forces, the Senate now recognised Spartacus as a serious threat and sent both the consuls to confront the slave armies at the head of four legions. Clodianus moved to block Spartacus's march northward, while his colleague Publicola moved in behind, hoping to catch the rebels between the two armies. However, Spartacus's slave army destroyed Clodianus' legions in the
Apennine Mountains (near modern
Pistoia) in the valley named Lentula, and then turned and defeated the oncoming legions of Publicola. Gathering their shattered forces, both consuls gave chase but were once again defeated at a battle near
Picenum. Humiliated by these defeats, shortly afterward, in early autumn, Clodianus and Publicola were withdrawn as commanders by the
Roman Senate, and command of the war given to
Marcus Licinius Crassus. This setback to Clodianus's career was only temporary; with the support of Pompey, both Clodianus and Publicola were appointed
censor in 70 BC. They began a systematic purge of the senate, removing some sixty-four senators, among them a number of individuals connected to the trial of Oppianicus, as well as some important individuals such as
Gaius Antonius Hybrida and
Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura. However, the majority of those expelled were acquitted by the courts and restored to their former position. They also identified 910,000 citizens and possibly named
Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus as
Princeps Senatus. In 70 BC, Clodianus helped contribute to
Cicero's famous prosecution of the corrupt governor
Verres by submitting evidence in support of Cicero's case. By 67 BC, Clodianus was serving as a legate with praetorian
imperium under Pompey, who had received an
extraordinary command to rid the
Mediterranean Sea of pirates. Clodianus was given command of the east coast of Italy, with his fleet patrolling the coast of the
Adriatic Sea. By 66 BC he was back in Rome, where he gave his support to the
Lex Manilia, which gave Pompey command of the war against King
Mithridates VI of Pontus. Although Clodianus was a noted orator, it was said that he hid his lack of talent through showmanship and the possession of a good voice. ==See also==