AFRANIUS, LUCIUS, Roman general, lived in the times of the Sertorian (79-72 B.c.), third Mithridatic (74-61 B.c.) and Civil Wars. In 6o B.C., chiefly by Pompey's support, he was raised to the consulship. In the following year, while governor of Cisal pine Gaul, he obtained a triumph, and on the allotment of Spain to Pompey (55 B.c.), Afranius and M. Petreius were sent to govern it as legates. On the rupture between Caesar and Pompey they were compelled, after a short campaign in which they were at first successful, to surrender to Caesar at Ilerda (0 B.c.), and were dismissed on promising not to serve again in the war. Afranius, however, joined Pompey at Dyrrhachium, and at the battle of Pharsalus (48 B.c.) had charge of Pompey's camp. Despairing of pardon from Caesar, he went to Africa, and was present at the disastrous battle of Thapsus (46 B.c.). He was afterwards taken prisoner and handed over to Caesar, whose vet erans put him to death.
See Hirtius, Bell. Afric., 95 ; Plutarch, Pompey; Dio Cassius xxxvii., xli.—xliii. ; Caesar, B.C. i. 37-87; Appian, B.C. ii. ; CAESAR and POMPEY.