CLODIUS, Pnblins, surnamed Puleher, a Roman politician, son of Appius Claudius Pulcher, who lived from about 93 to 52 B.C. In the third Mithridatic War he served under his brother-in-law Lncullus, but considering himself ill-treated, he stirred up a revolt and then joined the army of another brother-in-law, Quintus Martius Rex, proconsul of Cilicia. He was given command of the fleet and fell into the hands of piratest but obtained his liberty. He then went to Syria where he stirred im an other mutiny. Returning to Rome in 65 B.C., he rendered Cicero service as a bodyguard. There are no sufficient reasons extant for believ ing that he was implicated in the Catilinean conspiracy. Cicero's violent attacks on the ac tion of Clodius at the mysteries of the Bona Dea where he attempted an intrigue with the wife of Casar made Clodius resolve revenge. After returning from Sicily where he had been quzstor, he renounced his rank and was elected tribune of the people. He enacted corn laws,
re-established the guilds and adopted other measures destined to gain popular favor. Hav ing gotten rid of Cicero, he confiscated his property and became master of Rome with the aid of gangs and secret societies. He resisted the proposal of the recall of Cicero by force. He became a candidate for the prmtorship against Titus Annius Milo. The rivals collected armed bands and fought in the streets of Rome where Clodius was killed. The celebrated speech of Cicero in defense of Milo has saved the name of Clodius from oblivion. Consult Plutarch's