Roman general and politician who rose from captivity to military fame, a change of fortune frequently cited by ancient authors including Dio Cassius (2nd-3rd century AD).
As a child or young man Ventidius was captured by the forces of the Roman general Pompeius Strabo in his native town of Ausculum which had joined the revolt (90-88 BC) of Rome´s Italian allies -peoples in Italy not completely incorporated into the Roman state.
In 89 Ventidius was led in Strabo´s triumphal procession at Rome.
The prisoner was soon freed and for years he probably made a living as an army contractor although ancient writers applied to him the derisive term mulio (muleteer).
Eventually Ventidius talents were recognized by Julius Caesar who enlisted his aid during the civil war (Caesar versus Pompey and the Senate 49-46 BC).
Caesar helped him enter the Senate and appointed him praetor for 43.
In the struggle for power that followed the assassination of Caesar (44) he sided with the Caesarian leader Mark Antony.
Ventidius´ forces reinforced those of Antony who had been defeated in 43 by senatorial forces at Mutina in northern Italy.
Antony in turn made Ventidius a consul. Sent by Antony to expel the Parthians from Anatolia and Syria he defeated the enemy at the Cilician Gates (mountain pass in present-day southern Turkey) and Mt. Amanus in 39 and at Mt. Gindarus in 38.
He died soon after celebrating a triumph at Rome.
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