Rufio (died 30 BC) was commander of the three Roman legions stationed in Egypt in 47 BC. Rufio fought under both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and he committed suicide as Antony was defeated by Octavian.
Biography[]
Rufio was the son of a Roman freedman, and he came to Egypt in 48 BC as an officer in Julius Caesar's army. After Caesar defeated Ptolemy XIII's army and brought his mistress Cleopatra to power as Queen of Egypt, Caesar gave Rufio command of the 27th, 37th, and 39th legions to safeguard Roman rule in Egypt. Caesar feared that giving an influential senator command of the armies in Egypt would allow for him to possibly seize power, so he gave his trustworthy officer Rufio command.
Downfall[]
Octavian finding Rufio's body
Rufio was loyal to Mark Antony in the power struggle that followed Caesar's death, and he fought for Antony at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC; he was sent to Cleopatra's flagship, while Ramos took command of Rufio's squadron due to Rufio's disagreements with Antony over the battle plan. The battle was a crushing defeat for Antony and Cleopatra, who were forced to retreat. Months later, as Octavian invaded Egypt, Antony's soldiers began to abandon him, and Rufio - the last man loyal to Antony - decided to kill himself. Rufio watched as the two remaining Roman legions loyal to Antony deserted the camp, and he ran himself through with his own sword. The next morning, Octavian found his body and wept.
