Editing Marcus Junius Brutus (section)

=== Cilicia ===
Brutus married [[Appius Claudius Pulcher (consul 54 BC)|Appius Claudius Pulcher]]'s daughter Claudia, likely in 54 during Pulcher's consulship. He was elected as [[quaestor]] (and automatically enrolled in the senate) in 53.<ref>{{harvnb|Tempest|2017|p=43}}, citing Cic. ''Fam.'', 3.4.2 (relation to Appius) and {{harvnb|Broughton|1952|p=229}} (dating of quaestorship). See, however, {{harvnb|Broughton|1986|p=112}} for alternative dating of quaestorship of 54.</ref> Brutus then travelled with his father-in-law to Cilicia, likely as proquaestor,{{sfn|Broughton|1986|p=112}} during the latter's [[proconsul]]ship in the next year.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|pp=42–43}} While in Cilicia, he spent some time as a money-lender, which was discovered two years later when Cicero was appointed proconsul between 51 and 50&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=45}} Brutus asked Cicero to help collect two debts which Brutus had made: one to [[Ariobarzanes III of Cappadocia|Ariobarzanes]],{{efn|Possibly [[Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia|Ariobarzanes II]]. Cicero's time as governor overlaps with the death of Ariobarzanes II and the accession of Ariobarzanes III.}} the king of Cappadocia, and one to the town of [[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]].{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=46}} Brutus' loan to Ariobarzanes was bundled with a loan also made by Pompey and both received some repayment on the debt.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=46}}

The loan to Salamis was more complex: officially, the loan was made by two of Brutus' friends, who requested repayment at 48 per cent per annum, which was far in excess of Cicero's previously imposed interest cap of 12 per cent. The loan dated back to 56, shortly after Brutus returned to Rome from Cyprus.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=46}} Salamis had sent a delegation asking to borrow money, but under the ''lex Gabinia'' it was illegal for Romans to lend to provincials in the capital, but Brutus was able to find "friends" to loan this money on his behalf, which was approved under his influence in the senate. Because the ''lex Gabinia'' also invalidated such contracts, Brutus also had his contract – officially his friends' contract – confirmed by the senate.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=47}} One of Brutus' friends in whose name the debt was officially issued, Marcus Scaptius, was in Cilicia during Cicero's proconsulship using force to coerce repayment, which Cicero stopped; Cicero, not seeking to endanger his friendship with Brutus, but also disappointed and angry at Brutus' mischaracterisation of the loan and the exorbitant interest rate attached,{{sfn|Tempest|2017|pp=48–49}} was persuaded by Scaptius to defer a decision on the loan to the next governor.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=47}}