28. He was descended from Cornelius Balbus, a noble
Spaniard, and the adopted son of Theophanes the Greek
historian. Balbus obtained the freedom of Rome by the favour
of Pompey, and preserved it by the eloquence of Cicero (see
Orat. pro Cornel. Balbo). The friendship of Caesar (to whom
he rendered the most important secret services in the civil
war) raised him to the consulship and the pontificate,
honours never yet possessed by a stranger. The nephew of
this Balbus triumphed over the Garamantes. See Dictionnaire
de Bayle, au mot 'Balbus',where he distinguishes the several
persons of that name, and rectifies, with his usual
accuracy, the mistakes of former writers concerning them.