Gaius Claudius Marcellus (consul 49 BC)

Gaius Claudius Marcellus was a Roman politician and statesman, most notably serving as consul in 49 BC alongside Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Crus. He belonged to the plebeian gens Claudia, but his branch, the Marcelli, held considerable prestige. He is often referred to specifically as Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor to distinguish him from other members of the family with the same name, including his cousin, Gaius Claudius Marcellus Major (consul 50 BC).

Marcellus was a staunch Optimate, a member of the conservative faction in the Roman Senate, and a strong opponent of Julius Caesar. During his consulship in 49 BC, the escalating tensions between Caesar and the Senate reached a breaking point. Along with his consular colleague Lentulus Crus, Marcellus actively worked to prevent Caesar from running for a second consulship in absentia and to force him to disband his legions. These efforts ultimately contributed to Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon, initiating the Roman Civil War.

Following the outbreak of the war, Marcellus, along with other prominent Optimates, fled Rome and joined the forces led by Pompey the Great. His subsequent activities during the civil war are not extensively documented, but he remained a supporter of the Pompeian cause. He eventually received a pardon from Caesar after the Pompeian defeat, as Caesar adopted a policy of clementia (mercy). His later life is largely unknown.