Cains Asinins Pollio, a Roman general, born in 76 B. C., died A. D. 4. He was descended from an obscure family of the Marrucini, and is first spoken of at the age of 22 as the accuser of C. Cato, who was acquitted through the influence of Pompey. When the civil war broke out he joined the party of Csesar, and was with that commander at the passage of the Rubicon and his subsequent march through Italy.

Afterward he was sent to Sicily under Curio, who commanded the forces which drove M. Cato out of that country; and when Curio, having crossed into Africa, was defeated and slain by Juba, Pollio collected the scattered troops and joined Cassar. He was at the battle of Pharsalia in 48, and probably in the following year, on his return to Rome, was elected tribune of the people. In 46 and 45 he accompanied Caesar in his African and Spanish campaigns, and subsequently was sent into Further Spain to carry on the war against Sextus Pompey. After Octavius had united with Lepidus and Antony in forming the first triumvirate, Pollio joined their party, and was nominated by them for consul in 40. When the division of the provinces was made, Antony assigned to him Transpadane Gaul with the duty of distributing the lands among the veterans. In 39 he made a successful campaign against the Parthini, an Illyrian people, and had the honor of a triumph. He devoted himself thereafter to literature. Among the few preserved fragments of his writings are three letters to Cicero. He wrote a history of the civil war in 17 books, beginning with the year 60 B. C, and apparently extending down to the battle of Actium. He also wrote tragedies.

He was a friend of Virgil and Horace, and established the first public library in Rome with the money procured in his Illyrian campaign.