Quintus Hortensius
Messalla Rufus was accused more than once of illegal practices in connection with the elections; on the first occasion he was acquitted, in spite of his obvious guilt, through the eloquence of his uncle Quintus Hortensius; on the second he was condemned. He took the side of Gaius Julius Caesar in the civil war. He was a legate under Caesar probably by 48 BC. In 47 BC, Messalla Rufus had to deal with mutinous troops under his command at Messana.