Ulpius Marcellus

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Ulpius Marcellus was a Roman governor and general of the later 2nd century.

Ulpius Marcellus was sent by the Emperor Commodus to govern Roman Britain and suppress a serious revolt in 180. Dio Cassius records that tribes from the north breached Hadrian's Wall which separated them from the empire and killed a general (possibly Marcellus' predecessor. Caerellius Priscus). Little else is known of the revolt except that Dio called it the most serious war of Commodus' reign and that it was not quelled until c. 184 when commemorative coins were issued and Commodus assumed the title of Britannicus. Further coins were issued in 185 however and a hoard of silver coins with final issues from 186/7 suggest that unrest and fighting continued into later years.

Marcellus undertook punitive raids north of the border and may have attempted to reoccupy the Antonine Wall. However, he ultimately withdrew to Hadrian's Wall and probably concluded treaties with the relevant tribes. The forts north of the wall such as Newstead were abandoned. Two inscriptions at the fort at Chester mention him in connection with the Second Ala of Asturians.

He was hampered by a lack of control over his troops. Marcellus was a martinet and the troops in Britain under Commodus were highly mutinous, going so far as to later put forward a pretender to the imperial throne. He was thought to have had a son, also called Ulpius Marcellus, serving as governor around thirty years later, although this is based on a misdated inscription and the existence of a second Marcellus is now discounted.

Preceded by Caerellius Priscus

Roman governors of Britain

Succeeded by Publius Helvius Pertinax