Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus

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Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus was a consul of the Roman Empire, born in 14 as the son of Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus by his wife Aemilia Lepida, daughter of Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus (consul 1 AD).

Through his mother Aemilia Lepida, he was a descendant of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Triumvir Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Marcus' father and namesake was a member of a noble family.

He became consul in 46. Before November 54, while governor of Asia, he was poisoned. Under orders from Agrippina the Younger, a soldier and a former slave administered poison while Marcus was at dinner. Agrippina did this to prevent him taking revenge for the suicide of his brother Lucius, without the knowledge of Emperor Nero[1].

Previous Emperors despised him and thought he was lazy. Marcus was the father of Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus. His wife is unknown.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Tac. Ann. XIII 1.
Preceded by
Marcus Vinicius and Titus Statilius Taurus Corvinus
Consul of the Roman Empire together with Decimus Valerius Asiaticus
46
Succeeded by
Claudius and Lucius Vitellius
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