Gaius Salonius Matidius Patruinus

Gaius Saloninus (or Salonius) Matidius Patruinus (died 78) was a Roman Senator that lived in the Roman Empire during the 1st century during the reign of Vespasian (r. 69-79).

History

Patruinus came from a wealthy family of Praetorian rank from Vicetia (modern Vicenza, northern Italy). Around 63, he married a noble Spanish Roman woman called Ulpia Marciana, the eldest sister of the future Emperor Trajan. On 4 July 68, Marciana bore him a daughter and their only child Salonina Matidia.

He served as a praetor and, through this position, became a senator. In 70/71, Patruinus possibly served as governor of Germania Superior. Upon his death, in 78, in Rome, Patruinus was a priest and served as a member of the Arval Brethren. After that, Marciana and Matidia went to live with Trajan and his wife Pompeia Plotina.

Patruinus was the late maternal grandfather to Matidia’s daughters from her three marriages: Roman Empress Vibia Sabina, Hadrian's wife, and the nobles Matidia Minor (or Mindia Matidia) and Rupilia Faustina.

The Italian village of Matigge (ancient Matidiae) is named after him and his second granddaughter Matidia Minor. The Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and his successor Commodus are among his descendants.

Nerva–Antonine family tree

• (1) = 1st spouse
• (2) = 2nd spouse (not shown)
• (3) = 3rd spouse
• Darker purple indicates Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty; lighter purple indicates designated imperial heir of said dynasty who never reigned
• dashed lines indicate adoption; dotted lines indicate love affairs/unmarried relationships
• small caps = posthumously deified (Augusti, Augustae, or other)

Sources

• "Ulpia Marciana". livius.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015. 
• Bennett, Julian (1997). Trajan: Optimus Princeps: A Life and Times. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-16524-2. 
• Jones, Brian W. (1992). The Emperor Domitian. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-04229-1.