Marcus Lollius Paulinus Decimus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus

Marcus Lollius Paulinus[1] Decimus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus[2] (69/70 – after 134) was a prominent[3] Roman Senator who was a powerful figure in the second half of the 1st century and first half of the 2nd century.[4]

Family Background & Early Life

Saturninus was of Allobrogian and Roman ancestry. He was the son of the Decimus Valerius Asiaticus[5] from his wife Vitellia,[6] the daughter of the Roman emperor Vitellius from his wife Galeria Fundana.[7] His father served as a Legatus of Gallia Belgica,[8] he later became the Roman governor of that province[9] in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.[10] The father of Saturninus, became powerful through wealth and the skilful exploitation of imperial patronage.[11]

The family of his father were originally from Vienna,[12] Gallia Narbonensis. Saturninus was a direct descendant of the consul, Roman Senator Decimus Valerius Asiaticus[13] and his wife Lollia Saturnina,[14] whose younger sister Lollia Paulina was a Roman empress and the third wife of the Roman emperor Caligula.[15] Saturninus was a grandson[16][17] to Decimus Valerius Asiaticus and Lollia Saturnina. The name of Saturninus reveals paternally he is related to the gens, Valeria, Lollia and gens, Volusia.

When Vespasian became Roman emperor in second half of 69, Asiaticus was appointment for a consulship in 70.[18] Before he could serve his consulship in early 70, Asiaticus died.[19] Asiaticus was survived by Vitellia and their son.[20] Later in 70, Vespasian arranged Vitellia to remarry another unnamed groom.[21] Her second marriage was a splendid match for her and Vespasian provided for her, the dowry and clothing.[22] Although he was born in Vienna, he was raised in Rome. Little is known on early life.

Political career

Saturninus started his political career in the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian who ruled from 81 til 96. He served as a Triumvir Monetalis; was a board member of the Salius collinus and the Pontiff.[23] Between the years about 85 to 90 he served as a Quaestor and Praetor.[24][25] Saturninus served as a suffect consul in 93[26][27] or in 94.[28]

Saturninus served as a Proconsul of Asia in 108 to 109.[29] From the years 124 til 134, he served as a Praefectus urbi in Rome.[30][31] In 125, he served again as a consul.[32] During his political career in the first half of the second century, he was friends with the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian.

Marriage and Issue

Saturninus married as his wife, the noblewoman Valeria Catulla Messallina[33][34] who came from a family of consular rank.[35] Messallina bore Asiaticus a son called Decimus Valerius Taurus Catullus Messallinus Asiaticus.[36][37]

References

  1. ↑ Paulinus can also be spelt at Paullinus
  2. ↑ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 10, p.217
  3. ↑ Josephus, Death of an Emperor, p.72
  4. ↑ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 10, p.217
  5. ↑ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 10, p.217
  6. ↑ Morgan, 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors, p.149
  7. ↑ Morgan, 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors, p.149
  8. ↑ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 10, p.273
  9. ↑ Morgan, 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors, p.149
  10. ↑ Wightman, Gallia Belgica, p.61
  11. ↑ Wightman, Gallia Belgica, p.61
  12. ↑ Morgan, 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors, p.149
  13. ↑ Josephus, Death of an Emperor, p.72
  14. ↑ Genealogy of M. Lollius by D.C. O’Driscoll
  15. ↑ Freisenbruch, The First Ladies of Rome: The Women Behind the Caesars, p.131
  16. ↑ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 10, p.217
  17. ↑ Decimus Valerius Asiaticus: page 196, by P.J. Sijpesteijn of University of Amsterdam, 1989
  18. ↑ Morgan, 69 AD: The Year of Four Emperors, p.149
  19. ↑ Epilogue: The Fall of the Vitellii - Vitellia?, daughter
  20. ↑ Bowman, The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 10, p.217
  21. ↑ Epilogue: The Fall of the Vitellii - Vitellia?, daughter
  22. ↑ Epilogue: The Fall of the Vitellii - Vitellia?, daughter
  23. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English
  24. ↑ Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum 14, 4240
  25. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English
  26. ↑ Marcus Lollius no. 5 article at ancient library
  27. ↑ Biographischer Index der Antike, p.975
  28. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English
  29. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English
  30. ↑ Josephus, Death of an Emperor, p.72
  31. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English
  32. ↑ Josephus, Death of an Emperor, p.72
  33. ↑ Skinner, A Companion to Catullus (Google eBook)
  34. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English
  35. ↑ Skinner, A Companion to Catullus (Google eBook)
  36. ↑ Skinner, A Companion to Catullus (Google eBook)
  37. ↑ Marcus Lollius Paullinus Valerius Asiaticus Saturninus & Valerii Catulli at Romeins Imperium, translated from Dutch to English

Sources