Marcus Plautius Silvanus

Marcus Plautius Silvanus was a Roman politician and general active during the Principate. He was consul in 2 BC as the colleague of the emperor Augustus.

Biography

Silvanus was the son of Urgulania, an Etruscan, and close friend of the empress Livia. It was Livia's intercession that allowed Silvanus to climb the cursus honorum, leading to the consulate in 2 BC alongside Augustus.[1][2] He was then made proconsul of Asia in 4-5 AD,[3] followed by a posting as imperial legate in Galatia in 6 AD, where he was involved in suppressing the Isaurians.[4]

Whilst there, news broke of the Great Illyrian Revolt. In 7 AD Silvanus was summoned by Tiberius who was in charge of the military situation in Illyricum, ordering him to bring his troops to help suppress the revolt.[5] He joined up with Caecina Severus, the imperial legate of Moesia and fought a major battle against the rebels at Sirmium. The Roman forces were victorious, but suffered very, very heavy losses.[6] Silvanus remained at the head of his forces until 9 AD, during which time he served in Pannonia and Dalmatia. [7] [8]

Although serving under Tiberius for the duration of the revolt, Tiberius had some doubts concerning Silvanus, especially his close connection with Tiberius' mother Livia.[9]

Family

Silvanus married Lartia. Their known children include:

  • Marcus Plautius Silvanus. First married Fabia Numantina, but their marriage was over in 24, as by then he was married to Apronia, daughter of Lucius Apronius; he apparently murdered Apronia by throwing her out of a window.[10][11] The murder was investigated by emperor Tiberius himself. Urgulania then sent her grandson a dagger, encouraging him to commit suicide, which he duly did. Shortly after the murder of Apronia, Fabia was "charged with having caused her husband's insanity by magical incantations and potions", but was acquitted.[10]
  • Aulus Plautius Urgulanius. Died at the age of nine.[12]
  • Publius Plautius Pulcher. Friend and companion of his nephew Claudius Drusus. Quaestor to Tiberius, and augur; governor of Sicilia.[13]
  • Plautia Urgulanilla, first wife of the emperor Claudius.

See also

Sources

  • Syme, Ronald, The Roman Revolution, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1939.

References

  1. ↑ Syme, pg. 422
  2. ↑ Dio Cassius, Epitome of Roman History LV.0
  3. ↑ Syme, pg. 435; Ronald Syme, The Augustan Aristocracy, Oxford University Press 1989, p. 340
  4. ↑ Syme, pgs. 399 & 435
  5. ↑ Syme, pgs. 399 & 436
  6. ↑ Syme, pg. 399
  7. ↑ Dio,LV.34, LVI.12
  8. ↑ Velleius Paterculus II.112
  9. ↑ Syme, pgs 422-423
  10. 1 2 Tacitus, Annales, IV.22.3
  11. ↑ Syme, R., Augustan Aristocracy (1989), p. 418
  12. ↑ CIL XIV, 3606
  13. ↑ CIL XIV, 3607
Political offices
Preceded by
Lucius Cornelius Lentulus,
and Marcus Valerius Messalla Messallinus
as Ordinary consul		 Consul of the Roman Empire
2 BC
with Augustus XIII		 Succeeded by
Lucius Caninius Gallus
as Suffect consul
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