Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis

Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis was a Roman senator and military commander. He was an early supporter of Vespasian, who appointed Cerialis suffect consul in either 72 or 73.[1]

Cerialis was of Sabine origin.[2] He was born in Reate.[3] Ronald Syme speculates that the Sex. Vettulenus Cerialis memorialized with his wife Lusia Galla in an inscription recovered at Venafro was Cerialis' father and mother; if that is the case, his father served as a soldier, and his career was capped as primus pilus of Legio XI.[4]

Edward Dabrowa lists Cerialis "amongst the Sabine people who, due to Vespasian, gained high ranks and were admitted to the Roman political elite."[3] Based on the most commonly accepted interpretation of an acephalous inscription from Carthage, Nero conferred many honors on him.[3] However, his first attested office was as legate or commander of Legio V Macedonica around the year 67. He held this commission through the First Jewish–Roman War to the end of the siege of Jerusalem in 70. Cerialis impressed Vespasian with his courage and his success in numerous military actions. After the fall of Jerusalem, Cerialis was appointed governor of Judea and legate of Legio X Fretensis.[3][5][6] He held both offices until at least AD 71; Cerialis is named in a military diploma dated 28 April 75 and in an inscription dated 7 February 78.[7] Subsequent offices he held include governor of Moesia from 74 to least as late as 78,[8] and proconsul of Africa in 83-84.[9]

Cerialis had at least one brother, Gaius Vettulenus Civica Cerealis, suffect consul in either 72 or 73 according to Syme,[10] or between 73 and 76, according to Gallivan.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Paul Gallivan, "The Fasti for A. D. 70-96", Classical Quarterly, 31 (1981), pp. 203, 219
  2. ↑ Brian W. Jones, The Emperor Domitian (London: Routledge, 1992), p. 11
  3. 1 2 3 4 Edward Dabrowa, Legio X Fretensis: A Prosopographical Study of its Officers (I-III c. A.D.) (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, 1993), p. 27
  4. ↑ Syme, "Antonine Relatives: Ceionii and Vettuleni", Athenaeum, 35 (1957), p. 313 n. 1; CIL X, 4862
  5. ↑ Josephus, Bellum Judaicum, 6.237; 7.163
  6. ↑ A Life of Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai, Brill Archive, p. 151
  7. ↑ CIL XVI, 22
  8. ↑ Werner Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 12 (1982), pp. 293-300
  9. ↑ Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten", p. 307.
  10. ↑ Syme, "Antonine Relatives", pp. 312f
  11. ↑ Gallivan, "Fasti for A. D. 70-96", pp. 210, 219
Political offices
Preceded by
?Marcus Antonius Julianus		 Governor of Iudaea
70–71		 Succeeded by
Lucilius Bassus
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