Claudius Pompeianus
Encyclopedia
Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus (c. 125 – aft. 193) was a Roman
general of emperor Marcus Aurelius. He married Aurelius' daughter Lucilla
and rose to the rank of senior senator in Rome
before twice refusing emperorship for himself.
Pompeianus was a Syrian
of lowly birth, son of Tiberius? Claudius Quintianus (b. c. 100), an Eques, and wife, and brother of Tiberius Claudius Quintianus (c. 130 – 182 or 183), who married and had a son Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus. He served as a general in the Germanic wars under Marcus Aurelius. During this time he gave much support to the young Pertinax
, who was later to become emperor for a brief time after Pompeianus himself refused to take the throne.
After Lucius Verus
' death in 169, Pompeianus married his widow Lucilla as her second husband. Lucilla around 170, bore him a son called Pompeianus
. It seems Aurelius had been contemplating appointing Pompeianus to the position of Caesar
, a possibility supported by the haste with which Aurelius arranged Pompeianus' marriage to Lucilla. It is quite possible that such an offer had actually been made and declined by Pompeianus. Pompeianus served as Legatus
of Pannonia Inferior between 164 and 167, Consul
I Suffectus in 162 and Consul II Ordinarius in 173.
In 182, Lucilla was involved in a plot with members of the senate
to kill Commodus
, who was emperor and her brother. The plot called for Pompeianus' nephew and stepson in law to stab Commodus, and the young assassin, during the attempt, declared to Commodus "Here is the dagger the senate sends to you!", giving away his intentions before he had the chance to act. Commodus foiled the attempt in progress and had the conspirators, including many important senators, executed. Lucilla was exiled to Capri
and there was soon executed. Pompeianus, who had not himself been involved in the plot, retired temporarily from public life.
He spent most of his time in the country away from Rome, claiming age and an ailment of the eyes as an excuse. After the death of Commodus in 192, Pertinax offered the throne to Pompeianus, but the offer was declined. Pertinax himself took the throne and was stabbed to death in a praetorian
rebellion after a reign of only 87 days.
Pompeianus, however, did return to public life once the plot against Commodus had succeeded, no longer complaining of poor health or eye ailments. He took part in the deliberations of the senate and sat bench beside Pertinax.
Didius Julianus
, after becoming emperor by winning an auction the Praetorian Guard
held for the title, experienced difficulty in garnering support even within the ranks of his own troops and, in a desperate attempt to save himself, asked Pompeianus to be co-regent with him, but this offer too was declined. It seems that once again Pompeianus complained of old age and ailments of the eyes. Julianus was executed by a common soldier on the orders of Septimius Severus
on 1 June 193 after ruling for only 66 days.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
general of emperor Marcus Aurelius. He married Aurelius' daughter Lucilla
Lucilla
Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla or Lucilla was the second daughter and third child of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Roman Empress Faustina the Younger and an elder sister to future Roman Emperor Commodus....
and rose to the rank of senior senator in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
before twice refusing emperorship for himself.
Pompeianus was a Syrian
Syria (Roman province)
Syria was a Roman province, annexed in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War. It remained under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for seven centuries, until 637 when it fell to the Islamic conquests.- Principate :The...
of lowly birth, son of Tiberius? Claudius Quintianus (b. c. 100), an Eques, and wife, and brother of Tiberius Claudius Quintianus (c. 130 – 182 or 183), who married and had a son Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus. He served as a general in the Germanic wars under Marcus Aurelius. During this time he gave much support to the young Pertinax
Pertinax
Pertinax , was Roman Emperor for three months in 193. He is known as the first emperor of the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors. A high ranking military and Senatorial figure, he tried to restore discipline in the Praetorian Guards, whereupon they rebelled and killed him...
, who was later to become emperor for a brief time after Pompeianus himself refused to take the throne.
After Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus
Lucius Verus , was Roman co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius, from 161 until his death.-Early life and career:Lucius Verus was the first born son to Avidia Plautia and Lucius Aelius Verus Caesar, the first adopted son and heir of Roman Emperor Hadrian . He was born and raised in Rome...
' death in 169, Pompeianus married his widow Lucilla as her second husband. Lucilla around 170, bore him a son called Pompeianus
Pompeianus
Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus was the son of Syrian Roman Consul Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus Quintianus and Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla...
. It seems Aurelius had been contemplating appointing Pompeianus to the position of Caesar
Caesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
, a possibility supported by the haste with which Aurelius arranged Pompeianus' marriage to Lucilla. It is quite possible that such an offer had actually been made and declined by Pompeianus. Pompeianus served as Legatus
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
of Pannonia Inferior between 164 and 167, Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
I Suffectus in 162 and Consul II Ordinarius in 173.
In 182, Lucilla was involved in a plot with members of the senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
to kill Commodus
Commodus
Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded...
, who was emperor and her brother. The plot called for Pompeianus' nephew and stepson in law to stab Commodus, and the young assassin, during the attempt, declared to Commodus "Here is the dagger the senate sends to you!", giving away his intentions before he had the chance to act. Commodus foiled the attempt in progress and had the conspirators, including many important senators, executed. Lucilla was exiled to Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
and there was soon executed. Pompeianus, who had not himself been involved in the plot, retired temporarily from public life.
He spent most of his time in the country away from Rome, claiming age and an ailment of the eyes as an excuse. After the death of Commodus in 192, Pertinax offered the throne to Pompeianus, but the offer was declined. Pertinax himself took the throne and was stabbed to death in a praetorian
Praetorian
Praetorian is an adjective derived from the ancient Roman office of praetor. It may refer to:*Praetorian Guard, a special force of skilled and celebrated troops serving as the personal guard of Roman Emperors...
rebellion after a reign of only 87 days.
Pompeianus, however, did return to public life once the plot against Commodus had succeeded, no longer complaining of poor health or eye ailments. He took part in the deliberations of the senate and sat bench beside Pertinax.
Didius Julianus
Didius Julianus
Didius Julianus , was Roman Emperor for three months during the year 193. He ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax. This led to the Roman Civil War of 193–197...
, after becoming emperor by winning an auction the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
held for the title, experienced difficulty in garnering support even within the ranks of his own troops and, in a desperate attempt to save himself, asked Pompeianus to be co-regent with him, but this offer too was declined. It seems that once again Pompeianus complained of old age and ailments of the eyes. Julianus was executed by a common soldier on the orders of Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
on 1 June 193 after ruling for only 66 days.