Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (prefect 38)
Encyclopedia
Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (fl
1st century) was a prefect
of the Roman
imperial bodyguard
, known as the Praetorian Guard
.
Born in Pisaurum, Italy, Clemens came from obscure origins and according to the historian Suetonius
, his family were of Equestrian
rank. He was the son of Arrecinus and wife Tertulla.
His wife could have been named Julia, and his sister was Arrecina Clementina, also born in Pisaurum, Italy, c. 12, who became the wife of Titus Flavius Sabinus
. His children were Marcus Arrecinus Clemens
and Arrecina Tertulla
, who became the first wife of the future Emperor Titus
. There is a possibility that Clemens would be related to the paternal side of Vespasian
. Vespasian's paternal grandmother bore the cognomen Tertulla and this cognomen was also bore by both his daughter and his mother.
Clemens served as prefect in the reign of Emperor
Caligula
, from 38 until 41, which he had honourably commanded. On 27 January 41, however, he became one of his Emperor's murderers, also taking part in the murder of the Empress Caesonia
and their daughter, as well as in the proclamation of the next Emperor Claudius
.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1st century) was a prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
of the Roman
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....
imperial bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
, known as 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...
.
Born in Pisaurum, Italy, Clemens came from obscure origins and according to the historian Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
, his family were of Equestrian
Equestrian (Roman)
The Roman equestrian order constituted the lower of the two aristocratic classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the patricians , a hereditary caste that monopolised political power during the regal era and during the early Republic . A member of the equestrian order was known as an eques...
rank. He was the son of Arrecinus and wife Tertulla.
His wife could have been named Julia, and his sister was Arrecina Clementina, also born in Pisaurum, Italy, c. 12, who became the wife of Titus Flavius Sabinus
Titus Flavius Sabinus (consul 47)
Titus Flavius Sabinus was a Roman politician and soldier. He was the elder son of Titus Flavius Sabinus and Vespasia Polla and brother of the Emperor Vespasian.-Career:...
. His children were Marcus Arrecinus Clemens
Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (prefect 70)
Marcus Arrecinus Clemens , was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard.Clemens came from obscure origins and according to the historian Suetonius, his family were of Equestrian rank. He was the namesake of his father...
and Arrecina Tertulla
Arrecina Tertulla
Arrecina Tertulla was a Roman woman that lived in the 1st century. She came from obscure origins and her family were of Equestrian rank.Tertulla’s father was called Marcus Arrecinus Clemens. Clemens was an honourable Praetorian Prefect, that served in 38 in the reign of Emperor Caligula...
, who became the first wife of the future Emperor Titus
Titus
Titus , was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own father....
. There is a possibility that Clemens would be related to the paternal side of Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
. Vespasian's paternal grandmother bore the cognomen Tertulla and this cognomen was also bore by both his daughter and his mother.
Clemens served as prefect in the reign of Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, from 38 until 41, which he had honourably commanded. On 27 January 41, however, he became one of his Emperor's murderers, also taking part in the murder of the Empress Caesonia
Caesonia
Milonia Caesonia was the fourth and last wife of the Roman Emperor Caligula.-Life:Milonia Caesonia was born between 2 and 4 June in an unknown year....
and their daughter, as well as in the proclamation of the next Emperor Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
.