Marcus Statius Priscus
Encyclopedia
Marcus Statius Priscus Licinius Italicus was a Roman
politician and general of the mid 2nd century.
His career began as an equestrian
officer, receiving a decoration from Hadrian
during the Jewish rebellion. He then served as procurator
in Southern Gaul
before being made a senator and commanding two legions in succession.
He was governor of Dacia
between 157 and 158 and held the consul
ship in 159. After this, he governed Moesia Superior between 160 and 161 and became governor of Roman Britain
immediately afterwards, serving until perhaps as late as the mid 160s.
Such a rapid career progression indicates a man of ability and an especial strength in running prestigious but troublesome provinces.
Priscus was made governor of Cappadocia
by Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus
after the death of Marcus Sedatius Severianus in a campaign against Vologases IV
in 163. The forces of Statius Priscus, made up of Eastern auxiliaries and several legions transferred from the Rhine and the Danube, quickly crushed the Parthians and destroyed the town of Artaxata. Priscus then installed on the throne of Armenia, Sohaemus (who was under the protection of Rome), and rebuilt the city of Valarshapat.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
politician and general of the mid 2nd century.
His career began as an 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...
officer, receiving a decoration from Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
during the Jewish rebellion. He then served as procurator
Procurator (Roman)
A procurator was the title of various officials of the Roman Empire, posts mostly filled by equites . A procurator Augusti was the governor of the smaller imperial provinces...
in Southern Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
before being made a senator and commanding two legions in succession.
He was governor of Dacia
Roman Dacia
The Roman province of Dacia on the Balkans included the modern Romanian regions of Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia, and temporarily Muntenia and southern Moldova, but not the nearby regions of Moesia...
between 157 and 158 and held the consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
ship in 159. After this, he governed Moesia Superior between 160 and 161 and became governor of Roman Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
immediately afterwards, serving until perhaps as late as the mid 160s.
Such a rapid career progression indicates a man of ability and an especial strength in running prestigious but troublesome provinces.
Priscus was made governor of Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
by Marcus Aurelius and 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...
after the death of Marcus Sedatius Severianus in a campaign against Vologases IV
Vologases IV of Parthia
Vologases IV of Parthia ruled the Parthian Empire from 147 to 191. The son of Mithridates IV of Parthia , he united the two halves of the empire which had been split between his father and Vologases III of Parthia...
in 163. The forces of Statius Priscus, made up of Eastern auxiliaries and several legions transferred from the Rhine and the Danube, quickly crushed the Parthians and destroyed the town of Artaxata. Priscus then installed on the throne of Armenia, Sohaemus (who was under the protection of Rome), and rebuilt the city of Valarshapat.