Titus Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius Pollio
Encyclopedia
Titus Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius Pollio (died before 180) was a Roman Politician that lived in the 2nd century.
Pollio was born into a family of Patrician rank. The name of his mother is unknown, however his father Titus Vitrasius Pollio, served as a Legatus
in Lugdunum
and became consul in 137 in the reign of Roman Emperor
Hadrian
(117-138). His paternal ancestry can be traceable to the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius
(14-37). His paternal grandfather Titus Vitrasius Pollio served as a Procurator
of Egypt under the Roman Emperor Claudius
(41-54) and his paternal great, grandfather of the same name served as Governor of Egypt in the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius
.
Pollio started his political career under Hadrian as a Triumvir Monetalis
. Later Pollio, served as a Quaestor
, Praetor
and served as some type of Prefect
in Rome
. Pollio became one of the suffect consul
s in 151. Pollio served as a Legatus of Moesia
Inferior between 157-159, then a Legatus again in Hispania Citerior
between 164-167 and became a Proconsul of the Asia Province in 167. From 168 to about 175, with the Roman Emperor Lucius Verus
, Pollio participated as a Comes
in the military campaigns against the Germans and Sarmatians
.
Due to his outstanding military service, Pollio was awarded two statues in his honor. One statue of him, he was dressed in military clothing and was erected at Trajan's Forum
. The second statue he was dressed in civilian clothing and was erected at the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
. In 176, he served as a consul for the second time. Pollio was deputy to Lucius Verus’ co-Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic Wars
, where he died during the conflict.
Pollio married a noblewoman called Annia Fundania Faustina
, who was a relative of to the ruling Nerva–Antonine dynasty of the Roman Empire, whose paternal aunt was the Roman Empress Faustina the Elder
and her paternal cousins was the Roman Emperor
Marcus Aurelius and the Roman Empress Faustina the Younger
. Fundania Faustina bore him two children who were Titus Fundanius Vitrasius Pollio, executed in 182 on the orders of Commodus
, because of his involvement in a conspiracy against the Emperor, and a daughter, Vitrasia Faustina
.
Pollio was born into a family of Patrician rank. The name of his mother is unknown, however his father Titus Vitrasius Pollio, served as a 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...
in Lugdunum
Lugdunum
Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum was an important Roman city in Gaul. The city was founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus. It served as the capital of the Roman province Gallia Lugdunensis. To 300 years after its foundation Lugdunum was the most important city to the west part of Roman...
and became consul in 137 in the reign of Roman 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...
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...
(117-138). His paternal ancestry can be traceable to the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
(14-37). His paternal grandfather Titus Vitrasius Pollio served as a 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...
of Egypt under the Roman 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...
(41-54) and his paternal great, grandfather of the same name served as Governor of Egypt in the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
.
Pollio started his political career under Hadrian as a Triumvir Monetalis
Triumvir Monetalis
Triumvir Monetalis [English: Monetal Triumvir] was one of three officers appointed in Ancient Rome to oversee the minting of coins. The English word "money" is perhaps derived from this title.-See also:*Moneyer...
. Later Pollio, served as a Quaestor
Quaestor
A Quaestor was a type of public official in the "Cursus honorum" system who supervised financial affairs. In the Roman Republic a quaestor was an elected official whereas, with the autocratic government of the Roman Empire, quaestors were simply appointed....
, Praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
and served as some type of Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
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...
. Pollio became one of the suffect 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...
s in 151. Pollio served as a Legatus of Moesia
Moesia
Moesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
Inferior between 157-159, then a Legatus again in Hispania Citerior
Hispania Citerior
During the Roman Republic, Hispania Citerior was a region of Hispania roughly occupying the northeastern coast and the Ebro Valley of what is now Spain. Hispania Ulterior was located west of Hispania Citerior—that is, farther away from Rome.-External links:*...
between 164-167 and became a Proconsul of the Asia Province in 167. From 168 to about 175, with the Roman Emperor 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...
, Pollio participated as a Comes
Comes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
in the military campaigns against the Germans and Sarmatians
Sarmatians
The Iron Age Sarmatians were an Iranian people in Classical Antiquity, flourishing from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD....
.
Due to his outstanding military service, Pollio was awarded two statues in his honor. One statue of him, he was dressed in military clothing and was erected at Trajan's Forum
Trajan's Forum
Trajan's Forum is an ancient structure in Rome, Italy, chronologically the last of the Imperial fora. The forum was constructed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus.-History:...
. The second statue he was dressed in civilian clothing and was erected at the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina is an ancient Roman temple in Rome, adapted to the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda. It stands in the Forum Romanum, on the Via Sacra, opposite the Regia.-The temple:...
. In 176, he served as a consul for the second time. Pollio was deputy to Lucius Verus’ co-Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic Wars
Marcomannic Wars
The Marcomannic Wars were a series of wars lasting over a dozen years from about AD 166 until 180. These wars pitted the Roman Empire against the Marcomanni, Quadi and other Germanic peoples, along both sides of the upper and middle Danube...
, where he died during the conflict.
Pollio married a noblewoman called Annia Fundania Faustina
Annia Fundania Faustina
Annia Fundania Faustina was a noble Roman woman that lived in the 2nd century during the Roman Empire.Fundania Faustina was the daughter of the Roman Consul Marcus Annius Libo and Fundania. Her brother was a younger Marcus Annius Libo who served as a Legatus in Syria in 162...
, who was a relative of to the ruling Nerva–Antonine dynasty of the Roman Empire, whose paternal aunt was the Roman Empress Faustina the Elder
Faustina the Elder
Annia Galeria Faustina, more familiarly referred to as Faustina I , was a Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.-Early life:...
and her paternal cousins was the Roman 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...
Marcus Aurelius and the Roman Empress Faustina the Younger
Faustina the Younger
Annia Galeria Faustina Minor , Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger was a daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and Roman Empress Faustina the Elder. She was a Roman Empress and wife to her maternal cousin Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius...
. Fundania Faustina bore him two children who were Titus Fundanius Vitrasius Pollio, executed in 182 on the orders of 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...
, because of his involvement in a conspiracy against the Emperor, and a daughter, Vitrasia Faustina
Vitrasia Faustina
Vitrasia Faustina was a noble Roman woman that lived in the 2nd century during the Roman Empire.Vitrasia was the daughter of Annia Fundania Faustina and the Roman politician Titus Pomponius Proculus Vitrasius Pollio and her brother was Titus Fundanius Vitrasius Pollio...
.
Sources
- Septimius Severus: the African emperor, by Anthony Richard Birley Edition: 2 – 1999
- From Tiberius to the Antonines: a history of the Roman Empire AD 14-192, by Albino Garzetti, 1974
- Mutilation and transformation: damnatio memoriae and Roman imperial portraiture By Eric R. Varner 2004
- Who’s who in the Roman world, by John Hazel 2001
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2773.html