Tranquillina
Encyclopedia
Furia Sabinia Tranquillina or Sabinia Tranquillina (ca. 225 – aft. 244) was the Empress of Rome and wife of Emperor Gordian III
. She was the young daughter of the Praetorian
Prefect Timesitheus
by an unknown wife.
In 241 her father was appointed the head of the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperor Gordian III
. In May that year, Tranquillina had married Gordian. She became a Roman Empress and received the honorific title of Augusta. Her marriage to Gordian was an admission by the young emperor of both political indispensability of Timesitheus and Tranquillina’s suitability as an empress.
In 243, Tranquillina's father suddenly died and was replaced with Philip the Arab
, as head of the Praetorian Guard
. When Gordian was killed in February 244, Philip became the new emperor. Tranquillina survived her husband. She had no sons with him. Christian Settipani suggests that they had a daughter, (Furia) (b. ca 244), most likely posthumous, who married (Marcus Maecius Orfitus) (b. ca 245), son of Marcus Maecius Probus (b. ca 220), married to Pupiena Sextia Paulina Cethegilla (b. ca 225), paternal grandson of Marcus Pomponius Maecius Probus
and maternal grandson of Marcus Pupienus Africanus Maximus
(son of his protector Emperor Pupienus Maximus) and wife Cornelia Marullina, by whom she had issue.
Gordian III
Gordian III , was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known on his early life before his acclamation...
. She was the young daughter of the Praetorian
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...
Prefect Timesitheus
Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus
Gaius Furius Sabinius Aquila Timesitheus was a Roman knight who lived in the 3rd century and was the most important advisor to Roman Emperor Gordian III. Very little is known on his origins. Timesitheus was a Roman of equestrian rank.-Life:...
by an unknown wife.
In 241 her father was appointed the head of the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperor Gordian III
Gordian III
Gordian III , was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known on his early life before his acclamation...
. In May that year, Tranquillina had married Gordian. She became a Roman Empress and received the honorific title of Augusta. Her marriage to Gordian was an admission by the young emperor of both political indispensability of Timesitheus and Tranquillina’s suitability as an empress.
In 243, Tranquillina's father suddenly died and was replaced with Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab , also known as Philip or Philippus Arabs, was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249. He came from Syria, and rose to become a major figure in the Roman Empire. He achieved power after the death of Gordian III, quickly negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire...
, as head of 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...
. When Gordian was killed in February 244, Philip became the new emperor. Tranquillina survived her husband. She had no sons with him. Christian Settipani suggests that they had a daughter, (Furia) (b. ca 244), most likely posthumous, who married (Marcus Maecius Orfitus) (b. ca 245), son of Marcus Maecius Probus (b. ca 220), married to Pupiena Sextia Paulina Cethegilla (b. ca 225), paternal grandson of Marcus Pomponius Maecius Probus
Marcus Pomponius Maecius Probus
Marcus Pomponius Maecius Probus was a Consul in 228.He was the son of Marcus Maecius Probus and wife Pomponia Arria.In the genealogical reconstruction by C. Settipani, he married and had:...
and maternal grandson of Marcus Pupienus Africanus Maximus
Marcus Pupienus Africanus Maximus
Marcus Pupienus Africanus Maximus was a Roman politician.He was the son of Pupienus, later Emperor, and wife Sextia Cethegilla.He was Consul Ordinarius in 236 joint with Emperor Maximinus I ....
(son of his protector Emperor Pupienus Maximus) and wife Cornelia Marullina, by whom she had issue.
External links
- http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1034
- http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Tranquillina
- http://www.livius.org/to-ts/tranquillina/tranquillina.html
- http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAR0089
- http://www.aoti76.dsl.pipex.com/coins/r4/r1621.htm
- Continuité gentilice et continuité sénatoriale dans les familles sénatoriales romaines à l'époque impériale, 2000