Ulpius Marcellus (son)
Encyclopedia
Ulpius Marcellus was formerly thought to be the latest-recorded governor of Britannia
, before it was divided into separate provinces. He was supposed to be the son of Ulpius Marcellus
, governor of Britannia during the reign of Commodus
. Older sources, such as Roman Britain, by Peter Salway
, still list him as a separate person, whilst later authorities now list Lucius Alfenus Senecio
as the last known governor.
The theory that there was a second Ulpius Marcellus was based on two inscriptions at the fort at Chesters, which mention this name in connection with the second ala
of Asturians. The arrival of the Asturians was previously thought to date to the early 3rd century Their arrival is now placed in the later 2nd century, and the inscription is therefore believed to refer to the earlier governor.
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...
, before it was divided into separate provinces. He was supposed to be the son of Ulpius Marcellus
Ulpius Marcellus
Ulpius Marcellus was a Roman consular governor of Britannia who returned there as general of the later 2nd century.Ulpius Marcellus is recorded as governor of Roman Britain in an inscription of 176-80, and apparently returned to Rome after a tenure without serious incident...
, governor of Britannia during the reign 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...
. Older sources, such as Roman Britain, by Peter Salway
Peter Salway
Peter Salway is a British historian, who specialises in Roman Britain. He was a tutor for the Open University and later a fellow of Sidney Sussex College Cambridge and later at All Souls College Oxford. He is the author of Roman Britain , a volume in the Oxford History of England series.-References:...
, still list him as a separate person, whilst later authorities now list Lucius Alfenus Senecio
Lucius Alfenus Senecio
Lucius Alfenus Senecio was a Roman figure of the late 2nd - early 3rd centuries.-Career:Born in Curculum, now Djemila, in Africa, Lucius Alfenus Senecio was a Romanized North African. He served as consul and as governor of Syria in 200. Between c...
as the last known governor.
The theory that there was a second Ulpius Marcellus was based on two inscriptions at the fort at Chesters, which mention this name in connection with the second ala
Ala (Roman military)
An Ala was the term used during the mid- Roman Republic to denote a military formation composed of conscripts from the socii, Rome's Italian military allies. A normal consular army during this period consisted of 2 legions, composed of Roman citizens only, and 2 allied alae...
of Asturians. The arrival of the Asturians was previously thought to date to the early 3rd century Their arrival is now placed in the later 2nd century, and the inscription is therefore believed to refer to the earlier governor.
See also
- Ulpia (gens)Ulpia (gens)The gens Ulpia was a Roman family, which rose to prominence during the 1st century AD The gens is best known from the emperor Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, who reigned from AD 98 to 117. The Thirtieth Legion took its name, Ulpia, in his honor....