Caerellius Priscus
Caerellius Priscus is the name given to the man on an inscription recovered at Mogontiacum (Mainz),[1] set up by a governor of Germania Superior who was afterwards governor of Roman Britain in the late 170s.
The name of his son in the inscription implies that his
Career
The Mainz inscription lists the provinces Caerellius was governor of in a problematic order: Thracia, Moesia Superior, Raetia, Germania Superior then Britain. According to Birley, Raetia, typically a province governed by an ex-praetor, is out of place "between two consular provinces".[6] Although Birley argues that Moesia Superior might have been downgraded to praetorian status, it is possible these provinces were not listed in chronological order. Alföldy, following Birley, provides the following dates for Caerellius' governorships: Thracia c. 167 - c. 170, Moesia Superior c. 170 - c. 172, suffect consul around 172, Germania Superior c. 174 - c. 177, and likely governor of Roman Britain c. 177–180.[5]
If Caerellius was not the governor killed in battle, he nevertheless vanishes from history after concluding his term as governor of Britain.
Family
The Mainz inscription attests Caerellius had a wife, Modestiana, a daughter, Germanilla, and a son, Marcianus. Birley suggests Marcianus may be identified with a C(a)erellius Macrinus the Historia Augusta (Severus 13.6) listed as executed by order of the Emperor Septimius Severus, presumably because he had supported his rival Clodius Albinus. Birley also admits Caerellius was likely a kinsman to the above-mentioned Sabinus.[4]
See also
- Caerellia (gens)
References
- ^ CIL XIII, 6806
- ^ Birley, Fasti of Roman Britain, pp. 132-135
- ^ Birley, Fasti, pp. 133f
- ^ a b c Birley, Fasti, pp. 134
- ^ a b Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter den Antoninen (Bonn: Habelt Verlag, 1977), pp. 186f
- ^ Birley, Fasti, pp. 133
- ^ Dio Cassius, 72.8.1-2; Birley identifies the wall the enemy breached as the Antonine as opposed to Hadrian's Wall (Fasti, pp. 136f)
- ^ Birley, Fasti, p. 135
- ^ Birley, Fasti, p. 136
- ^ Dio Cassius, 72.8.2-6