Marcius Turbo

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Quintus Marcius Turbo was prefect of the Praetorian Guard and a close friend and military advisor to both emperor Trajan and Hadrian during the early 2nd century.

Early life

Not much is known about the early life of Turbo. There are few records or references that provide reliable information regarding his life before he became a soldier. However, it is known that he was born in the late 1st century and came from a city in western

primipilus at one point.[1]

Career

The first record of Turbo appears in 113, during the reign of emperor Trajan.

Roman Navy and under the direct control of the emperor.[2] Under Turbo's command, the fleet sailed to the east to take part in Trajan's invasion of the Parthian Empire
sometime between 113 AD and 116 AD.

Approximately at the same time, large portions of the

Jewish population in the Empire rose in rebellion
, uprisings taking place almost simultaneously in Judea, Egypt, Libya, Cyprus and parts of Mesopotamia. The grain supply from Egypt to Rome was threatened and with local authorities unable to quell the rebellion, Trajan sent Turbo, by then one of his best military men and closest confidants, to Egypt to deal with the situation. Turbo reestablished control over Egypt and eventually Cyprus. Turbo became the military Prefect of Egypt for several years while the province went through a process of rehabilitation.

In 117 Trajan died and was succeeded by his adopted son Hadrian. From the beginning of Hadrian's reign, Turbo was a close friend, adviser and confidant of Hadrian. After the Jewish revolt had been quelled, Turbo accompanied Hadrian to Mauretania in North Africa where they jointly led a military campaign against local rebels; later Hadrian left Turbo in control of the campaign. As another example of how much Hadrian trusted Turbo, he put Turbo in charge of two provinces in North Africa, Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana.

After his tenure as governor, Turbo, at the request of Hadrian, accepted control of the Danubian Command, part of the Roman military's presence in the eastern area of the Empire near the

Dacia Inferior
. After his tenure as the leader of the Danubian command, Turbo went to Rome.

Hadrian, famous for his long and extensive travels throughout the empire, realized that he needed a reliable representative in Rome while he was away. Therefore, in 125, Hadrian elevated Turbo to the position of

natural causes
.

Significance and contemporary assessment

Without a doubt Turbo had an illustrious career that was made all the more noteworthy because he was from Greece and not Italy. Up to this point in time, the high positions of the Roman government were still reserved for the men of noble and aristocratic families of Roman heritage. However, Turbo's life shows that the general trend inside of the aristocracy was towards a more egalitarian system where one's knowledge, skills and accomplishments were just as important as one's family and ancestors. The Roman historian

Cassius Dio described Turbo as “loyal, assiduous and vigilant.” [citation needed
]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b Karol Kłodziński, "Equestrian cursus honorum basing on the careers of two prominent officers of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius", Tempore, 4 (2010)
  2. ISBN 0-472-11155-8
    .
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