The gens Aufidia was a plebeian family at

ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...

, which occurs in history from the later part of the Republic to the third century AD. The first member to obtain the

consulship A consul held the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic ( to 27 BC), and ancient Romans considered the consulship the second-highest level of the ''cursus honorum'' (an ascending sequence of public offices to which politic ...

was Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes, in 71 BC.''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. I, p. 418 ("Aufidia Gens").

Praenomina

In Republican times, the Aufidii used the

praenomina The ''praenomen'' (; plural: ''praenomina'') was a personal name chosen by the parents of a Roman child. It was first bestowed on the ''dies lustricus'' (day of lustration), the eighth day after the birth of a girl, or the ninth day after the birt ...

'' Gnaeus'', ''

Titus Titus Caesar Vespasianus ( ; 30 December 39 – 13 September 81 AD) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death. Before becoming emperor, Titus gained renown as a mili ...

'', '' Marcus'', and '' Sextus''. ''

Lucius Lucius ( el, Λούκιος ''Loukios''; ett, Luvcie) is a male given name derived from '' Lucius'' (abbreviated ''L.''), one of the small group of common Latin forenames ('' praenomina'') found in the culture of ancient Rome. Lucius derives from ...

'' and ''

Gaius Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People * Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius *Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus *Gaius Asinius P ...

'' are not found prior to the second century AD. The character '' Tullus Aufidius'' in

Shakespeare's William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

play ''

Coriolanus ''Coriolanus'' ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same yea ...

'' predates the earliest historical mention of the gens by some three hundred years, and is identified as ''Attius Tullius'' in Livy; there is no other evidence that the praenomen '' Tullus'' was used by the Aufidii.

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

, ''

The Tragedy of Coriolanus ''Coriolanus'' ( or ) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1608. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Shakespeare worked on it during the same ye ...

''.

Branches and cognomina

The

cognomina A ''cognomen'' (; plural ''cognomina''; from ''con-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became here ...

of the Aufidii under the Republic are ''Lurco'' and ''Orestes''. Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes was descended from the Aurelii Orestides, but was adopted by the historian

Gnaeus Aufidius Gnaeus, also spelled Cnaeus, was a Roman praenomen derived from the Latin ''naevus'', a birthmark. It was a common name borne by many individuals throughout Roman history, including: Individuals *Gnaeus Acerronius Proculus, a consul of the Roman ...

in his old age.

Members

* Gnaeus Aufidius,

tribune of the plebs Tribune of the plebs, tribune of the people or plebeian tribune ( la, tribunus plebis) was the first office of the Roman state that was open to the plebeians, and was, throughout the history of the Republic, the most important check on the power o ...

in 170 BC. * Gnaeus Aufidius Cn. f.,

praetor Praetor ( , ), also pretor, was the title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to a man acting in one of two official capacities: (i) the commander of an army, and (ii) as an elected '' magistratus'' (magistrate), assigned to discharge vari ...

''circa'' 107 BC and

propraetor In ancient Rome a promagistrate ( la, pro magistratu) was an ex-consul or ex-praetor whose ''imperium'' (the power to command an army) was extended at the end of his annual term of office or later. They were called proconsuls and propraetors. Thi ...

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

the following year. Cicero tells that he also wrote a ''History of Rome'' in Greek, despite being blind. At an advanced age, he adopted Gnaeus Aufidius Orestes, the consul of 71. * Gnaeus Aufidius T. f., praetor in

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

in the late second century BC. * Titus Aufidius, a jurist, was quaestor in 84 BC, and afterwards praetor in Asia. * Gnaeus Aufidius Cn. f. Cn. n. Orestes, consul in 71 BC. *

Marcus Aufidius Lurco Marcus Aufidius Lurco also known simply as Aufidius Lurco, was a Roman magistrate who lived in the 1st century BC. Lurco was a member of the gens Aufidia, a Roman family of plebeian status, who appeared in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. They ...

, tribune of the plebs in 61 BC. * Aufidius Namusa, a pupil of the jurist

Servius Sulpicius Rufus Servius Sulpicius Rufus (c. 105 BC – 43 BC), was a Roman orator and jurist. He was consul in 51 BC. Biography Early life He studied rhetoric with Cicero, accompanying him to Rhodes in 78 BC, though Sulpicius decided subsequently to pursue lega ...

, who compiled a work based on the books of Sulpicius' various students. * Sextus Aufidius, warmly recommended by

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the esta ...

to Quintus Cornificius, proconsul of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

in 43 BC. * Titus Aufidius, a physician and native of Sicily, who probably lived during the first century BC. * (Publius) Aufidius Bassus, an orator and historian, who lived during the reigns of

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

and

Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor. He reigned from AD 14 until 37, succeeding his stepfather, the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC. His father ...

. * Publius Juventius Celsus Titus Aufidius Hoenius Severianus, or simply "Titus Aufidius", an influential jurist of the late first century and early second century, was consul ''suffectus'' in AD 115, and ''ordinarius'' in 129. * Aufidius Chius, an eminent jurist, is probably a misreading for "Aufidius Celsus", referring to Publius Juventius Celsus Titus Aufidius Hoenius Severianus. * Lucius Aufidius Panthera,

praefectus ''Praefectus'', often with a further qualification, was the formal title of many, fairly low to high-ranking, military or civil officials in the Roman Empire, whose authority was not embodied in their person (as it was with elected Magistrates) but ...

of the fleet at

Britannia Britannia () is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin ''Britannia'' was the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great ...

, in the early second century, known for an altar he dedicated to Neptune, at Lemanis, now in

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

. * Lucius Aufidius Panthera Sassina, an officer in the Roman auxilium Ala Ulpium Contrariorum, stationed in Pannonia in AD 133. *

Gaius Aufidius Victorinus Gaius Aufidius Victorinus was a Roman senator and general of the second century. A friend of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the son-in-law of the advocate and orator Marcus Cornelius Fronto, he was twice consul and governor of several Roman provin ...

, consul ''suffectus'' in AD 155, was ''

praefectus urbi The ''praefectus urbanus'', also called ''praefectus urbi'' or urban prefect in English, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, an ...

'' ''circa'' 179 to 183, and consul ''ordinarius'' in 183.Leunissen, ''Konsuln und Konsulare''. * Marcus Aufidius C. f. Fronto, consul in AD 199. * Marcus Aufidius M. f. C. n. Fronto, son of the consul of AD 199.Orelli, ''Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum'', n. 1176. * Gaius Aufidius Victorinus, consul in AD 200. * Gaius Aufidius Marcellus, consul for the second time in AD 226; the date of his first consulship is unknown.

Aufidii in literature

* Tullus Aufidius, general of the

Volsci The Volsci (, , ) were an Italic tribe, well known in the history of the first century of the Roman Republic. At the time they inhabited the partly hilly, partly marshy district of the south of Latium, bounded by the Aurunci and Samnites on the ...

an army in ''

'' by

. * Aufidius Victorinus, governor of Germania superior in ''Romanike'' (2006–2014) by Codex Regius.

References

Bibliography

Marcus Tullius Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the esta ...

, ''De Domo Sua'', ' De Officiis'', ''

Epistulae ad Familiares ''Epistulae ad Familiares'' (''Letters to Friends'') is a collection of letters between Roman politician and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero and various public and private figures. The letters in this collection, together with Cicero's other letter ...

'', ''Pro Plancio'', ''Tusculanae Disputationes''. * Titus Livius (

Livy Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional founding in ...

), ''

History of Rome The history of Rome includes the history of the city of Rome as well as the civilisation of ancient Rome. Roman history has been influential on the modern world, especially in the history of the Catholic Church, and Roman law has influenced m ...

''. * Eutropius, ''Breviarium Historiae Romanae'' (Abridgement of the History of Rome). * ''Digesta'', or ''Pandectae'' ( The Digest). *

Johann Caspar von Orelli Johann Caspar von Orelli (Latin ''Iohannes Caspar Orellius''; 13 February 1787 – 6 January 1849), was a Swiss classical scholar. Life He was born at Zürich of a distinguished Italian family which had taken refuge in Switzerland at the tim ...

, ''Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissima Collectio'' (An Extensive Collection of Select Latin Inscriptions), Orell Füssli, Zürich (1828). * ''

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology The ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'' (1849, originally published 1844 under a slightly different title) is an encyclopedia/biographical dictionary. Edited by William Smith, the dictionary spans three volumes and 3,700 ...

'', William Smith, ed., Little, Brown and Company, Boston (1849). * ''

Wilhelm Dittenberger Wilhelm (William) Dittenberger (August 31, 1840 in Heidelberg – December 29, 1906 in Halle (Saale)) was a German philologist in classical epigraphy. Life Wilhelm Dittenberger was the son of the Protestant theologian Wilhelm Theophor Dittenberge ...

, Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum (Collection of Greek Inscriptions, abbreviated SIG), Leipzig (1883).'' *

Adolf Kirchhoff Johann Wilhelm Adolf Kirchhoff (6 January 1826 – 26 February 1908) was a German classical scholar and epigraphist. Biography The son of historical painter Johann Jakob Kirchhoff, he was born in Berlin, and educated there. He then taught in va ...

Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff Enno Friedrich Wichard Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (22 December 1848 – 25 September 1931) was a German classical philologist. Wilamowitz, as he is known in scholarly circles, was a renowned authority on Ancient Greece and its literature ...

, ''et alii'', ''Inscriptiones Graecae'' (Greek Inscriptions), Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften (1878–present). * ''Inscriptiones Graecae XII,5. Inscriptiones Cycladum (Greek Inscriptions, abbreviated IG)'', ed.

Friedrich Hiller von Gaertringen __NOTOC__ Friedrich Hiller von Gaertringen (3 August 1864 – 25 October 1947) was a German archeologist and philologist, a specialist in Greek epigraphy. Life Hiller von Gaertringen was the son of the Prussian army officer Rudolf Hiller von G ...

. 2 vols. Berlin 1903–1909. * T. Robert S. Broughton, ''The Magistrates of the Roman Republic'', American Philological Association (1952–1986). * Paul M. M. Leunissen, ''Konsuln und Konsulare in der Zeit von Commodus bis Severus Alexander'' (Consuls and Consulars from the Time of Commodus to Severus Alexander), Verlag Gieben, Amsterdam, (1989). * ''The Roman Inscriptions of Britain'' (abbreviated ''RIB''), Oxford, (1990–present). *

T. Corey Brennan Terry Corey Brennan (born November 24, 1959) is a Professor of Classics at Rutgers University-New Brunswick ( USA). Under the stage name Corey "Loog" Brennan he was a guitarist and songwriter involved with several bands, including Boston-based b ...