The gens Didia, or Deidia, as the name is spelled on coins, was a

plebeian In ancient Rome, the plebeians (also called plebs) were the general body of free Roman citizens who were not patricians, as determined by the census, or in other words " commoners". Both classes were hereditary. Etymology The precise origins of ...

family at ancient Rome, which first appears in history during the final century of the

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

. According to Cicero, they were .

Titus Didius Titus Didius (also spelled Deidius in ancient times) was a politician and general of the Roman Republic. In 98 BC he became the first member of his family to be consul. He is credited with the restoration of the Villa Publica,Makin, Ena. "The T ...

obtained the consulship in 98 BC, a dignity shared by no other Didii until imperial times.''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', vol. I, p. 1004 ("

Didia Gens The gens Didia, or Deidia, as the name is spelled on coins, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, which first appears in history during the final century of the Republic. According to Cicero, they were . Titus Didius obtained the consulship in ...

").

Origin

The nomen ''Didius'' or ''Deidius'' is of uncertain origin. It resembles a class of gentilicia formed from

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 ...

ending in ''-idus'', but might be derived from a cognomen ''Dida''. Chase classifies it among those gentilicia that either originated at Rome, or cannot be shown to have come from anywhere else. However, Olli Salomies has documented several examples of ''Diidiis'' used as a family name amongst the Oscans.

Praenomina

The earlier Didii used the praenomina ''

Sextus Sextus is an ancient Roman '' praenomen'' or "first name". Its standard abbreviation is Sex., and the feminine form would be Sexta. It is one of the numeral ''praenomina'', like Quintus ("fifth") and Decimus ("tenth"), and means "sixth". Althoug ...

'', '' Titus'', 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 Pol ...

'', to which later members of the family added ''

Quintus Quintus is a male given name derived from '' Quintus'', a common Latin forename (''praenomen'') found in the culture of ancient Rome. Quintus derives from Latin word ''quintus'', meaning "fifth". Quintus is an English masculine given name and ...

'', ''

Aulus Aulus (abbreviated A.) is one of the small group of common forenames found in the culture of ancient Rome. The name was traditionally connected with Latin ''aula'', ''olla'', "palace", but this is most likely a false etymology. ''Aulus'' in fact p ...

'', and '' Lucius''. All of these were common throughout Roman history.

Branches and cognomina

None of the Didii mentioned during the Republic is known to have borne a cognomen. A number of surnames are found under the Empire, of which the only one that appears to be a family name is ''Gallus''. This cognomen, referring to a cockerel, belongs to an abundant class of cognomina derived from the names of everyday objects and animals. The same surname could also refer to a Gaul, indicating someone of Gaulish descent, or whose appearance or character resembled that of a Gaul.

Members

* Sextus Didius, the grandfather of Titus Didius, the consul of 98 BC. * Titus Didius Sex. f., tribune of the plebs in 143 BC, was probably the author of the

sumptuary law Sumptuary laws (from Latin ''sūmptuāriae lēgēs'') are laws that try to regulate consumption. '' Black's Law Dictionary'' defines them as "Laws made for the purpose of restraining luxury or extravagance, particularly against inordinate expendi ...

, ''lex Didia'', which was binding on all of Italy, in contrast with the ''lex Fannia'' of 161, which had no power except in the city of Rome. He is probably the same Titus Didius who was sent as praetor against the revolted slaves in Sicily, about 138. * Gaius Didius C. f., a senator in 129 BC. * Titus Didius T. f. Sex. n., as praetor in 100 BC, triumphed over the Scordisci; consul in 98, he and his colleague passed the ''

lex Caecilia Didia The ''lex Caecilia Didia'' was a law put into effect by the consuls Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos and Titus Didius in the year 98 BC. This law had two provisions. The first was a minimum period between proposing a Roman law and voting on it, and the ...

''. Afterwards proconsul in Spain, he triumphed over the

Celtiberians The Celtiberians were a group of Celts and Celticized peoples inhabiting an area in the central-northeastern Iberian Peninsula during the final centuries BCE. They were explicitly mentioned as being Celts by several classic authors (e.g. Strab ...

. Didius fell during the Social War, in the spring of 89. * Titus Didius (T. f. T. n.), in 113 or 112 BC, and tribune of the plebs in 95. He and his colleague, Lucius Aurelius Cotta, were forced from the tribunal hearing the disputes arising from the accusation brought against Caepio. * Gaius Didius,

legate Legate may refer to: *Legatus, a higher ranking general officer of the Roman army drawn from among the senatorial class :*Legatus Augusti pro praetore, a provincial governor in the Roman Imperial period *A member of a legation *A representative, ...

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caes ...

in 46 BC. In command of Caesar's fleet during Caesar's 46 BC Spanish campaign. He won a naval victory over Publius Attius Varus. After the Battle of Munda Didius pursued Gnaeus Pompeius's fleet escaping from Carteia, capturing or destroying his ships. After the death of Gnaeus, Didius was attacked and slain by his quarry's

Lusitania Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province located where modern Portugal (south of the Douro river) and a portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and the province of Salamanca) lie. It was named after the Lusitani or Lusita ...

n soldiers. *

Quintus Didius Quintus Didius was a Roman governor of the province Syria (31 BC to 29 BC). Octavian, the later Emperor Augustus, won the decisive Battle of Actium against Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. Then – at the end of 31 BC – he sent Didius as governor ...

, governor of

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

in 31 BC. Although probably appointed by

Marcus Antonius Marcus Antonius (14 January 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic from a constitutional republic into the autoc ...

, he went over to Octavian after the Battle of Actium, and persuaded the Arabs to burn a fleet that Antonius had built in the Red Sea. * Aulus Didius Gallus, superintendent of aqueducts during the reign of

Caligula Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germanicu ...

, AD 40; under

Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusu ...

, commanded a Roman army in Bosporus, AD 50, and subsequently appointed to succeed

Publius Ostorius Scapula Publius Ostorius Scapula standing at the terrace of the Roman Baths (Bath) Publius Ostorius Scapula (died 52) was a Roman statesman and general who governed Britain from 47 until his death, and was responsible for the defeat and capture of Ca ...

as governor of Britain. *

Aulus Didius Gallus Fabricius Veiento Aulus Didius Gallus Fabricius Veiento was a Roman senator who played a major role in the courts of several Roman emperors during the first century AD. For his usefulness, Veiento was rewarded with the office of suffect consul three times in a per ...

, praetor during the reign of Nero, he was banished for publishing a number of libels, and for supposedly selling the honours granted by the emperor. He subsequently returned to Rome, and was consul at least twice, the second time under Titus in AD 80. Aurelius Victor reports that he was a favourite of Domitian, under whom he was consul. * Didius Scaeva, one of the generals of Vitellius, who was slain at the taking of the Capitol in AD 69. * Titus Didius Secundus, consul ''suffectus'' under Trajan in AD 102.. * Lucius Didius Marinus, the second husband of Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor, daughter of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. * Quintus Petronius Didius Q. f. Severus, father of the emperor Didius Julianus. * Marcus Didius Q. f. Q. n. Severus Julianus, consul in AD 175 and 179, and Roman emperor for nine weeks in AD 193. * Didius Q. f. Q. n. Proculus, brother of the emperor Didius Julianus. * Didius Q. f. Q. n. Nummius Albinus, brother of the emperor Didius Julianus. * Didia M. f. Q. n. Clara, daughter and only child of Didius Julianus.

References

{{reflist

Bibliography

* Marcus Tullius Cicero, ''De Domo Sua'', ''

De Oratore ''De Oratore'' (''On the Orator''; not to be confused with ''Orator'') is a dialogue written by Cicero in 55 BC. It is set in 91 BC, when Lucius Licinius Crassus dies, just before the Social War and the civil war between Marius and Sulla, du ...

'', ''In Pisonem'', '' Philippicae'', ''Pro Murena'', ''Pro Plancio'', ''Pro Sestio''. * Gaius Julius Caesar, ''De Bello Hispaniensis'' (On the War in Spain, attributed). * Publius Ovidius Naso ( Ovid), '' Fasti''. * Marcus Velleius Paterculus, ''Compendium of Roman History''. *

Lucius Annaeus Florus Three main sets of works are attributed to Florus (a Roman cognomen): ''Virgilius orator an poeta'', an Epitome of Roman History and a collection of 14 short poems (66 lines in all). As to whether these were composed by the same person, or set of ...

, ''Epitome de T. Livio Bellorum Omnium Annorum DCC'' (Epitome of Livy: All the Wars of Seven Hundred Years). * Appianus Alexandrinus ( Appian), ''Hispanica'' (The Spanish Wars), ''Bellum Civile'' (The Civil War). *

Aulus Gellius Aulus Gellius (c. 125after 180 AD) was a Roman author and grammarian, who was probably born and certainly brought up in Rome. He was educated in Athens, after which he returned to Rome. He is famous for his ''Attic Nights'', a commonplace book, or ...

, ''Noctes Atticae'' (Attic Nights). * Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus ( Cassius Dio), ''Roman History''. *

Eusebius of Caesarea Eusebius of Caesarea (; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος ; 260/265 – 30 May 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilus (from the grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος τοῦ Παμφίλου), was a Greek historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christia ...

, '' Chronicon''. * Ammianus Marcellinus, ''Res Gestae''. * Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius, ''Saturnalia''. * Scholia Bobiensia ( Bobbio Scholiast), ''In Ciceronis Pro Sestio'' (Commentary on Cicero's Oration ''Pro Sestio''). * '' Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'', William Smith, ed., Little, Brown and Company, Boston (1849). * René Cagnat ''et alii'', '' L'Année épigraphique'' (The Year in Epigraphy, abbreviated ''AE''), Presses Universitaires de France (1888–present). * George Davis Chase, "The Origin of Roman Praenomina", in ''Harvard Studies in Classical Philology'', vol. VIII, pp. 103–184 (1897). * Robert K. Sherk,
The Text of the ''Senatus Consultum De Agro Pergameno''
, in ''Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies'', vol. 7, pp. 361–369 (1966). * Michael Crawford, ''Roman Republican Coinage'', Cambridge University Press (1974, 2001). *Paul A. Gallivan, "The ''Fasti'' for A.D. 70–96", in ''

Classical Quarterly The Classical Association is a British learned society in the field of classics, aimed at developing classical study and promoting its importance in education. Constitution The association was founded on 19 December 1903, and its objects are de ...