The gens Egnatia 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 of equestrian rank 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 B ...

. Only a few of the Egnatii held any magistracies, of whom the most important may have been Gnaeus Egnatius, who held the

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 vario ...

ship during the second century BC, and served as governor of Macedonia, shortly after its institution as a Roman province.''

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 p ...

'', William Smith, Editor.

Origin

The Egnatii were of Samnite origin, and at least some of them had settled at Teanum. At the end of the Social War, the greater part of these appear to have removed to Rome, where two of them were admitted into the

senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

, though a branch of the family seems to have remained at Teanum.

Praenomina

The first of the Egnatii known to history bore the

Oscan Oscan is an extinct Indo-European language of southern Italy. The language is in the Osco-Umbrian or Sabellic branch of the Italic languages. Oscan is therefore a close relative of Umbrian. Oscan was spoken by a number of tribes, including th ...

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 ...

''Gellius'' and ''Marius''. The Egnatii who settled at Rome favoured '' Gnaeus'', but also made use of ''

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 ...

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 L ...

, Marcus'', and '' Publius''.

Branches and cognomina

The Egnatii do not seem to have been divided into distinct families during the time of the Republic. Most of the Egnatii bore no

cognomen 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 ...

, but individuals are known with the surnames ''Celer, Maximus, Rufus'', and ''Veratius''. ''Celer'' means "swift," while ''Maximus'' is "great" or "greatest." ''Rufus'', meaning "red," was typically given to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

Members

Gellius Egnatius Gellius Egnatius (died 295 BC) was the leader of the Varriani, a leading clan of the Samnites during the Third Samnite War, which broke out in 298 BC. By the end of the second campaign the Samnites appeared completely defeated, however in the follo ...

, the leader of the

Samnites The Samnites () were an ancient Italic people who lived in Samnium, which is located in modern inland Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania in south-central Italy. An Oscan-speaking people, who may have originated as an offshoot of the Sabines, they for ...

in the third great

Third Samnite War The First, Second, and Third Samnite Wars (343–341 BC, 326–304 BC, and 298–290 BC) were fought between the Roman Republic and the Samnites, who lived on a stretch of the Apennine Mountains south of Rome and north of the Lucanian tribe. ...

, which broke out in 298 BC. Three years later, he was slain in battle following the

devotio In ancient Roman religion, the ''devotio'' was an extreme form of '' votum'' in which a Roman general vowed to sacrifice his own life in battle along with the enemy to chthonic gods in exchange for a victory. The most extended description of th ...

n of the

consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throug ...

Publius Decius Mus The gens Decia was a plebeian family of high antiquity, which became illustrious in Roman history by the example of its members sacrificing themselves for the preservation of their country. The first of the family known to history was Marcus Deciu ...

. * Gnaeus Egnatius C. f.,

before 146 BC, was appointed governor of Macedonia, in which capacity he began construction of a road from the

Pindus Mountains The Pindus (also Pindos or Pindhos; el, Πίνδος, Píndos; sq, Pindet; rup, Pindu) is a mountain range located in Northern Greece and Southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km (100 miles) long, with a maximum elevation of 2,637 metr ...

Thessalonica Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...

. * Marius Egnatius, one of the principal leaders of the Italian allies in the Social War.

Livius ''Livius'' is a genus of South American tangled nest spiders containing the single species, ''Livius macrospinus''. It was first described by V. D. Roth in 1967, and has only been found in Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ...

calls him the leader of the Samnites. In 90 BC, he captured

Venafrum Venafrum was an ancient town of Molise, Italy, close to the boundaries of both Latium adiectum and Samnium. Its site is occupied by the modern Venafro, a village on the railway from Isernia to Vairano, 25 km southwest of the former, 201 m ...

, and subsequently put the army of the consul Lucius Julius Caesar to flight. In the following year Egnatius was killed in battle against the praetors

Gaius Cosconius 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 ...

and Lucceius. * Gnaeus Egnatius, a man of somewhat disreputable character, was admitted into the Roman senate, but was subsequently expelled by the

censors Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

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 estab ...

, ''

Pro Cluentio ''Pro Cluentio'' is a speech by the Roman orator Cicero given in defense of a man named Aulus Cluentius Habitus Minor. Cluentius, from Larinum in Samnium, was accused in 69 BC by his mother Sassia of having poisoned his stepfather, Statius Abbiu ...

'' 48. * Egnatius Cn. f., like his father a member of the Roman Senate, he retained that dignity when his father's name was struck off the rolls. He was disinherited by his father. * Egnatius (Cn. n.), accompanied

Marcus Licinius Crassus Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome." Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, I ...

on his expedition against the

Parthians Parthian may be: Historical * A demonym "of Parthia", a region of north-eastern of Greater Iran * Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD) * Parthian language, a now-extinct Middle Iranian language * Parthian shot, an archery skill famously employed by ...

, and after the great defeat which Crassus sustained at Carrhae, escaped from the scene of the disaster with three hundred horsemen. * Gaius Egnatius Cn. f. Cn. n. Maximus, appears on several coins apparently struck during the time of

Gaius Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a 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 a civil war, and ...

. He is probably the same Egnatius Maximus mentioned 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 estab ...

in 45 BC, and the same Egnatius mentioned without any surname in one or two other passages of Cicero. * Lucius Egnatius Rufus, an ''eques'', and friend of Cicero, who carried on an extensive business as a farmer of the taxes, and a money-lender in the provinces. Both Cicero and his brother,

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 ...

, had pecuniary dealings with him. Cicero frequently recommends him to the governors of the provinces. * Egnatius Sidicinus, mentioned by Cicero as having had some money transactions with him. * Egnatii, father and son, were included in the proscription of the year 43 BC, and were slain by a single blow, while locked in each other's arms. * Marcus Egnatius (L. f.) Rufus,

aedile ''Aedile'' ( ; la, aedīlis , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enf ...

in 20 BC, and praetor the following year, in contravention of the laws; he sought the consulship of 18, but the consul

Gaius Sentius Saturninus Gaius Sentius Saturninus (fl. late 1st century BC – 1st century AD) was a Roman senator and military officer who was appointed Roman consul in 19 BC. He served as the proconsular governor of Africa, and later as imperial governor of Syria. He t ...

refused to receive his name as one of the candidates. He then joined a plot to murder

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 Pri ...

, but was detected, imprisoned, and executed. * Egnatius, a poet who wrote before

Vergil Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: th ...

Macrobius Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, usually referred to as Macrobius (fl. AD 400), was a Roman provincial who lived during the early fifth century, during late antiquity, the period of time corresponding to the Later Roman Empire, and when Latin was ...

quotes some lines from his poem, ''De Rerum Natura''. *

Publius Egnatius Celer Publius Egnatius Celer, (lived c. AD 60), was a Stoic philosopher, who as a result of being a ''delator'', or informer, in the reign of Nero, was sentenced to death in the reign of Vespasian. Treason charges were brought against Barea Soranus in ...

, a

Stoic Stoic may refer to: * An adherent of Stoicism; one whose moral quality is associated with that school of philosophy *STOIC, a programming language * ''Stoic'' (film), a 2009 film by Uwe Boll * ''Stoic'' (mixtape), a 2012 mixtape by rapper T-Pain *' ...

philosopher, who served as an informer under the emperor

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68), was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 un ...

. He was condemned to death during the reign of

Vespasian Vespasian (; la, Vespasianus ; 17 November AD 9 – 23/24 June 79) was a Roman emperor who reigned from AD 69 to 79. The fourth and last emperor who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Empi ...

. * Egnatia Maximilla, a descendant of that branch of the Egnatia gens which bore the surname of ''Maximus'', is mentioned by

Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historiography, Roman historians by modern scholars. The surviving portions of his t ...

as the wife of

Publius Glitius Gallus Publius Glitius Gallus was a Roman senator active in the late 1st century AD. He was suffect consul at some yet undetermined ''nundinium'' in the first century. According to Pliny the Elder, a Glitius was the first husband of Vistilia, famous for ...

, who was banished by the emperor Nero. She accompanied her husband in his exile. * Gnaeus Egnatius Veratius, a Roman historian, mentioned only by

Aurelius Victor Sextus Aurelius Victor (c. 320 – c. 390) was a historian and politician of the Roman Empire. Victor was the author of a short history of imperial Rome, entitled ''De Caesaribus'' and covering the period from Augustus to Constantius II. The work w ...

. *

Marcus Egnatius Marcellinus Marcus Egnatius Marcellinus was a senator of Imperial Rome. Life He was consul suffectus in the '' nundinium'' of April to June 116 as the colleague of Tiberius Julius Secundus.Werner Eck, "Konsuln des Jahres 117 in Militärdiplomen Traians mit ...

, consul ''suffectus'' in 116. * Egnatius Capito, consul ''suffectus'', executed in 183. * Marcus Egnatius Postumus, consul ''suffectus'' in 183. *

Quintus Egnatius Proculus Quintus Egnatius Proculus ( – after 210) was a Roman aristocrat. Life It is speculated that he was the son of Quintus Egnatius Proculus (suffect consul 219), Quintus Egnatius Proculus. He was Roman consul, suffect consul in the ''nundini ...

, consul ''suffectus'' around 219. * Quintus Egnatius Gallienus Perpetuus, vir consularis at

Allifae Allifae was an ancient town of Italy, a center of Oscan or Samnite origin, situated in the valley of the Vulturnus, at the foot of the lofty mountain group now called the Monte Matese, about 40 km northwest of Telesia, and 27 km east- ...

during the first half of the third century. *

Lucius Egnatius Victor Lollianus Lucius Egnatius Victor Lollianus (fl. 3rd century) was a Roman Empire, Roman military officer and Senate of the Roman Empire, senator, who served as governor of a number of provinces of the Roman East, including Galatia, Achaea, Bithynia and Pontus ...

, suffect consul. * Quintus Flavius Maesius Egnatius Lollianus ''signo'' Mavortius, ''praefectus urbi'' of Rome in 342, consul in 355, and praetorian prefect of Illyricum in 355–356. * Quintus Flavius Maesius Cornelius Egnatius Q. f. Severus Lollianus ''signo'' Mavortius junior, praetor triumfalis, mid-4th century.,

References

Works cited