Pompeius Silvanus, fully Marcus Pompeius Silvanus Staberius Flavinus or Flavianus (died 83), was a

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

senator 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 ...

who was

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 ...

twice.

Werner Eck Werner Eck (born 17 December 1939) is Professor of Ancient History at Cologne University, Germany, and a noted expert on the history and epigraphy of imperial Rome.Eck, W. (2007) ''The Age of Augustus''. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, cover notes. His ...

has stated that he was from

Arelate Arles (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Arle ; Classical la, Arelate) is a coastal city and commune in the South of France, a subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the former province of ...

, but certainly came from

Gallia Narbonensis Gallia Narbonensis (Latin for "Gaul of Narbonne", from its chief settlement) was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Province"), because it was the ...

; Silvanus was the son of the senator M. Pompeius M.f. Priscus, known from an unpublished ''senatus consultum'' of AD 20. The additional three nomina of his name -- "Silvanus Staberius Flavianus" -- is due to either a

testamentary adoption A testator () is a person who has written and executed a last will and testament that is in effect at the time of their death. It is any "person who makes a will."Gordon Brown, ''Administration of Wills, Trusts, and Estates'', 3d ed. (2003), p. 556 ...

, or comes from his mother's family. The first time he was consul was as suffect for the ''

nundinium Nundinium was a Latin word derived from the word '' nundinum'', which referred to the cycle of days observed by the Romans. During the Roman Empire, ''nundinium'' came to mean the duration of a single consulship among several in a calendar year. S ...

'' of 45 as the colleague of Aulus Antoninus Rufus. This was followed a little more than ten years later as Proconsul of Africa from 56 to 58. After returning to Rome Silvanus was charged for actions related to his governance but was

acquitted In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as criminal law is concerned. The finality of an acquittal is dependent on the jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the ...

by the

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

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 ...

, ''

Annales Annals are a concise form of historical writing which record events chronologically, year by year. The equivalent word in Latin and French is ''annales'', which is used untranslated in English in various contexts. List of works with titles contai ...

'', XIII.52 During the

Year of the Four Emperors The Year of the Four Emperors, AD 69, was the first civil war of the Roman Empire, during which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. It is considered an important interval, marking the transition from the ...

, Silvanus was appointed governor of

Dalmatia Dalmatia (; hr, Dalmacija ; it, Dalmazia; see #Name, names in other languages) is one of the four historical region, historical regions of Croatia, alongside Croatia proper, Slavonia, and Istria. Dalmatia is a narrow belt of the east shore of ...

Galba Galba (; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was the sixth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 68 to 69. After his adoption by his stepmother, and before becoming emperor, he was known as Livius Ocella Sulpicius Ga ...

describes him as "rich and advanced in years", which was likely what Galba wanted: a complacent non-entity overseeing an important province. However, he proved pliable by the ''

legatus legionis A ''legatus'' (; anglicised as legate) was a high-ranking Roman military officer in the Roman Army, equivalent to a modern high-ranking general officer. Initially used to delegate power, the term became formalised under Augustus as the officer ...

Lucius Annius Bassus Lucius Annius Bassus was a Roman senator of the early Roman Empire, whose known career flourished under the reign of Vespasian. He was suffect consul in the ''nundinium'' of November to December AD 70 as the colleague of Gaius Laecanius Bassus Caec ...

, who encouraged him to support Vespasian at the critical moment. In reward for his loyalty, Flavianus was appointed to a second consulship for the ''nundinium'' of either March-April or May-June 76 as the colleague of

Lucius Tampius Flavianus Lucius Tampius Flavianus was a Roman senator who was consul twice, as a suffect consul. While the date of his first consulship is not certain, the name of his colleague for that term, Publius Fabius Firmanus, is. His second consulship, with Marcus ...

. An inscription has been recovered in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

attests that Silvanus appointed several individuals to arbitrate a boundary dispute between Alveria (modern

Bjelina Bjelina ( sr-cyr, Бјелина) is a village westwards from the town of Knin in the Benkovac municipality of southern Croatia. Location Bjelina is placed between Benkovac and Kistanje. It is located east of Benkovac. Population/Demographics A ...

) and Asseria (modern Podgrađe). Silvanus was designated as consul a third time for the year 83, but died before he could assume office. Tactius mentions that Silvanus had no children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pompeius Silvanus Staberius Flavianus, Marcus Roman governors of Africa Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome Roman consuls designate 1st-century Romans Silvanus Staberius Flavianus, Marcus Year of birth unknown 83 deaths Ancient Roman adoptees