Marcus Roscius Coelius (or Caelius) 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 ...

military officer of the 1st century AD. He was appointed suffect consul 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 ...

'' March-April AD 81 with

Gaius Julius Juvenalis 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 ...

as his colleague. There is some uncertainty about his name.

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 ...

calls him "Caelius", but the '' Acta Fratrum Arvalium'' calls him "Marcus Roscius Coelius". Anthony Birley suggests he may have had additional names, including "Murena"; he notes that there are several Roscii Murenae in the second century, "perhaps his descendants".Birley, ''The Fasti of Roman Britain'', (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981) p. 232 Coelius was the

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, ...

of the ''

Legio XX Valeria Victrix Legio XX Valeria Victrix, in English Twentieth Victorious Valeria Legion was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. The origin of the Legion's name is unclear and there are various theories, but the legion may have gained its title ''Valeria ...

'', stationed in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

in 68 AD. He was on bad terms with the provincial governor,

Marcus Trebellius Maximus Marcus Trebellius Maximus was a Roman senator active during the reign of Nero. He was suffect consul for the '' nundinium'' of May to June 55 AD as the colleague of Seneca the Younger, replacing Publius Cornelius Dolabella. In 61 Trebellius ser ...

, and took the opportunity during the turmoil of the

year of four emperors A year or annus is the orbital period of a planetary body, for example, the Earth, moving in its orbit around the Sun. Due to the Earth's axial tilt, the course of a year sees the passing of the seasons, marked by change in weather, the hour ...

to foment mutiny against him. Trebellius lost all authority with the army, which sided with Coelius, and fled to the protection of

Vitellius Aulus Vitellius (; ; 24 September 1520 December 69) was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of ci ...

Germania Germania ( ; ), also called Magna Germania (English: ''Great Germania''), Germania Libera (English: ''Free Germania''), or Germanic Barbaricum to distinguish it from the Roman province of the same name, was a large historical region in north- ...

. Coelius and his fellow legates briefly ruled the province until Vitellius, now emperor, sent

Marcus Vettius Bolanus Marcus Vettius Bolanus (c. 33 – 76) was a Roman senator and soldier. He was suffect consul for the ''nundinium'' of September-December 66 as the colleague of Marcus Arruntius Aquila. Career Bolanus served in Anatolia under Corbulo in 62. ...

to be the new governor in late 69. The year of civil war ended when

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 ...

took the Empire. In 71 he recalled Coelius, whose treacherous behaviour had been made known to him, and replaced him as commander of the ''XX Valeria Victrix'' with

Gnaeus Julius Agricola Gnaeus Julius Agricola (; 13 June 40 – 23 August 93) was a Roman general and politician responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. Born to a political family of senatorial rank, Agricola began his military career as a military tribun ...

.Tacitus, ''

Agricola Agricola, the Latin word for farmer, may also refer to: People Cognomen or given name :''In chronological order'' * Gnaeus Julius Agricola (40–93), Roman governor of Britannia (AD 77–85) * Sextus Calpurnius Agricola, Roman governor of the mid ...

'
7
/ref> Coelius was appointed suffect consul in 81. Birley notes,"The fact that he did not achieve the ''fasces'' until four years after his successor as legionary legate suggests that his progress may have been a little impeded on account of his conduct in 69."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roscius Coelius, Marcus Ancient Romans in Britain Ancient Roman generals 1st-century Romans Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome Roscius, Marcus Coelius, Marcus