Marcus Junius C. f. M. n. Silanus (c. 26 BC – AD 37)
[ Barrett (1989), p. 76] was an
Ancient Roman
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 (753–50 ...
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 became
suffect consul in AD 15.
[ Barrett (1989), p. 32] His daughter
Junia Claudilla was the first wife of
Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( ...
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 Germani ...
.
Biography
Early life
Marcus father was Gaius Junius Silanus who was the son of
Marcus Junius Silanus the consul of 25 BC.
[ Syme (1986), p.194–195] Marcus had two brothers Decimus Junius Silanus and Gaius Junius Silanus, and a sister named Junia Torquata. Decimus was banished for having an affair with
Vipsania Julia
Vipsania Julia Agrippina (19 BC – c. AD 29) nicknamed Julia Minor (Classical Latin: IVLIA•MINOR) and called Julia the Younger by modern historians, was a Roman noblewoman of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She was emperor Augustus' first grandda ...
during the reign 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 ...
.
Their mother may have been an Atia, daughter of
Marcus Atius Balbus and Claudia. Balbus was the uncle of emperor
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 ...
.
[ Syme (1986), p. 194]
Political career
Ancient historians considered Marcus Silanus a highly respected man. When
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 ...
came to power, if a
judicial decision made by Silanus was appealed to the emperor, Tiberius invariably rejected the appeal, trusting Silanus' decision, and Tiberius would send the case back to him.
He also had the honour of casting the first vote in the Senate.
Silanus successfully persuaded Tiberius to recall the banishment of his brother Decimus.
Family
Silanus had at least two daughters,
Junia Silana and
Junia Claudilla. In 33, his daughter Junia Claudilla married
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 Germani ...
.
She died in 36 or early 37 but according to
Philo
Philo of Alexandria (; grc, Φίλων, Phílōn; he, יְדִידְיָה, Yəḏīḏyāh (Jedediah); ), also called Philo Judaeus, was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt.
Philo's de ...
, Silanus continued to treat Caligula as his own son.
Philo
Philo of Alexandria (; grc, Φίλων, Phílōn; he, יְדִידְיָה, Yəḏīḏyāh (Jedediah); ), also called Philo Judaeus, was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt.
Philo's de ...
, 65 In November or December of 37, Caligula had him executed for unclear reasons.
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; c. AD 69 – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τ ...
claims he plotted against Caligula
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; c. AD 69 – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τ ...
, 23.3 while Philo and other sources claim the emperor was simply annoyed by him.
See also
*
Junia gens
The gens Junia was one of the most celebrated families of ancient Rome. The gens may originally have been patrician, and was already prominent in the last days of the Roman monarchy. Lucius Junius Brutus was the nephew of Lucius Tarquiniu ...
Citations
References
*
Barrett, Anthony A. (1989). ''Caligula: The Corruption of Power''. New Haven: Yale University Press. .
*
Ferrill, Arther (1991) ''Caligula: Emperor of Rome''. New York: Thames and Hudson. .
*
Garzetti, Albino (1976) ''From Tiberius to the Antonines: A History of the Roman Empire from AD 12-192''. London: Methuen & Co. LTD. .
*
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; c. AD 69 – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τ ...
, ''Life of Caligula''
*
Syme, Ronald, '' The Augustan Aristocracy''
*
Philo, ''On Embassy to Gaius''
External links
''Life of Caligula'' by Suetonius (Loeb Classical Library translation)''Life of Caligula'' by Suetonius (Alexander Thomson translation)Caligula Caligula - A collection of ancient texts regarding Caligula and the time period in which Marcus Silanus lived.The Augustan Aristocracy - Limited Preview in GoogleBooks
{{DEFAULTSORT:Junius Silanus, Marcus
Junii Silani
Silanus, Marcus Junius
1st-century Romans
20s BC births
Year of birth uncertain
37 deaths
1st-century BC Romans
Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome
Senators of the Roman Empire
Executed ancient Roman people
People executed by the Roman Empire