Africanus Fabius Maximus was a Roman senator. His elder brother was
Paullus Fabius Maximus
Paullus Fabius Maximus (died AD 14) was a Roman senator, active toward the end of the first century BC. He was consul in 11 BC as the colleague of Quintus Aelius Tubero, and a confidant of emperor Augustus.
Background
The patrician Fabii were on ...
(consul 11 BCE) and his sister was Fabia Paullina, who married
Marcus Titius Marcus Titius was a Roman politician ( suffect consul in 31 BC) and commander at the end of the Roman Republic.
Descent and proscription
Marcus Titius was the son of a Lucius Titius and nephew of Lucius Munatius Plancus. The offices which Lucius ...
.
It is believed that Africanus was named in honour of his famous family ancestor
Scipio Africanus Aemilianus.
Career
The career of Africanus Fabius Maximus is much less clear than that of his brother. It is believed that Africanus' earliest post was as a military tribune in Spain, though this is not certain. His only two certain civilian posts were as ordinary consul in 10 BCE (with
Iullus Antonius
Iullus Antonius (43–2 BC) was a Roman magnate and poet. A son of Mark Antony and Fulvia, he was spared by the emperor Augustus after the civil wars of the Republic, and was married to the emperor's niece. He was later condemned as one of the l ...
), and as
proconsul
A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority.
In the Roman Republic, military command, or ...
of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
in 6/5 BCE. He was admitted to the priesthood of the ''
septemviri epulonum
The (Latin for "feasters"; sing. ''epulo'') arranged feasts and public banquets at festivals and games ''( ludi)''. They constituted one of the four great religious corporations (''quattuor amplissima collegia'') of ancient Roman priests.
Esta ...
'' at some point after 25 BCE.
It was during his tenure as proconsul of Africa that Africanus struck some coins that bore his own image.
Possible family
Although no wife is attested for Africanus, it is possible that he had a daughter named
Fabia Numantina Fabia may refer to:
* Fabia gens, an ancient Roman family
* Fabia, the daughter of Marcus Fabius Ambustus (consular tribune 381 BC)
* Fabia (given name), an Italian feminine given name derived from masculine Fabio
* Fabia Arete, Roman actress
* Fab ...
. Alternatively, she may have been the daughter of Africanus' brother,
Paullus Fabius Maximus
Paullus Fabius Maximus (died AD 14) was a Roman senator, active toward the end of the first century BC. He was consul in 11 BC as the colleague of Quintus Aelius Tubero, and a confidant of emperor Augustus.
Background
The patrician Fabii were on ...
and his wife,
Marcia.
[Syme, ''Augustan Aristocracy'' (1989), p. 59]
See also
*
Fabia gens Fabia may refer to:
* Fabia gens, an ancient Roman family
* Fabia, the daughter of Marcus Fabius Ambustus (consular tribune 381 BC)
* Fabia (given name), an Italian feminine given name derived from masculine Fabio
* Fabia Arete, Roman actress
* ...
Footnotes
References
* Ronald Syme, ''The Augustan Aristocracy'' (Oxford University Press, 1989). ,
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fabius Maximus, Africanus
Africanus
Africanus is Latin for "African". It may refer to:
People Ancient Roman cognomen
* Africanus Fabius Maximus, the younger son of Quintus Fabius Maximus (consul 45 BC) and an unknown wife
* Cresconius Africanus, a Latin canon lawyer of uncertain da ...
40s BC births
1st-century BC Roman consuls
Roman governors of Africa
Epulones of the Roman Empire
Year of birth uncertain
Year of death unknown