Anicius Faustus (c. 240after 300) 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 lette ...

senator who was appointed

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 throu ...

in AD 298.

Biography

A member of the ''

gens Anicia The gens Anicia (or the Anicii) was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, mentioned first towards the end of the fourth century BC. The first of the Anicii to achieve prominence under the Republic was Lucius Anicius Gallus, who conducted the war a ...

'', Paulinus was possibly the son of Sextus Cocceius Anicius Faustus Paulinus, the

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 ...

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

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 ...

during the 260s, and grandson of

Quintus Anicius Faustus Paulinus Quintus Anicius Faustus Paulinus (or possibly Sextus Anicius Faustus Paulinus) (fl. 3rd century AD) was a Roman military officer and senator who was appointed suffect consul sometime before AD 230. Biography Probably the son of Quintus Anicius Fa ...

. He was the

patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...

of the town of Uzappa. If he is identified as the Faustus mentioned on the

Great Altar of Hercules The Great Altar of Unconquered Hercules ( la, Herculis Invicti Ara Maxima) stood in the Forum Boarium of ancient Rome. It was the earliest cult-centre of Hercules in Rome, predating the circular Temple of Hercules Victor. Roman tradition made the ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, he served as ''

Praetor urbanus 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 ...

'' early in his career. He was subsequently appointed suffect consul probably sometime during the 270s. He was then made ''consul posterior'' alongside Virius Gallus in 298. After serving as consul, he was appointed ''

Praefectus Urbi The ''praefectus urbanus'', also called ''praefectus urbi'' or urban prefect in English, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, an ...

'' of

, serving from 299 until 1 March 300. It is postulated that Faustus married the noblewoman Amnia Demetrias, with whom he probably had at least two sons:

Amnius Anicius Julianus Amnius Anicius Julianus ( 322–329) was a politician of the Roman Empire. Biography Anicius Julianus was consul in 322 with Petronius Probianus, ''praefectus urbi Romae'' between 326 and 329. He is identified with the proconsul of Africa wh ...

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 throu ...

in 322, and Sextus Anicius Paulinus, the consul of 325.Martindale & Jones, pg. 329; Chastagnol, pg. 31

Sources

* Chastagnol, André, ''Les Fastes de la Prefecture de Rome au Bas-Empire'' (1962) * Martindale, J. R.; Jones, A. H. M, ''The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire'', Vol. I AD 260–395, Cambridge University Press (1971) Oxyrhynchus Papyrus P.Mich 9 547, a receipt for hire of a whipbearer. It names Anicius Faustus (and Virius Gallus) as current Consuls, and is dated to the day, September 6, 298 (15th and 14th and 7th year of our lords Diocletian and Maximian, Augusti, and Constantius and Maximian, distinguished Caesars, in the consulship of Anicius Faustus and Virius Gallus, Thoth 9)

References

{{s-end 3rd-century Romans Faustus Imperial Roman consuls Late Roman Empire political office-holders Urban prefects of Rome Year of birth uncertain Year of death unknown