Egnatia Gens
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The gens Egnatia was a
plebeian In ancient Rome, the plebeians or plebs were the general body of free Roman citizens who were not patricians, as determined by the census, or in other words "commoners". Both classes were hereditary. Etymology The precise origins of the gro ...
family of
equestrian rank The (; , though sometimes referred to as "knights" in English) constituted the second of the property/social-based classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the senatorial class. A member of the equestrian order was known as an (). Descriptio ...
at
ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...
. Only a few of the Egnatii held any magistracies, of whom the most important may have been
Gnaeus Egnatius Gnaeus Egnatius (fl. second century BC) was a Roman senator who gave his name to the Via Egnatia. Biography Gnaeus Egnatius, the son of Gaius Egnatius, was a plebeian and a member of the tribe Stellatina. A member of the Roman Senate, he first turn ...
, who held the
praetor ''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 disch ...
ship during the second century BC, and served as governor of
Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...
, shortly after its institution as a Roman province.''
Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology The ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'' is a biographical dictionary of classical antiquity, edited by William Smith (lexicographer), William Smith and originally published in London by John Taylor (English publisher), Tayl ...
'',
William Smith William, Willie, Will, Bill, or Billy Smith may refer to: Academics * William Smith (Master of Clare College, Cambridge) (1556–1615), English academic * William Smith (antiquary) (c. 1653–1735), English antiquary and historian of University C ...
, Editor.


Origin

The Egnatii were of Samnite origin, and at least some of them had settled at Teanum. At the end of the Social War, the greater part of these appear to have removed to Rome, where two of them were admitted into the
senate 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 ...
, though a branch of the family seems to have remained at Teanum.


Praenomina

The first of the Egnatii known to history bore the
Oscan Oscan is an extinct Indo-European language of southern Italy. The language is in the Osco-Umbrian or Sabellic branch of the Italic languages. Oscan is therefore a close relative of Umbrian and South Picene. Oscan was spoken by a number of t ...
praenomina The praenomen (; plural: praenomina) was a first name chosen by the parents of a Ancient Rome, Roman child. It was first bestowed on the ''dies lustricus'' (day of lustration), the eighth day after the birth of a girl, or the ninth day after the ...
''Gellius'' and ''Marius''. The Egnatii who settled at Rome favoured '' Gnaeus'', but also made use of ''
Gaius Gaius, sometimes spelled Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People * Gaius (biblical figure) (1st century AD) *Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist * Gaius Acilius * Gaius Antonius * Gaius Antonius Hybrida * Gaius Asinius Gal ...
,
Lucius Lucius is a masculine given name derived from Lucius (Latin ; ), abbreviated L., one of the small group of common Latin forenames () found in the culture of ancient Rome. Lucius probably derives from Latin word ( gen. ), meaning "light" (<
,
Marcus Marcus, Markus, Márkus or Mărcuș may refer to: * Marcus (name), a masculine given name * Marcus (praenomen), a Roman personal name Places * Marcus, a main belt asteroid, also known as (369088) Marcus 2008 GG44 * Mărcuş, a village in Dobârl ...
'', and '' Publius''.


Branches and cognomina

The Egnatii do not seem to have been divided into distinct families during the time of the Republic. Most of the Egnatii bore no
cognomen A ''cognomen'' (; : ''cognomina''; from ''co-'' "together with" and ''(g)nomen'' "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditar ...
, but individuals are known with the surnames ''Celer, Maximus, Rufus'', and ''Veratius''. ''Celer'' means "swift," while ''Maximus'' is "great" or "greatest." ''Rufus'', meaning "red," was typically given to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.


Members

*
Gellius Egnatius Gellius Egnatius (died 295 BC) was the leader of the Varriani, a leading clan of the Samnites during the Third Samnite War, which broke out in 298 BC. By the end of the second campaign the Samnites appeared completely defeated, however in the foll ...
, the leader of the
Samnites The Samnites () were an ancient Italic peoples, Italic people who lived in Samnium, which is located in modern inland Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania in south-central Italy. An Oscan language, Oscan-speaking Osci, people, who originated as an offsh ...
in the
Third Samnite War The First, Second, and Third Samnite Wars (343–341 BC, 326–304 BC, and 298–290 BC) were fought between the Roman Republic and the Samnites, who lived on a stretch of the Apennine Mountains south of Rome and north of the Lucanians, Lucania ...
, which broke out in 298 BC. Three years later, he was slain in battle following the
devotio In ancient Roman religion, the ''devotio'' was an extreme form of '' votum'' in which a Roman general vowed to sacrifice his own life in battle along with the enemy to chthonic gods in exchange for a victory. The most extended description of t ...
n of the
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 thro ...
Publius Decius Mus The gens Decia was a plebeian family of high antiquity, which became illustrious in Roman history by the example of its members sacrificing themselves for the preservation of their country. The first of the family known to history was Marcus Deciu ...
. * Gnaeus Egnatius C. f.,
praetor ''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 disch ...
before 146 BC, was appointed governor of
Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...
, in which capacity he began construction of
a road A roads may be *motorways or freeways, usually where the local word for motorway begins with A (for example, ''Autobahn'' in German; ''Autostrada'' in Italian). * main roads or highways, in a system where roads are graded A, B and sometimes lower c ...
from the
Pindus Mountains The Pindus (also Pindos or Pindhos; ; ; ) is a mountain range located in Northern Greece and Southern Albania. It is roughly long, with a maximum elevation of ( Mount Smolikas). Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the P ...
to
Thessalonica Thessaloniki (; ), also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, Salonika, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece (with slightly over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area) and the capital city, capital of the geographic reg ...
. * Marius Egnatius, one of the principal leaders of the Italian allies in the Social War.
Livius Livius may refer to: * Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus, a Roman senator opposing the autocracy of Augustus *''Livius'', a genus of spiders with the sole species '' Livius macrospinus'' *Livy Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English a ...
calls him the leader of the Samnites. In 90 BC, he captured
Venafrum Venafrum was an ancient town of Molise, Italy, close to the boundaries of both Latium adiectum and Samnium. Its site is occupied by the modern Venafro, a village on the railway from Isernia to Vairano, 25 km southwest of the former, 201 m ...
, and subsequently put the army of the consul Lucius Julius Caesar to flight. In the following year Egnatius was killed in battle against the praetors
Gaius Cosconius Gaius, sometimes spelled Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People *Gaius (biblical figure) (1st century AD) *Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius *Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus *G ...
and Lucceius. * Gnaeus Egnatius, a man of somewhat disreputable character, was admitted into the Roman senate, but was subsequently expelled by the
censors Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governmen ...
.
Marcus Tullius Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...
, ''
Pro Cluentio ''Pro Cluentio'' is a speech by the Roman orator Cicero given in defense of a man named Aulus Cluentius Habitus Minor, addressed to the judge Gaius Aquilius Gallus. Cluentius, from Larinum in Samnium, was accused in 69 BC by his mother Sassia ...
'' 48.
* Egnatius Cn. f., like his father a member of the Roman Senate, he retained that dignity when his father's name was struck off the rolls. He was disinherited by his father. * Egnatius (Cn. n.), accompanied
Marcus Licinius Crassus Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115–53 BC) was a ancient Rome, Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome".Wallechinsky, Da ...
on his expedition against the
Parthians Parthia ( ''Parθava''; ''Parθaw''; ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Medes during the 7th century BC, was incorporated into the subsequent Achaemen ...
, and after the great defeat which Crassus sustained at Carrhae, escaped from the scene of the disaster with three hundred horsemen. * Gaius Egnatius Cn. f. Cn. n. Maximus, appears on several coins apparently struck during the time of
Gaius Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war. He ...
. He is probably the same Egnatius Maximus mentioned by
Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...
in 45 BC, and the same Egnatius mentioned without any surname in one or two other passages of Cicero. * Lucius Egnatius Rufus, an ''eques'', and friend of Cicero, who carried on an extensive business as a farmer of the taxes, and a money-lender in the provinces. Both Cicero and his brother,
Quintus Quintus is a male given name derived from ''Quintus (praenomen), Quintus'', a common Latin language, Latin forename (''praenomen'') found in the culture of ancient Rome. Quintus derives from Latin word ''quintus'', meaning "fifth". Quintus is ...
, had pecuniary dealings with him. Cicero frequently recommends him to the governors of the provinces. * Egnatius Sidicinus, mentioned by Cicero as having had some money transactions with him. * Egnatii, father and son, were included in the proscription of the year 43 BC, and were slain by a single blow, while locked in each other's arms. * Marcus Egnatius (L. f.) Rufus,
aedile Aedile ( , , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public orde ...
in 20 BC, and praetor the following year, in contravention of the laws; he sought the consulship of 18, but the consul
Gaius Sentius Saturninus Gaius Sentius Saturninus (fl. late 1st century BC – 1st century AD) was a Roman senator and military officer who was appointed Roman consul in 19 BC. He served as the proconsular governor of Africa, and later as imperial governor of Syria. He t ...
refused to receive his name as one of the candidates. He then joined a plot to murder
Augustus Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...
, but was detected, imprisoned, and executed. * Egnatius, a poet who wrote before
Vergil Publius Vergilius Maro (; 15 October 70 BC21 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: the ''Eclogues'' ...
.
Macrobius Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, usually referred to as Macrobius (fl. AD 400), was a Roman provincial who lived during the early fifth century, during late antiquity, the period of time corresponding to the Later Roman Empire, and when Latin was ...
quotes some lines from his poem, ''De Rerum Natura''. *
Publius Egnatius Celer Publius Egnatius Celer, (lived c. AD 60), was a Stoic philosopher, who as a result of being a ''delator'', or informer, in the reign of Nero, was sentenced to death in the reign of Vespasian. Treason charges were brought against Barea Soranus in ...
, a
Stoic Stoic may refer to: * An adherent of Stoicism Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished in ancient Greece and Rome. The Stoics believed that the universe operated according to reason, ''i.e.'' by a God which is immersed i ...
philosopher, who served as an informer under the emperor
Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was a Roman emperor and the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his ...
. He was condemned to death during the reign of
Vespasian Vespasian (; ; 17 November AD 9 – 23 June 79) was Roman emperor from 69 to 79. The last emperor to reign in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for 27 years. His fiscal reforms and consolida ...
. * Egnatia Maximilla, a descendant of that branch of the Egnatia gens which bore the surname of ''Maximus'', is mentioned by
Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. Tacitus’ two major historical works, ''Annals'' ( ...
as the wife of
Publius Glitius Gallus Publius Glitius Gallus was a Roman senator active in the late 1st century AD. He was suffect consul at some yet undetermined ''nundinium'' in the first century. According to Pliny the Elder, a Glitius was the first husband of Vistilia, famous for ...
, who was banished by the emperor Nero. She accompanied her husband in his exile. * Gnaeus Egnatius Veratius, a Roman historian, mentioned only by
Aurelius Victor Sextus Aurelius Victor ( 320 – 390) was a historian and politician of the Roman Empire. Victor was the author of a now-lost monumental history of imperial Rome covering the period from Augustus to Constantius II. Under the emperor Julian (361 ...
. *
Marcus Egnatius Marcellinus Marcus Egnatius Marcellinus was a senator of Imperial Rome. Life He was consul suffectus in the ''nundinium'' of April to June 116 as the colleague of Tiberius Julius Secundus.Werner Eck, "Konsuln des Jahres 117 in Militärdiplomen Traians mit Tr ...
, consul ''suffectus'' in 116. * Egnatius Capito, consul ''suffectus'', executed in 183. * Marcus Egnatius Postumus, consul ''suffectus'' in 183. *
Quintus Egnatius Proculus Quintus Egnatius Proculus ( – after 210) was a Roman aristocrat. Life It is speculated that he was the son of Quintus Egnatius Proculus. He was suffect consul in the ''nundinium'' of an unknown year. He is known from an inscription tha ...
, consul ''suffectus'' around 219. *
Quintus Egnatius Gallienus Perpetuus Quintus Egnatius Gallienus Perpetuus (c. 210 - after 250) was a Roman politician. He was the son of Quintus Egnatius Proculus and wife Maria Aureliana Violentilla. He was ''consularis vir'' in Allifae, Samnium, Italy. References * Christian Set ...
, vir consularis at
Allifae Allifae was an ancient town of Italy, a center of Oscan or Samnite origin, situated in the valley of the Vulturnus, at the foot of the lofty mountain group now called the Monte Matese, about 40 km northwest of Telesia, and 27 km east ...
during the first half of the third century. *
Lucius Egnatius Victor Lollianus Lucius Egnatius Victor Lollianus (fl. 3rd century) was a Roman military officer and senator, who served as governor of a number of provinces of the Roman East, including Galatia, Achaea, Bithynia and Pontus, Pannonia Inferior, and Asia. He has been ...
, suffect consul. * Quintus Flavius Maesius Egnatius Lollianus ''signo'' Mavortius, ''praefectus urbi'' of Rome in 342, consul in 355, and praetorian prefect of Illyricum in 355–356. * Quintus Flavius Maesius Cornelius Egnatius Q. f. Severus Lollianus ''signo'' Mavortius junior, praetor triumfalis, mid-4th century.,


See also

*
List of Roman gentes The gens (plural gentes) was a Roman family, of Italic or Etruscan origins, consisting of all those individuals who shared the same '' nomen'' and claimed descent from a common ancestor. It was an important social and legal structure in earl ...


References


Works cited

* * * {{cite book , editor1=August Pauly , editor2=Georg Wissowa , editor3=Wilhelm Kroll , editor4=Kurt Witte , editor5=Karl Mittelhaus , editor6=Konrat Ziegler , title=Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft , title-link=Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft , location=Stuttgart , publisher=J. B. Metzler , date=1894–1980 , ref={{harvid, RE Roman gentes Roman gentes of Samnite origin