Plautius Silvanus
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Marcus Plautius Silvanus 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 Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
politician and general active during the
Principate The Principate was the form of imperial government of the Roman Empire from the beginning of the reign of Augustus in 27 BC to the end of the Crisis of the Third Century in AD 284, after which it evolved into the Dominate. The principate was ch ...
. He was
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 ...
in 2 BC as the colleague of the emperor
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 ...
.


Biography

Marcus Plautius Silvanus the son of another Marcus Plautius Silvanus and
Urgulania Urgulania (fl. 24 AD), was a prominent noblewoman during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, due to her friendship with the empress Livia. She was the mother of the Roman general Marcus Plautius Silvanus (consul in 2 BC), who had distinguished ...
,
Lily Ross Taylor Lily Ross Taylor (August 12, 1886 – November 18, 1969) was an American academic and author, who in 1917 became the first female Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Biography Born in Auburn, Alabama, Lily Ross Taylor developed an interest ...

"Trebula Suffenas and the Plautii Silvani"
''Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome'', 24 (1956), p. 24
a close friend of the empress
Livia Livia Drusilla (30 January 59 BC AD 29) was List of Roman and Byzantine empresses, Roman empress from 27 BC to AD 14 as the wife of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. She was known as Julia Augusta after her formal Adoption ...
who was of
Etruscan __NOTOC__ Etruscan may refer to: Ancient civilization *Etruscan civilization (1st millennium BC) and related things: **Etruscan language ** Etruscan architecture **Etruscan art **Etruscan cities **Etruscan coins **Etruscan history **Etruscan myt ...
descent. It is suggested by
Ronald Syme Sir Ronald Syme, (11 March 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a New Zealand-born historian and classicist. He was regarded as the greatest historian of ancient Rome since Theodor Mommsen and the most brilliant exponent of the history of the Roma ...
, extrapolating from Tacitus, that it was Urgulania's influence over
Livia Livia Drusilla (30 January 59 BC AD 29) was List of Roman and Byzantine empresses, Roman empress from 27 BC to AD 14 as the wife of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. She was known as Julia Augusta after her formal Adoption ...
that allowed Silvanus to climb the
cursus honorum The , or more colloquially 'ladder of offices'; ) was the sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians in the Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire. It was designed for men of senatorial rank. The comprised a mixture of ...
, enabling him to reach the consulate in 2 BC alongside
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 ...
. Silvanus was then made
proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a Roman consul, 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 ...
of
Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
in 4-5 AD, followed by appointment as ''
legatus pro praetore A legate (Latin: , ) was a high-ranking Roman military officer in the Roman army, equivalent to a high-ranking general officer of modern times. Initially used to delegate power, the term became formalised under Augustus as the officer in comman ...
'' of the
imperial province The Roman provinces (, pl. ) were the administrative regions of Ancient Rome outside Roman Italy that were controlled by the Romans under the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. Each province was ruled by a Roman appointed as governo ...
of
Galatia Galatia (; , ''Galatía'') was an ancient area in the highlands of central Anatolia, roughly corresponding to the provinces of Ankara and Eskişehir in modern Turkey. Galatia was named after the Gauls from Thrace (cf. Tylis), who settled here ...
in 6 AD, where he was involved in suppressing the
Isauria Isauria ( or ; ), in ancient geography, is a rugged, isolated district in the interior of Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surroundings in the Konya P ...
ns as mentioned in Cassius Dio.Cassius Dio, ''The Roman History'', LV, 28 He was also a septemvir of the
Epulones The (Latin for "feasters"; sing. ''epulo'') was a religious organization of Ancient Rome. They arranged feasts and public banquets at festivals and games (''ludi''). They constituted one of the four great religious corporations (''quattuor ampli ...
. Although Silvanus served under
Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus ( ; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was Roman emperor from AD 14 until 37. He succeeded his stepfather Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC to Roman politician Tiberius Cl ...
for the duration of the
Great Illyrian Revolt The (Latin for ''War of the Batos'') or Great Illyrian Revolt was a military conflict fought in the Roman Empire, Roman province of Illyricum (Roman province), Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two re ...
or ''
Bellum Batonianum The (Latin for ''War of the Batos'') or Great Illyrian Revolt was a military conflict fought in the Roman province of Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two regions of Illyricum, Dalmatia and Pannoni ...
'', Syme suggests that the future emperor had doubts about him, due to his close connection, via his mother, with Livia. Certainly Silvanus does not appear in the histories after the events in Illyricum during AD 6–9.


Suppression of the Isaurians

In the year AD 6, Silvanus was assigned as
Proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a Roman consul, 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 ...
to the province of
Galatia Galatia (; , ''Galatía'') was an ancient area in the highlands of central Anatolia, roughly corresponding to the provinces of Ankara and Eskişehir in modern Turkey. Galatia was named after the Gauls from Thrace (cf. Tylis), who settled here ...
, which by that date included the coastal region of
Pamphylia Pamphylia (; , ''Pamphylía'' ) was a region in the south of Anatolia, Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia, extending from the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean to Mount Taurus (all in modern-day Antalya province, Turkey). It was bounded on the ...
.
Cassius Dio Lucius Cassius Dio (), also known as Dio Cassius ( ), was a Roman historian and senator of maternal Greek origin. He published 80 volumes of the history of ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy. The volumes documented the ...
writes that the Isaurians began a series of 'marauding expeditions', and did not desist until they were faced with 'grim war.' The modern historian, Noel Lenski, following Syme and Mitchell, writes that the client king, Archelaus I, was unable to handle the uprising himself, 'and thereby forced the Romans to commit at least two legions under Marcus Plautius Silvanus to regain control.' Mitchell also suggests that one of these legions was Legio VII Macedonica which was stationed at Antioch during the period.


Participation in the Great Illyrian Revolt, or Bellum Batonianum

Late in AD 6, the
Great Illyrian Revolt The (Latin for ''War of the Batos'') or Great Illyrian Revolt was a military conflict fought in the Roman Empire, Roman province of Illyricum (Roman province), Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two re ...
or
Bellum Batonianum The (Latin for ''War of the Batos'') or Great Illyrian Revolt was a military conflict fought in the Roman province of Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two regions of Illyricum, Dalmatia and Pannoni ...
began in Illyricum.Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'', Bk 55, ch 29 In AD 7, probably late in autumn of early in winter, Silvanus was summoned by
Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus ( ; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was Roman emperor from AD 14 until 37. He succeeded his stepfather Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC to Roman politician Tiberius Cl ...
, who had been assigned to the command of the military situation in Illyricum, to bring more forces to help suppress the revolt.Velleius Paterculus, ''The Roman History'', II, 111.2 The ancient writers do not state where these legions came from; however modern historians have deduced that he brought two (or possibly three) legions, possibly
Legio IV Scythica Legio IV Scythica ("Scythian Fourth Legion"), also written as Legio IIII ''Scythica'', was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded in by the Roman general Mark Antony, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence its other ''cogno ...
and
Legio V Macedonica Legio V Macedonica (the Fifth Macedonian Legion) was a Roman legion. It was established in 43 BC by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Augustus, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as the Roman Emperor, Emperor Augustus). and ...
, perhaps drawn from Syria. Regarding the year in which Silvanus arrived in Illyricum, the ancient writers all give the year AD 7, which was followed by the twentieth century historian Syme who stated the 7 AD date was 'indisputable.' However, some modern historians have suggested a contradictory, and probably erroneous, 'amphibious landing' during AD 6.
Velleius Paterculus Marcus Velleius Paterculus (; ) was a Roman historian, soldier and senator. His Roman history, written in a highly rhetorical style, covered the period from the end of the Trojan War to AD 30, but is most useful for the period from the death of ...
seems to suggest that Silvanus joined
Caecina Severus Aulus Caecina Severus was a Roman politician and general who was consul in 1 BC. He was Emperor Augustus' representative in Moesia when the Great Illyrian Revolt broke out. As a result, he spent 4 years in heavy fighting against the Illyrian t ...
, the imperial legate of
Moesia Moesia (; Latin: ''Moesia''; ) was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans south of the Danube River. As a Roman domain Moesia was administered at first by the governor of Noricum as 'Civitates of Moesia and Triballi ...
, in his province before they marched together towards Illyricum. During the march, they were joined by a cavalry force of Thracians, led by King Rhoemetalces. This force was unexpectedly attacked en route by the enemy near the Volcaean marshes, in northern Pannonia near Siscia (modern Sisak), but successfully defeated them. Dio, however, does not mention Silvanus' involvement in this incident, while modern historians explicitly state that this event only involved Caecina and his Moesian forces. Once the two generals, Silvanus and
Caecina Severus Aulus Caecina Severus was a Roman politician and general who was consul in 1 BC. He was Emperor Augustus' representative in Moesia when the Great Illyrian Revolt broke out. As a result, he spent 4 years in heavy fighting against the Illyrian t ...
, and their legions had joined forces and successfully reached Illyricum, they fought a major battle against the rebels near
Sirmium Sirmium was a city in the Roman province of Pannonia, located on the Sava river, on the site of modern Sremska Mitrovica in the Vojvodina autonomous province of Serbia. First mentioned in the 4th century BC and originally inhabited by Illyrians ...
. The Roman forces were victorious, but suffered heavy losses.
Velleius Paterculus Marcus Velleius Paterculus (; ) was a Roman historian, soldier and senator. His Roman history, written in a highly rhetorical style, covered the period from the end of the Trojan War to AD 30, but is most useful for the period from the death of ...
mentions the deaths of military tribunes, a number of prefects, a camp prefect and some centurions, including some of the front rank. No number is given of total deaths.Velleius Paterculus, ''The Roman History'', Bk 2, ch 112.5 Paterculus called this battle 'an almost deadly defeat' and states that the victory 'won more glory or the soldiersthan was left over for their officers,' due to their failure to follow Tiberius' example and send out scouts to ascertain the location of the enemy. Following this unpromising beginning, Silvanus with his two 'eastern legions', accompanied by Caecina's legion, marched to Siscia (modern Sisak) to join Tiberius and the two legions already assembled there.Dzino, ''Failure of Greater Illyricum'', p. 153 Once the men had had time to recover, Tiberius immediately split the forces into four, sending Caecina back to Moesia, and marching with Silvanus and the 'eastern legions' back to Sirmium where they wintered, and where Silvanus continued to operate from for the remainder of the conflict. Paterculus states that Tiberius took them on a 'long and extremely arduous march, the difficulties of which are hardly describable,' though he does not mention Silvanus' role specifically. During AD 8, Dio relates that Silvanus personally led a successful campaign to defeat the Breucians, and won the allegiance of some other Illyrian tribes without a fight.Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'' LV, 34 In the final year of the revolt, AD 9, Silvanus remained in Illyricum, acting out of Sirmium. Dio states that his forces were ravaging Pannonia, which caused the remaining tribes to make terms. For his actions, he was granted triumphal honours along with the other commanders, attested by the inscription which appears on Silvanus' tomb in Tivoli, Italy.


Family

Marcus Plautius Silvanus was the son of another Marcus Plautius Silvanus (unattested) and
Urgulania Urgulania (fl. 24 AD), was a prominent noblewoman during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, due to her friendship with the empress Livia. She was the mother of the Roman general Marcus Plautius Silvanus (consul in 2 BC), who had distinguished ...
, a close friend of
Livia Livia Drusilla (30 January 59 BC AD 29) was List of Roman and Byzantine empresses, Roman empress from 27 BC to AD 14 as the wife of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. She was known as Julia Augusta after her formal Adoption ...
. It is possible that the family is descended from Marcus Plautius Hypsaeus, consul in 125 BC, however this is doubted by Syme. Silvanus married Lartia. Their known children include: *
Marcus Plautius Silvanus The gens Plautia, sometimes written Plotia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear in history in the middle of the fourth century BC, when Gaius Plautius Proculus obtained the consulship soon after that magistra ...
. First married
Fabia Numantina Fabia Numantina was a member of the patrician Fabia gens. Precisely how she fits into this family is not certain; while she is generally believed to be the daughter of Paullus Fabius Maximus and Marcia, a maternal first cousin of Augustus, it is ...
, but their marriage was over prior to AD 24, as by then he was married to Apronia, daughter of
Lucius Apronius Lucius Apronius was a Roman senator and suffect consul in 8 AD. Achievements He became suffect consul in 8 AD, and was a military commander active during the reign of Tiberius. Apronius shared in the achievements of Gaius Vibius Postumus an ...
. He was accused of murdering Apronia by throwing her out of a window.Tacitus, ''Annales'' IV.22.3 The murder was investigated by emperor Tiberius himself.
Urgulania Urgulania (fl. 24 AD), was a prominent noblewoman during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, due to her friendship with the empress Livia. She was the mother of the Roman general Marcus Plautius Silvanus (consul in 2 BC), who had distinguished ...
then sent her grandson a dagger, encouraging him to commit suicide, which he duly did. Shortly after the murder of Apronia, Fabia Numantina was "charged with having caused her husband's insanity by magical incantations and potions", but was acquitted. * Aulus Plautius Urgulanius. Died at the age of nine. *
Publius Plautius Pulcher Publius may refer to: Roman name * Publius (praenomen) * Ancient Romans with the name: ** Publius Valerius Publicola (died 503 BC), Roman consul, co-founder of the Republic **Publius Clodius Pulcher (c. 93 BC – 52 BC), Republican politician * ...
. Friend and companion of his nephew
Claudius Drusus Tiberius Claudius Drusus (c. AD 9/1220/27) was the eldest son of the Roman Emperor Claudius with his first wife Plautia Urgulanilla. He had one younger sister, Claudia, who was repudiated by Claudius along with Plautia. Background Tiberius Cla ...
. Quaestor to Tiberius, and
augur An augur was a priest and official in the ancient Rome, classical Roman world. His main role was the practice of augury, the interpretation of the will of the List of Roman deities, gods by studying events he observed within a predetermined s ...
; governor of
Sicilia Sicily (Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy. With 4.7 million inhabitants, including 1. ...
. *
Plautia Urgulanilla Plautia Urgulanilla was the first wife of the future Roman Emperor Claudius. They were married circa 9 AD, when he was 18 years old. Suetonius writes that they were divorced in 24 AD on the grounds of her scandalous love affairs and the suspici ...
, first wife of the emperor
Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; ; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54), or Claudius, was a Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusus and Ant ...
. He is also the first cousin of
Aulus Plautius Aulus Plautius was a Roman politician and general of the mid-1st century. He began the Roman conquest of Britain in 43, and became the first governor of the new province, serving from 43 to 46. Career Little is known of Aulus Plautius's early ...
, who was the father of
Aulus Plautius Aulus Plautius was a Roman politician and general of the mid-1st century. He began the Roman conquest of Britain in 43, and became the first governor of the new province, serving from 43 to 46. Career Little is known of Aulus Plautius's early ...
, leader of the Invasion of Britannia in 43 AD.


Mausoleum of the Plautii

The mausoleum in which Marcus Plautius Silvanus was interred still stands in modern Tivoli, Italy. A large inscription outlining Silvanus' achievements is still in place, and includes his wife, Lartia and one of his sons, Aulus Plautius Urgulanius, alongside the separate, very detailed stone of his adopted grandson
Tiberius Plautius Silvanus Aelianus Tiberius Plautius Silvanus Aelianus was a Roman patrician who twice served as consul, in 45 and 74 AD. He was the natural son of Lucius Aelius Lamia and the adopted son of Marcus Plautius Silvanus, brother of Plautia Urgulanilla, first wife o ...
. The Latin inscription reads: "M Plautius M F A N/ Silvanus/ Cos VIIvir Epulon/ huic senatus triumphalia/ ornamenta decrevit/ ob res in Ilyrico/ bene gestas/ Lartia CN F Uxor/ A Plautius M F/ Urgulanius/ vixit ann IX." The mausoleum was famously painted as 'The Lucano Bridge and Mausoleum Plauti', and engraved from two different places by
Giovanni Battista Piranesi Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his etchings of Rome and of fictitious and atmospheric " ...
, and amongst others, by Franz Knebel and
Onorato Carlandi Onorato Carlandi (15 May 1848, in Rome – 11 April 1939, in Rome) was an Italian painter, mainly of watercolors of Rome, the surrounding countryside and of Great Britain. He was married to the painter, Lina Haverty (?-1950), daughter of the Iri ...
. It also featured on Spode ceramics, the design called 'Bridge of Lucano' during the early 19th century. See for example https://www.blueandwhite.com/products.asp?p=19CN34962


See also

*
Tiberius Plautius Silvanus Aelianus Tiberius Plautius Silvanus Aelianus was a Roman patrician who twice served as consul, in 45 and 74 AD. He was the natural son of Lucius Aelius Lamia and the adopted son of Marcus Plautius Silvanus, brother of Plautia Urgulanilla, first wife o ...
*
Urgulania Urgulania (fl. 24 AD), was a prominent noblewoman during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, due to her friendship with the empress Livia. She was the mother of the Roman general Marcus Plautius Silvanus (consul in 2 BC), who had distinguished ...
*
Bellum Batonianum The (Latin for ''War of the Batos'') or Great Illyrian Revolt was a military conflict fought in the Roman province of Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two regions of Illyricum, Dalmatia and Pannoni ...
or
Great Illyrian Revolt The (Latin for ''War of the Batos'') or Great Illyrian Revolt was a military conflict fought in the Roman Empire, Roman province of Illyricum (Roman province), Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two re ...
*
Plautia gens The gens Plautia, sometimes written Plotia, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear in history in the middle of the fourth century BC, when Gaius Plautius Proculus obtained the consulship soon after that magistra ...


References


Sources

* Cassius Dio, (2007) ''Roman History.'' * Velleius Paterculus, (2011) ''Roman History.'' * Publius Cornelius Tacitus, ''Annales.'' * Inscription of the Tomb of the Plautii, * Abdale, J.R, (2019) ''The Great Illyrian Revolt: Rome's Forgotten War in the Balkans, AD6-9.'' Pen and Sword. * Dzino, D. (2010) ''The Failure of Greater Illyricum.'', published online Cambridge.org. * Lenski, N. (1999) "From Assimilation and Revolt in the Territory of Isauria, from the Sixth Century BC to the Sixth Century AD," ''Journal of Economics and Social History of the Orient'', Vol 42, no. 4, pp. 413-465. (Jstor) * Mitchell, S, (1976) "Legio VII and the Garrison of Augustan Galatia", ''Classical Quarterly'' no. 26, pp. 298-308. * Syme, Ronald, (1933) "Some Notes on the Legions under Augustus," ''
Journal of Roman Studies The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies (The Roman Society) was founded in 1910 as the sister society to the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies. The Society is the leading organisation in the United Kingdom for those interest ...
'', Vol 23, pp. 14-33. (Jstor) * Syme, Ronald, (1934) ''Galatia and Pamphylia under Augustus: The Governorship of Piso, Quirinus and Silvanus.'' Klio no. 27, p122-148. * Syme, Ronald, (1939) ''The Roman Revolution.'', Clarendon Press, Oxford. * Syme, Ronald, (1986) ''The Augustan Aristocracy.'', Clarendon Press, Oxford. * Lily Ross Taylor, (1956) "Trebula Suffenas and the Plautii Silvani", in ''Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome'', vol. 24.(Jstor) * Wilkes, J.J, (1969) ''Dalmatia.'', Routledge, 1969.


External links

* For details of mausoleum: http://www.tibursuperbum.it/eng/monumenti/TombaPlauzi.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Plautius Silvanus, Marcus 1st-century BC births 1st-century deaths 1st-century BC Romans 1st-century Romans Epulones of the Roman Empire Imperial Roman consuls Silvanus, Marcus Roman governors of Asia Roman governors of Galatia