Quintus Haterius (c. 63 BCAD 26) was a Roman politician and orator born into a senatorial family.

Career

Haterius was a ''

populares ''Optimates'' (, ; Latin for "best ones"; ) and ''populares'' (; Latin for "supporters of the people"; ) are labels applied to politicians, political groups, traditions, strategies, or ideologies in the late Roman Republic. There is "heated ...

'' orator under 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 ...

, but his style of oration was sometimes criticised. In his

epistle An epistle (; ) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The ...

"On the Proper Style for a Philosopher’s Discourse," Seneca states that the speech of a philosopher should be powerful yet still keep a steady pace. He refers to Quintus Haterius as an example of one who "never hesitated, never paused; he made only one start, and one stop." Even Augustus commented on his quick delivery, saying that his speech was so rapid that he needed a brake.John Hazel, ''Who’s Who in the Roman World'', (London: Routledge, 2001), p. 135. In 5 BC, Haterius was elected suffect consul, a

consulship The consuls were the highest elected public officials of the Roman Republic ( to 27 BC). Romans considered the consulship the second-highest level of the ''cursus honorum''an ascending sequence of public offices to which politicians aspire ...

that filled out a term if the regular consul died or was removed from office.

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'' ( ...

mentions Haterius many times in the ''Annals'' as participating in senatorial debate. After the death of Augustus, Tiberius made a show of reluctance to accept power so that he not look ambitious. Asinius Gallus and Haterius both urged Tiberius to set aside his modesty and assume power. Tacitus quotes Haterius as saying "How long, Caesar, will you allow the state to be without a head?" Suetonius may have also quoted Haterius without mentioning his name. Fearing Tiberius' reaction to his urging, Haterius went to the palace to beg forgiveness and threw himself at Tiberius' knees. But his clumsy effort brought the emperor to the ground, and the guards, thinking this was an attack upon Tiberius's person, pounced upon Haterius to kill him. The intervention 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 ...

saved his life. Haterius was also involved in

sumptuary laws Sumptuary laws (from Latin ) are laws that regulate consumption. '' Black's Law Dictionary'' defines them as "Laws made for the purpose of restraining luxury or extravagance, particularly against inordinate expenditures for apparel, food, furnitu ...

. It was decided by the senate that solid gold vessels should not be used to serve food, and that it was disgraceful for men to wear silk clothes purchased from the East. As his age advanced, however, Haterius became less well regarded. In a senate meeting discussing how to honour the two sons of

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 ...

, Haterius brought forth a motion that all decrees passed that day should be erected in the Senate house in solid gold letters; but his suggestion was laughed at as being foolish. Quintus Haterius died with the highest honours at the end of AD 26. Yet an obituary written by Tacitus stated that although he was famous for his oratory skills during his lifetime, that fame had died away and that "while the research and labours of other authors are valued by an after age, the harmonious fluency of Haterius died with him."

Personal life

Haterius was the father of Decimus Haterius Agrippa and the grandfather of

Quintus Haterius Antoninus Quintus Haterius Antoninus or known as Antoninus was a Roman senator, who was active during the reign of Claudius and Nero. Life He was suffect consul in the year AD 53 as the colleague of Decimus Junius Silanus Torquatus. Antoninus was the only ...

. His wife was likely a daughter of

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (; BC – 12 BC) was a Roman general, statesman and architect who was a close friend, son-in-law and lieutenant to the Roman emperor Augustus. Agrippa is well known for his important military victories, notably the B ...

."Haterius,"

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 ...

, ''The Augustan Aristocracy,'' (Oxford 1986); ''The Oxford Classical Dictionary'', ed. Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spaforth (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), 669; Gaius Stern, ''Women, Children, and Senators on the Ara Pacis Augustae'' Chapter 5 (Berk. diss. 2006).

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haterius, Quintus 60s BC births Year of birth uncertain 26 deaths Ancient Roman rhetoricians Suffect consuls of Imperial Rome Haterii 1st-century BC Romans 1st-century Romans

Career

Personal life

See also

References

External links